SENIOR BUSINESS SUPPORT SPECIALIST

University of Missouri - Columbia; Columbia Township (MO); On-site; USD 26,000 - 37,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Missouri - Columbia is seeking a Senior Business Support Specialist to provide advanced fiscal, administrative, and operational support for MU Extension Agriculture & Environment Administration and its farm/center portfolio. This role manages complex budgets across multiple funding sources, ensuring policy compliance and fiscal accountability.

The position supports budget planning, forecasting, and year-end activities while promoting strong financial stewardship and operational

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• At least 2 years of administrative or fiscal experience.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary business operations and fiscal liaison for MU Extension, Agriculture & Environment Administration and the farm and center portfolio.
• Manage and reconcile complex budgets and accounts; review financial activity; monitor revenues and expenditures; identify discrepancies; coordinate financial transactions; maintain fiscal accountability across multiple IDs and funding sources.
• Prepare and analyze fiscal and operational management reports, including monthly budget-to-actual reports, projections, and cost recovery tracking.
• Support leadership with operational planning, business decisions, and resource allocation; identify trends, risks and opportunities for process improvement.
• Lead administrative and fiscal support activities; onboarding, training, and mentoring of staff; develop standardized processes and internal controls.

Skills

Budgeting

Financial analysis

Reporting

Accounting

Administrative support

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/finance or related field

Job description

Hiring Department

MU Extension Agriculture & Environment Administration

The Senior Business Support Specialist provides advanced fiscal,administrative, and operational support for MU Extension Agriculture & Environment Administration and serves as theprimary business operations partner for MU Extension's Education& Extension Center (EEC) farm and center portfolio. Thisposition is responsible for managing complex financial and businessoperations across multiple funding sources, departments, andbusiness units while ensuring compliance with University policiesand procedures.

As a trusted resource to leadership, farm directors, centermanagers, faculty, and staff, the Senior Business SupportSpecialist plays a key role in promoting strong financialstewardship, operational efficiency, and informed decision-making.The successful candidate will be a proactive, solution-orientedprofessional who demonstrates initiative, sound judgment, attentionto detail, and a commitment to continuous improvement in support ofa dynamic statewide organization.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• 50% Serve as the primary business operations and fiscal liaisonfor MU Extension, Agriculture & Environment Administration and the farm and center portfolio. Manage and reconcile complex budgetsand accounts; review and analyze financial activity; monitorrevenues and expenditures; identify and resolve discrepancies;coordinate financial transactions; and maintain fiscalaccountability across multiple department IDs, funding sources, andoperational units. Support budget planning, forecasting, andyear-end activities while ensuring compliance with Universitypolicies, procedures, and internal controls.
• 25% Prepare and analyze fiscal and operational managementreports, including monthly budget-to-actual reports, financialprojections, cost recovery tracking, account reconciliations, andad hoc analyses. Provide recommendations to leadership to supportoperational planning, business decisions, and resource allocation.Identify trends, risks, and opportunities for processimprovement.
• 10% Serve as a resource to faculty, staff, farm directors,center managers, and administrative partners regarding fiscalprocesses, purchasing requirements, financial coding, andUniversity policies and procedures. Interpret and communicatepolicy requirements, resolve complex financial and operationalissues, and assist stakeholders in navigating administrativeprocesses.
• 10% Conduct periodic reviews of purchasing card transactions,travel and expense activity, financial reconciliations, and otherbusiness processes to ensure accuracy, compliance, and fiscalaccountability. Provide guidance, training, and documentation toaddress findings and promote consistent application of businesspractices and internal controls.
• 5% Lead and coordinate administrative and fiscal supportactivities within the unit. Assist with onboarding, training, andmentoring of support staff and student employees. Contribute to thedevelopment and documentation of standardized business processes,procedures, and operational resources that improve efficiency andcustomer service.

Conduct all activities in accordance with the Civil Rights Acts,Title IX, Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act, andapplicable University policies and affirmative action plans.

As with all positions, involvement with other duties andresponsibilities may be expected in order to support the missionand purpose of MU Extension.

LEADERSHIP RECEIVED AND EXERCISED

This position reports to the Senior Director, Program/ProjectOperations and receives direction related to fiscal management,operational priorities, and business processes supporting MUExtension Agriculture & Environment Administration and thestatewide farm and center portfolio.

The position operates with a high degree of independence and mayprovide functional leadership, training, coordination, and workdirection to administrative support staff, student employees, andothers involved in fiscal and operational activities. The incumbentis expected to demonstrate initiative, sound judgment, strongcollaboration skills, and a commitment to continuous improvementwhile supporting organizational goals and business operationsstatewide.

Shift

Monday - Friday, 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M.

Minimum Qualifications

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education andexperience and at least 2 years of experience from which comparableknowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

A Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting or relatedarea or an equivalent combination of education and experience fromwhich comparable knowledge, skills and abilities may be acquired isnecessary.

Two years of experience in administrative or fiscal capacity isrequired.

Anticipated Hiring Range

The anticipated hiring range for this position has been establishedas $19.25 -$27.00 hourly.

Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but notlimited to, the individual’s particular combination of education,skills, and experience, as well as organizationalrequirements.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck.The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans,and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Benefit Eligibility

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of yourtotal compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefitspackage, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement,paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parentalleave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for allfour UM System campuses. For additional information on Universitybenefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Director ofAccessibility and ADA at 573-884-7278.

60673