Finance & Operations Lead for Academic Initiatives

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; Newark (DE); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Delaware is seeking a Business Administrator to manage the financial and administrative operations of a large portfolio within the APUI program. This role collaborates with the Vice Provost and budget office to ensure financial health and alignment with university goals.

The position oversees unit budgets, endowments, and discretionary funds, prepares projections, and supports audits. It requires a Bachelor's degree and five years in budget/finance roles, with strong communication

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, or related field with at least five years of related experience.
• Experience with budget preparation and financial reporting, and with HR policies.
• Ability to navigate complex programs and manage multiple tasks.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Familiarity with university policies preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist and advise on fiscal, HR, space, and procurement matters.
• Manage daily financial operations for portfolio units.
• Coordinate with enrollment management for alignment of financial objectives.
• Prepare accounts and budgets related to appointments and salary.
• Monitor expenditures and provide projections and analyses.
• Oversee budgets of all portfolio units, including endowments and discretionary funds.
• Prepare financial reports and forecasts for Vice Provost.
• Develop financial models and forecasts for portfolio insights.
• Manage annual budget reconciliations and monthly reporting.
• Support budget requests with data gathering and trend analyses.

Skills

Budget management

Financial reporting

HR management

Data analysis

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Accounting or related field

Tools

UD accounting systems

Relational databases

Job description

University of Delaware
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity Employer whichencourages applications from Minority Group Members, Women,Individuals with Disabilities and Veterans. The University's Noticeof Non-Discrimination can be found at http://www.udel.edu/aboutus/legalnotices.html


Job No: 503041
Work Type: Staff
Location: Newark, DE
Categories: Administrative Support, Full Time

PAY GRADE: 31E

CONTEXT OF THE JOB:

Working under the direction of the Vice Provost for AcademicPrograms and University Initiatives, the Business Administrator isresponsible for the financial and administrative operations of thelarge and complex university initiatives portfolio. The APUIportfolio includes the FinTech Innovation Hub, the Center forInnovation in Lifelong Learning and Teaching – which includes fourunits(Academic Technology Services, Center for Teaching Assessmentand Learning, UD Online, and Professional and Continuing Studies(which includes the access center, non-credit programs, and OsherLifelong Learning Institute)), and the Division of EnrollmentManagement.

The Business Administrator interacts with and serves as liaisonfor the units in the portfolio, and coordinates with the businessadministrator in enrollment management. The person in this rolewill work closely with the budget office to ensure the financialhealth of the portfolio units and align the portfolio withuniversity level goals and mission.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Assist and advise the Vice Provost for Academic Programs andUniversity Initiatives on fiscal, human resource, space, andprocurement matters
• Manage the daily financial operations of units in theportfolio, with the exception of Enrollment Management
• Coordinate with the business administrator in the Division ofEnrollment Management to ensure the financial operations of theunit are in line with broader portfolio goals and financialobjectives
• Prepares and administers, in consultation with the ViceProvost, accounts and budgetary matters related to appointments andsalary.
• Monitors expenditures, performs analyses, provides projections,and processes requisitions
• Oversees the budgets of all units in the portfolio, includingbasic budgets, endowments, discretionary funds, etc.
• Prepares projections for the portfolio and evaluates variousplanning scenarios as well as prepare and interpret financialreports for the Vice Provost
• Develop financial models and develop forecasts to interpretfinancial projections for the portfolio
• Manages annual BTA and year-end budget reconciliations
• Responsibility for obligations and expenditures for the budgetand prepares monthly reports, analyses and projections aboutrevenue and estimated expenditure, with recommendations formodifications
• Participates in audits of portfolio accounts
• Actively manages the portfolio and its units’ budgets
• Participates in the budgeting and implementation of specialinitiatives
• Provides accurate financial information to the Vice Provost andthe reporting units in the portfolio
• Prepares and presents materials to summarize and justifyunit/program budget requests, including data gathering/reportingand trend analyses in connection with budgetary formulation andadministration.
• Assists the Vice Provost on operational and administrativematters; reviews, interprets, recommends, and/or implementsfinancial policies; identifies and resolves issues regardingadministrative and fiscal matters; develops systems to monitoracademic and administrative deadlines; regularly evaluatesportfolio administrative systems and services.
• Ensures accurate, compliant and efficient management of theportfolio procurement activities, including Concur and UD Exchangeworkflow processes and transactions.
• Ensures proper implementation of policies and procedures in theareas of finance and operations to ensure adherence to Federal andUniversity policies. Interprets and provides guidance regardingUniversity policies and procedures for the Vice Provost.
• Provides orientation and interpretation of University policiesand procedures for new portfolio unit leadership.
• Partners with the portfolio leadership to implement strategicoperational objectives, and new program initiatives.
• Regularly meet with the Vice Provost and portfolio leadershipactively make recommendations regarding new administrative policiesand procedures or changes and improvements to existing processes;develop and/or initiate new office forms and procedures.
• Manage fiscal affairs of the department, including budgetcreation/management planning, expenditure and costs analysis.
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, orother related field and five years of job-related experience, orequivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience with budget preparation and management, financialreporting, administrative policies and procedures, and humanresources management.
• Thrives in a fast-paced environment and is excited to advanceand share in the success of highly successful programs.
• Experience leading complex organizations and managing complextasks.
• Experience using management systems, relational databases,spreadsheets and word-processing software programs.
• Effective organizational skills are essential.
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to interpret, adapt and apply guidelines andprocedures.
• Ability to plan, organize, implement, evaluate and modifyadministrative support needs.
• Ability to gather and analyze statistical and financial dataand generate ad-hoc reports.
• Ability to develop, plan, and implement new strategies andprocedures, and be part of continuous improvement.
• Committed to fostering a positive workplace culture ofbelonging.
• Familiarity with UD accounting and financial systemspreferred.

Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity
The University of Delaware does not discriminate against any personon the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identityor expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, maritalstatus, disability, religion, age, veteran status or any othercharacteristic protected by applicable law in its employment,educational programs and activities, admissions policies, andscholarship and loan programs as required by Title IX of theEducational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Actof 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VIIof the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes andUniversity policies. The University of Delaware also prohibitsunlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexualviolence.

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