Principal Business Manager

Responsibilities

• Oversight of all financial operations including preparation of annual budgets and participation in college-level budgeting processes.
• Management of unit accounts, including state-appropriated funds, start-up accounts, seed accounts, endowed and non-endowed gift accounts, income accounts, and research accounts.
• Validation of fiscal activities such as additional pay, labor distribution, effort certification, procurement sourcing, vendor invoicing, and travel.
• Overseeing annual requirements including space surveys, asset inventories, and GASB reporting, and gathering, validating, and reconciling financial data.
• Supervision and coordination of accounting, bookkeeping, and human resources activities, management of accounts receivable and cash handling processes, preparation of annual reports on receivables, and serving as the unit expert on financial policies and procedures.
• Preparation of correspondence related to financial matters, solution of complex business problems through data collection and analysis, preparation of data queries and ad hoc reports, and response to inquiries from college and campus units.
• Supporting faculty with proposal budgeting and justification preparation, assisting with online proposal submission, and managing post-award activities including financial reporting, expenditure review, re-budgeting, tracking of project progress, and reconciliation of sponsored research accounts.
• Preparing cost analyses and statistical reports related to research programs and collaborating with the Office of Research as needed.
• Supporting strategic planning by integrating financial strategies with departmental and college goals, maintaining strong internal controls, and ensuring adherence to ethical and compliant operations.
• Collaborating with faculty, staff, and student organizations to improve processes, increase efficiency, enhance customer service, and reduce financial and compliance risks.
• Participating in committees and working groups related to software implementation such as DASH Research and Student Life Cycle systems, performing special projects and analyses, supporting policy development, managing departmental space planning, recommending space allocations for new hires, and exercising high-level decision-making related to process improvement.
• Overseeing the human resource management of the unit by serving as the HR subject matter expert, developing and analyzing faculty, staff, and student data for planning, overseeing recruitment and retention processes, coaching and mentoring staff, and fostering a positive unit culture.
• Development of HR training materials, conducting performance evaluations for office staff, assisting with faculty evaluations, and supporting the university's strategic HR plans and policies.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in human resource management, business, or a related field.
• Experience: Five years of accounting, HR management, or business management experience; five years of supervisory experience; four years of project management experience or experience administering federally funded projects including budgeting, financial reporting, and forecasting.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: Sophisticated leadership abilities; strategic thinking and strong communication skills; ability to navigate complex organizational structures; deep knowledge of financial principles, GAAP, and federal regulations in higher education; integrity and confidentiality; expertise in complex budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management; skill in problem solving, analysis, and decision making; ability to build and motivate high-performing teams; ability to collaborate across units; advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.