Manager Financial Affairs - 531109
About The Position
The Manager of Financial Affairs manages day-to-day financial activities for assigned areas, applying accounting principles and practices in accordance with industry standards, current laws, and University policies. The role manages resources, coordinates activities to support departmental goals, oversees financial controls and audits, ensures policy compliance, leads process improvements, supervises financial support staff, and assists with strategic financial planning. In the Barefield College of Arts & Sciences, the manager works closely with the Director of Financial Affairs II to provide strategic leadership and oversight for financial and administrative operations. The position advises department heads and college leadership on budgeting, fiscal planning, procurement, payroll funding, compliance, and stewardship of financial resources. It manages operating budgets, gifts, endowments, and other funding sources while ensuring compliance with University, state, federal, and sponsor requirements. The role leads financial reporting and analysis, internal controls, reconciliation oversight, audits, fiscal year-end activities, and compliance initiatives. It directly supervises and develops departmental financial support staff, including hiring, training, performance management, professional development, and succession planning. In collaboration with college leadership, departments, central administrative offices, and the college finance team, the manager helps resolve complex financial and administrative issues and promotes accurate, timely, policy-compliant financial administration.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree or higher in accounting, finance, business, or a related financial field and six years of accounting experience; or a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and four years of accounting experience.
- Strong leadership, supervisory, organizational, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to hire, train, develop, and support staff.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills and the ability to translate financial requirements into clear procedures and guidance.
- Knowledge of accounting, budgeting, reconciliation, internal controls, financial reporting, and fiscal year-end processes.
- Ability to analyze complex financial information, identify discrepancies or risks, develop practical solutions, and communicate recommendations.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, exercise sound judgment, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions.
- Advanced spreadsheet and database skills, including the ability to create and maintain complex tracking tools and management reports.
- Ability to collaborate with faculty, staff, department leadership, central offices, and other stakeholders while maintaining confidentiality and appropriate discretion.
- Knowledge of University financial, accounting, purchasing, payroll, human resources, and sponsored-project policies and systems.
Nice To Haves
- Master's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field and/or CPA.
- Six years of experience overseeing financial operations, supervising staff, developing procedures, performing financial reconciliations or audits, and supporting budget administration.
- Higher education or not-for-profit accounting experience.
- Familiarity with the University's accounting, budgeting, purchasing, payroll, sponsored-project, and human resources policies and procedures.
- Experience using Banner, Concur, PageUp, and related University systems.
Responsibilities
- Manage day-to-day financial activities for assigned areas and coordinate resources and activities to support departmental goals.
- Apply accounting principles and practices in accordance with industry standards, current laws, and University policies.
- Oversee financial controls and audits, ensure policy compliance, and lead process improvements.
- Supervise and guide financial support staff on daily operations, procedures, and assigned responsibilities.
- Advise department heads and college leadership on budgeting, fiscal planning, procurement, payroll funding, compliance, and stewardship of financial resources.
- Develop, administer, and monitor operating budgets, gifts, endowments, and other funding sources.
- Lead financial reporting, analysis, internal controls, reconciliation oversight, audits, fiscal year-end activities, and compliance initiatives.
- Hire, train, develop, and manage the performance of departmental financial support staff, and support professional development and succession planning.
- Collaborate with college leadership, departments, central administrative offices, and the college finance team to resolve complex financial and administrative issues.
- Build working relationships with faculty and staff and assist with strategic financial planning.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
