Business Manager for Donor Funds and Scholarship Operations - Division of Student Success - UTK

University of Tennessee • Knoxville, TN

12h • Onsite

About The Position

The Business Manager for Donor Funds and Scholarship Operations serves as the Division of Student Success’s subject matter expert and principal administrator for donor-funded financial resources. Reporting to the Director of Finance and Administration, the position provides independent oversight, strategic leadership, financial stewardship, and compliance management for endowments, gift funds, scholarships, and other restricted resources. The role requires professional judgment to interpret donor requirements, advise leadership, mitigate risk, and support effective and sustainable use of donor-funded resources.

The position leads restricted-fund and scholarship administration; financial planning, analysis, and stewardship; and strategic operations and process improvement. It oversees fund activity and account integrity, leads scholarship workflows, prepares forecasts and executive-level financial reporting, directs audits and reconciliations, maintains internal controls, and advises leadership on financial strategy, stewardship, risk management, and resource optimization. The role also collaborates with campus partners to resolve complex funding and operational issues and undertakes additional duties and projects as assigned.

This is an onsite position in Knoxville, Tennessee. The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, describes employee access to career development and coaching, continued education, and development and training opportunities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a closely related field.
• At least 2 years of progressively responsible accounting, financial, scholarship, and/or related work experience.
• Ability to communicate effectively, listen actively, and work with diverse staff, administrators, and stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize and manage a high volume of complex projects simultaneously, meet constant deadlines, and adapt to changing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Detail-oriented, with strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Flexibility, sound judgment, and an open, collaborative work style that encourages teamwork and cooperation.
• Commitment to excellent customer service and exceptional quality.
• Ability to think analytically, quantitatively, creatively, and strategically, and to work with ambiguity.
• Ability to think independently and exercise professional skepticism.
• Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues toward common goals.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Working knowledge of scholarships, financial aid policies and procedures, and restricted funding sources.
• Ability to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgment when handling sensitive financial, personnel, and operational information in accordance with university policies and applicable laws and regulations.
• Must be legally authorized to work full-time in the United States without requiring employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Business Administration.
• At least 4 years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, finance, or scholarship administration.
• Experience in a higher education environment.
• Ability to interpret and communicate federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to administrative operations, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of University of Tennessee fiscal, human resources, and other relevant policies.
• Experience with Oracle, Power BI, and other reporting tools.
• Experience with scholarships, financial aid, or related processes in a higher education setting.

Responsibilities

• Direct and administer financial management and stewardship of restricted funds, endowments, gift funds, scholarships, and other designated accounts.
• Oversee fund activity, expenditures, allocations, commitments, and balances to ensure compliance with donor intent and funding requirements.
• Interpret donor agreements and related documentation to ensure funding restrictions and obligations are applied appropriately.
• Oversee the establishment, administration, reconciliation, and maintenance of restricted-fund and scholarship accounts.
• Lead scholarship funding workflows, including account transactions, approvals, allocations, documentation, and issue resolution.
• Serve as the division’s authoritative advisor and subject matter expert on restricted funds and scholarship administration.
• Consult and collaborate with Advancement, Financial Aid, and campus partners to resolve complex funding questions and account discrepancies.
• Maintain complete and accurate records supporting restricted-fund and scholarship activities.
• Lead financial planning, including forecasts, projections, and analyses supporting strategic decisions.
• Evaluate financial performance, fund utilization, and spending trends, identifying risks and opportunities for optimization.
• Provide executive-level financial reports, dashboards, and analyses to divisional leadership and stakeholders.
• Lead long-range financial planning and budget development to promote donor-funded resource sustainability.
• Ensure compliance with donor restrictions, university policies, accounting standards, and applicable regulations.
• Maintain internal controls and accountability measures to safeguard donor-funded resources.
• Direct audit preparation, financial reviews, reconciliations, and reporting requirements.
• Identify compliance risks and implement corrective actions using independent judgment.
• Lead continuous improvement of processes, systems, and controls; establish and oversee standardized procedures, reporting tools, and operational guidelines.
• Provide expert guidance on financial policies, procedures, and systems as a divisional consultant.
• Collaborate with campus stakeholders to resolve complex business and operational challenges.
• Communicate financial information effectively to leadership and non-financial audiences.
• Lead strategic initiatives related to financial management, scholarships, and donor-funded resources.
• Advise divisional leadership on financial strategy, stewardship practices, risk management, and resource optimization.
• Perform additional duties, special projects, and assignments supporting divisional, departmental, and university priorities.
• Address emerging business, financial, operational, and compliance needs assigned by leadership and contribute to cross-functional initiatives advancing the Division of Student Success’s mission.

Benefits

• Career development and coaching opportunities.
• Continued education and development and training opportunities.
• The university describes a focus on work-life balance, compensation, and professional advancement.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level