Business Manager

Akima; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

A federal contracting company in New Orleans seeks a Business Manager responsible for leading financial, administrative, and business operations supporting the Strategic Petroleum Reserve contract. The ideal candidate should have a Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance, over 10 years of experience, and strong leadership skills in a federal contracting environment. Duties include overseeing budgeting, financial reporting, and compliance, ensuring operational efficiency, and managing a team across multiple sites.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of financial and/or business-related experience including 5+ years in a managerial role.
• Strong knowledge of financial disciplines and business procedures.
• Professional written and verbal communication skills, with strong interpersonal abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead business operations in alignment with the SPR Statement of Work.
• Oversee finance, accounting, payroll, accounts payable, and logistics.
• Develop, manage, and analyze budgets and financial metrics.

Skills

Financial acumen

Leadership

Knowledge of accounting systems

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

MBA preferred

Tools

Automated accounting systems

Spreadsheets

Report-writing tools

Job description

The Business Manager is responsible for leading and coordinating all financial, administrative, and business operations in support of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) contract. This role ensures full compliance with contractual, regulatory, and operational requirements while providing strategic financial guidance to support mission readiness and organizational effectiveness. The Business Manager oversees budgeting, forecasting, accounting, payroll, billing, accounts payable, logistics support, and reporting for all SPR protective force activities. The ideal candidate brings strong financial acumen, proven leadership, and a deep understanding of business operations within a federal contracting environment.

Position is contingent upon contract award.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage business operations in alignment with the SPR Statement of Work, subcontract requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.
• Oversee finance, accounting, payroll, accounts payable, billing, and logistics support for protective force operations across multiple SPR sites.
• Develop, manage, and analyze budgets, forecasts, cost models, and financial performance metrics to ensure contract compliance and operational efficiency.
• Provide timely and accurate financial statements, audits, reports, and analysis to internal leadership and government stakeholders.
• Manage automated accounting systems, databases, spreadsheets, and reporting tools to ensure data integrity and accurate financial outputs.
• Serve as the primary business interface with the Subcontract Manager, SMTR, M&O Security Directorate, and other partners regarding financial compliance and reporting.
• Support procurement, inventory tracking, labor cost management, and logistical planning for protective force operations.
• Ensure accurate labor charging, cost allocation, and compliance with contract terms, federal requirements, and company procedures.
• Supervise and develop business office personnel; promote collaboration and continuous improvement in a multi site operational environment.
• Oversee the preparation and review of invoices, expense reports, and financial documentation to ensure audit readiness.
• Prioritize and manage multiple deadlines, tasks, and reporting requirements in a fast-paced, mission-critical environment.
• Support business continuity, risk mitigation, and resource planning for fragmented or geographically dispersed operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field from an accredited college; MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of financial and/or business-related experience, including 5+ years in a managerial capacity.
• Strong knowledge of financial disciplines, automated accounting systems, and business procedures.
• Experience in finance, general accounting, payroll, accounts payable, billing, and logistics, with a heavy emphasis on forecasting and financial analysis.
• Professional written and verbal communication skills with strong interpersonal abilities.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize conflicting demands, and meet strict deadlines.
• Extensive experience working with automated financial systems, spreadsheets, databases, PowerPoint, web-based systems, and report-writing tools.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working within a government contracting environment, including cost accounting standards, reporting, and audit support.
• Strong analytical skills and professional judgment.
• Ability to lead business operations across geographically dispersed or fragmented organizational structures.
• Detail oriented, highly organized, and able to operate effectively under pressure.
• High integrity, accountability, and confidentiality.