Purchasing & Budget Manager

Mississippi State University; Starkville, Northern (MS, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Mississippi State University is seeking a senior financial administrator to oversee Dean's Office purchasing, budgeting, and financial reporting. The role requires managing staff, ensuring compliance with state and university policies, and coordinating with multiple departments to optimize spend and resources.

The position involves developing budgets, monitoring expenditures, preparing analyses, and negotiating contracts.

Qualifications

• Level I: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or management. No experience required.
• Level II: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or management plus three years’ financial management/ accounting experience.
• Level III: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or management plus six years’ financial management/ accounting experience.

Responsibilities

• Purchasing & Operational Oversight – direct management of College purchasing, storeroom, inventory control, and related operations.
• Process Management & Customer Service – tracks purchase requests, orders, payments, inventory levels; communicates delays and escalates issues.
• Manages daily financial activities: budget prep/control, accounting, purchasing, and planning; ensures compliance with policies and regulations.
• May supervise staff, including training, performance evaluation, and personnel decisions.
• Coordinates, designs, and implements internal financial reporting systems and controls.
• Develops and maintains operating unit records and documentation.
• Prepares budget requests and revisions with budget office support.
• Coordinates reports on disbursements and analyses for management; suggests improvements.
• Evaluates or negotiates contracts for services with university purchasing.
• Manages cash receipts and collections; ensures timely billings and revenue collection.
• Oversees auxiliary units as needed.
• Develops policies/procedures for efficient/unit operations.
• Coordinates financial aspects of research proposals/contracts; liaises with funding sources.
• Participates in planning and project implementations to meet goals.
• Represents the organization at community/business meetings and promotes programs and policies.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Resource planning

Team collaboration

Communication

Customer service

Budget management

Hiring procedures

Business management

PC skills

BANNER

Record-keeping

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or management

Bachelor’s degree substitute with 18 business credits (Accounting)

Tools

BANNER system

Job description

Mississippi State University is seeking a senior financial administrator to oversee Dean's Office purchasing, budgeting, and financial reporting. The role requires managing staff, ensuring compliance with state and university policies, and coordinating with multiple departments to optimize spend and resources.

The position involves developing budgets, monitoring expenditures, preparing analyses, and negotiating contracts.