Travel and Entertainment Manager

University of Texas at Austin

4d • Hybrid

About The Position

Responsible for providing managerial oversight of travel and entertainment operations within Payment Services. Ensures the effective administration of payment review and approval processes, while promoting compliance with university policies, business procedures, and applicable regulations. This role is for a university that is internationally recognized for its academic programs and research, where work makes a difference in the lives of university staff, thereby enhancing the student experience.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and at least three years of Experience in a supervisory/manager capacity.
• Demonstrated experience in travel and entertainment expense review, approval, or related financial operations, preferably in higher education.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including professional business writing and a customer-focused approach.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, and compliance requirements in a complex academic and business environment.
• Proven ability to manage a high-volume workload, prioritize competing deadlines, and resolve issues with sound judgment and professionalism.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with staff, faculty, and campus leadership.
• Ability to exercise a high level of discretion and handle sensitive or confidential matters with professionalism and care.
• Experience with enterprise financial systems such as Define, Workday, or similar platforms.
• Reliable and dependable attendance.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States on an ongoing, full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

• Previous higher education experience or professional experience in a complex, matrixed organization.
• Strong knowledge of travel and entertainment policies, business processes, and compliance requirements.
• Previous supervisory experience in a service-oriented environment with demonstrated ability to train, coach, and motivate professional and administrative staff.
• Experience with Concur travel and expense management is preferred.
• Advanced experience with Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Word.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn new systems, improve processes, adapt to change, and work collaboratively.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the travel and entertainment focused area of Payment Services, providing direction, coaching, and support to staff responsible for expense review and approval of vendor payments, employee reimbursements and cash advances.
• Foster a high-performing, service-oriented team culture focused on accuracy, responsiveness, and exceptional customer support for colleges, schools, and units across the university.
• Oversee the review and approval of travel and entertainment payments and reimbursements to ensure compliance with university policy, business procedures, and applicable regulations.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on travel and entertainment policies, documentation requirements, exception handling, and compliance expectations.
• Build strong partnerships with campus stakeholders to resolve complex issues, promote consistent policy interpretation, and enhance the overall customer experience.
• Establish performance expectations, identify training needs, and lead process improvements to strengthen travel and entertainment operations and team effectiveness.
• Identify trends and opportunities for operational improvement and support the implementation of workflow and system enhancements, including travel and expense tools.
• Exercise a high level of discretion in handling sensitive, confidential, and compliance-related matters.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
• Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas: a defined benefit retirement plan
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
• Tuition assistance
• Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
• Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card
• Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card

What This Job Offers

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