Financial Operations Manager

Kalamazoo College; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k)/403(b) plan with employer match

Paid time off

Job summary

Kalamazoo College is seeking an experienced Financial Operations Manager to oversee payroll, accounts payable, and federal grant accounting, while leading accounting staff within the Finance Office.

You will prepare monthly financial statements, manage fixed assets, and support audits, partnering with campus departments to support the College’s mission and student success. Strong GAAP knowledge and ERP experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• At least five years of professional accounting experience and prior supervisory experience.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, and account reconciliation.
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with financial systems and ERP platforms.
• Highly organized, analytical, and detail-oriented; effective communicator with both financial and non-financial audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise payroll and accounts payable operations.
• Manage employee reimbursements, purchasing cards, vendor payments, and IRS 1099 reporting.
• Review payroll transactions, account reconciliations, and annual W-2 processing.
• Prepare and review monthly financial statements, journal entries, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Oversee fixed asset accounting and monthly bank reconciliations.
• Administer the financial aspects of federal grants, including reporting, cash drawdowns, and compliance.
• Manage ERP system access and general ledger account maintenance.
• Prepare audit schedules and support annual audit activities.
• Serve as a trusted financial resource for faculty, staff, and campus leadership.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen internal controls, and mitigate risk.

Skills

Payroll management

Accounts payable

GAAP knowledge

ERP systems

Financial reporting

W-2 reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

ERP platforms

Job description

Kalamazoo College is seeking an experienced and collaborative Financial Operations Manager to oversee key accounting operations and help ensure the financial stewardship of the institution. This position serves as an important leader within the Finance Office, managing payroll, accounts payable, federal grant accounting, financial reporting, and accounting staff while partnering with departments across campus to support the College’s mission and strategic goals. Join a mission-driven institution where your financial expertise will directly support student success and the educational mission of Kalamazoo College.

In this role, you will:

• Lead and supervise payroll and accounts payable operations.
• Manage employee reimbursements, purchasing cards, vendor payments, and IRS Form 1099 reporting.
• Review payroll transactions, account reconciliations, and annual W-2 processing.
• Prepare and review monthly financial statements, journal entries, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Oversee fixed asset accounting and monthly bank reconciliations.
• Administer the financial aspects of federal grants, including reporting, cash drawdowns, and compliance.
• Manage ERP system access and general ledger account maintenance.
• Prepare audit schedules and support annual audit activities.
• Serve as a trusted financial resource for faculty, staff, and campus leadership.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, strengthen internal controls, and mitigate risk.

You’re a great fit if you have:

• Have a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Bring at least five years of professional accounting experience and prior supervisory experience.
• Possess strong knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, and account reconciliation.
• Have advanced Excel skills and experience working with financial systems and ERP platforms.
• Are highly organized, analytical, and detail-oriented.
• Communicate effectively with both financial and non-financial audiences.
• Thrive in a collaborative environment and are committed to exceptional customer service.
• Value integrity, teamwork, confidentiality, and continuous improvement.
• Have higher education, nonprofit, or federal grant accounting experience (preferred).

Kalamazoo College is proud of offer a robust and reliable slate of benefits. A continued goal is to maximize our benefits while minimizing costs to employees, families, and the College.

Medical Insurance

• ASR Health Benefits
• Choice of two PPO plans with options for single, double, and family coverage. Includes prescription drug benefits. Robust support for behavioral health, substance abuse treatment, and chronic condition management.
• Employee Health Costs

Dental Insurance

• ASR Health Benefits
• Includes options for single, double, and family coverage. No network means that any dental provider is permissible.
• Employee Dental Costs

Vision Insurance

• ASR Health Benefits
• Includes options for single, double, and family coverage. No network means that any vision provider is permissible.
• Employee Vision Costs

Supplemental Insurance

• Unum
• Voluntary accident insurance - Employee paid
• Accidental death and dismemberment insurance - Employee paid

Tax-Advantaged Accounts

• Burnham & Flower
• Health Care FSA
• Dependent Care FSA

Life Insurance

• Unum
• Basic life insurance - Employer paid
• Voluntary supplemental life insurance - Employee paid

Disability Insurance

• Unum
• Long- and Short-term disability salary continuation - employer paid

403(b) Retirement Plan

• TIAA
• With an employer contribution and an employer match

Employee Assistance Program

• Behavioral Health Services
• Available to all employees and their household members at no cost

Benefits Concierge

• Acrisure Benefits Group
• Assistance in navigating complex employee benefit situations at no cost

Additional Benefits and Perks

• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Intentional community-building efforts
• Getting settled information

More Details

Visit our complete Benefits Guide for more information

Kalamazoo College is a nationally recognized liberal arts college known for rigorous academics and offering an integrated undergraduate experience that weaves a traditional liberal arts curriculum into educational experiences in both domestic and international settings with the majority of our graduates participating in study abroad. Kalamazoo College is committed to the liberal arts and sciences, experiential education, freedom of individual conscience and celebration of diversity and inclusion. It is one of the nation’s 100 oldest colleges and universities and a thought leader and innovator in higher education.

The campus of Kalamazoo College is located midway between Chicago and Detroit in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a metropolitan community of 261,000, which supports multiple college and university campuses along with numerous civic arts and cultural associations and sports teams. Thirty-five miles from Lake Michigan, the area offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation, a walkable downtown, outstanding restaurants, and plenty of family-friendly activities. The city is home to the Kalamazoo Promise, which covers up to 100% tuition and fees at Michigan colleges, universities, and trade schools for graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools.

Kalamazoo College encourages candidates who will contribute to the cultural diversity of the College to apply and to identify themselves if they wish.

An equal opportunity employer, Kalamazoo College is committed to equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal protection under the law.

Please be invited to review our full EEO statement by visiting https://www.kzoo.edu/about/nondiscrimination-policy/ .

To provide a safe and secure educational environment,

Kalamazoo College conducts criminal background reviews on all people who receive an offer of employment.

Kalamazoo College is an E-Verify participating employer.

Please select Notice and Rights for more information.