Finance and Program Operations Manager

UMass Boston•Boston, MA

About The Position

The Finance & Program Operations Manager for the College of Science and Mathematics (CSM) provides professional financial, budgetary, and operational support to the Assistant Dean for Administration & Finance (ADAF), Dean’s Office leadership, department chairs, and departmental administrators. The position works in a diverse, fast-paced, evolving academic environment comprising six academic departments and the Dean’s Office. The manager organizes and coordinates the College’s day-to-day financial activities and assists the ADAF with budget development, financial planning, forecasting, reporting, and analysis. The role monitors and reconciles operating, payroll, gift, endowment, research-related, RTF, start-up, discretionary, and special-purpose funds; prepares budgets, financial reports, and projections; monitors personnel expenditures and funding allocations; and coordinates financial transactions and corrections. The position also provides financial and operational guidance to department chairs, faculty, Administrative Managers, and Dean’s Office staff, and collaborates with University central offices to ensure financial activities are accurate, timely, and compliant with University policies and procedures.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, higher education administration, or a related field.
Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, budget administration, accounting, or fiscal operations; higher education experience is preferred.
Demonstrated experience with budget monitoring, financial reconciliation, forecasting, and financial reporting.
Strong analytical, quantitative, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and demonstrated ability to work effectively with enterprise financial and administrative systems.
Ability to analyze complex financial information, identify discrepancies, and communicate financial information effectively to financial and non-financial audiences.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently with sound judgment in a fast-paced environment.
Excellent interpersonal, written, and oral communication skills, with demonstrated ability to collaborate with individuals at multiple organizational levels.
Ability to handle confidential financial and personnel information with discretion and professionalism.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting, public administration, higher education administration, or a related field.
Experience with financial and budget administration in a higher education environment.
Experience managing or monitoring gift, endowment, research, restricted, discretionary, or other special-purpose funds.
Experience with post-award research administration and sponsored-project financial management.
Familiarity with PeopleSoft, Summit, BuyWays, Concur, HR Direct, or comparable enterprise systems.
Experience providing financial guidance, training, or process-improvement support to faculty and administrative staff.

Responsibilities

Coordinate and manage the College’s day-to-day financial activities, including budget monitoring, purchasing, reimbursements, journal entries, transfers, and other financial transactions.
Assist and advise the ADAF with annual budget development, financial planning, forecasting, resource allocation, and preparation of statistical and financial reports.
Monitor and report revenue, expenditures, and available balances for the Dean’s Office and six academic departments; identify budget variances and potential funding issues and bring them to the ADAF’s attention.
Prepare regular and ad hoc financial reports, projections, reconciliations, and analyses for the ADAF, Dean, department chairs, and other College leadership.
Track and reconcile operating, payroll, gift, endowment, RTF, and start-up accounts.
Monitor endowed and gift accounts to support appropriate use of funds consistent with donor restrictions and University requirements.
Monitor faculty start-up accounts and commitments, including maintaining multi-year spending plans and tracking available funding and expenditures.
Maintain financial tracking systems for faculty course buyouts and other College commitments.
Monitor personnel expenditures for faculty, staff, graduate assistants, and student employees; assist with salary projections, position funding, and payroll reconciliation.
Coordinate and support graduate assistantship and fellowship financial administration, including funding allocations, roster reconciliation, payroll monitoring, and related financial reporting.
Review financial transactions for accuracy, appropriate funding, supporting documentation, and compliance with University requirements; identify discrepancies and initiate or coordinate timely corrections.
Coordinate year-end financial activities, including account review, reconciliation, expenditure monitoring, and preparation for fiscal year close.
Guide and support department chairs, faculty, Administrative Managers, and staff regarding budgets, allowable expenditures, account balances, and University financial policies and procedures.
Provide guidance and training on University financial systems and processes, including Summit, BuyWays, Concur, HR Direct, and related administrative systems.
Assist with purchasing, travel, reimbursement, and other fiscal processes, and serve as a resource for complex financial and operational issues.
Collaborate with departmental Administrative Managers and research administration staff to monitor research-related and restricted accounts and resolve issues involving sponsored and non-sponsored activities.
Assist in developing and maintaining standardized financial procedures, templates, reports, tracking tools, and internal controls to promote consistency, accuracy, efficiency, and accountability throughout the College.
Identify opportunities to improve financial and administrative processes and recommend solutions to the ADAF that strengthen internal controls, streamline workflows, and improve service to faculty and departments.
Provide financial and operational support during peak workload periods, fiscal year close, staff absences, and departmental transitions as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned.