Business Administrator, Real Estate Department, Wharton School of Business
About The Position
The Business Administrator supports the department’s academic and operational mission by administering its financial and administrative functions in service of faculty, doctoral students, staff, and visitors. The position maintains a dotted-line reporting relationship to Wharton’s Finance and Administration Department, supporting alignment with School-wide financial practices, priorities, and compliance requirements. Working closely with the Department Chair and partners across the School and University, the Business Administrator is responsible for the day-to-day management of departmental financial operations, including budgeting, account monitoring, financial reporting, payroll administration, purchasing, reimbursements, and compliance. The Business Administrator prepares and monitors budgets across multiple fund types, reviews financial activity, reconciles accounts, investigates variances, and supports financial projections and year-end processes. The role also administers faculty research accounts, payroll and personnel-related transactions, and other operational processes that contribute to the effective functioning of the department. Through careful financial stewardship, sound judgment, and responsive service, the Business Administrator helps ensure that departmental resources and administrative processes effectively support teaching, research, and other academic priorities.
Requirements
- A bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in business administration, finance, or a related field
- 2 -3 years of relevant experience in financial management, budgeting, or administrative operations, or an equivalent combination of education and experience
- Strong financial and analytical skills
- Familiarity with Penn financial systems or comparable university-based financial platforms
- Ability to independently manage multiple responsibilities and recurring operational cycles while balancing departmental priorities and maintaining close attention to detail
- Sound judgment, initiative, accuracy, and a strong commitment to responsive service
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Responsibilities
- Administering purchasing, payables, travel, expense reporting, and reimbursement processes with attention to accuracy, compliance, and timely execution
- Preparing and monitoring departmental budgets across operating, gift, endowment, grant, research, and discretionary funds
- Reviewing financial activity, reconciling accounts, investigating variances, processing journal entries, and preparing routine and ad hoc reports
- Administering faculty research accounts and coordinating research-related funding activity with faculty, centers, and other funding partners
- Managing departmental payroll, Workday processes, faculty personnel actions, and onboarding transactions
- Coordinating daily departmental office operations and implementing operational initiatives directed by the Department Chair
- Serving as a primary liaison with Wharton’s Finance and Administration Department and other School and University partners on financial and administrative matters
- Identifying opportunities to improve administrative processes, service delivery, and operational efficiency
Benefits
- Comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits
- Flexible spending accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses
- Tuition assistance for employee, spouse, and dependent children at Penn, and for dependent children at other institutions
- Generous retirement plans (Basic, Matching, and Supplemental) with pre-tax or Roth basis options
- Substantial time away from work (vacations, personal affairs, illness, family time)
- Long-Term Care Insurance
- Wellness and Work-life Resources
- Professional and Personal Development resources
- Access to a wide range of University resources, cultural and recreational activities
- Discounts on arts and entertainment, transportation, mortgages, goods, and services
- Flexible Work Hours
- Penn Home Ownership Services (forgivable loan for eligible employees)
- Adoption Assistance
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
