Temporary Academic Affairs Budget and Operations Specialist

Responsibilities

• Manage Academic Affairs operating and capital budgets for computing and non-computing purchases within assigned authority.
• Approve pcard applications and travel advances within delegated authority.
• Review monthly academic department spending and process or approve vouchers, journals, and budget transfers within delegated authority.
• Support Cost Center Manager responsibilities and review financial transactions within delegated approval authority.
• Create and maintain faculty research budget accounts.
• Research and resolve worktag, overspend, payroll, and other financial discrepancies in coordination with Finance.
• Serve as a resource for Academic Affairs Administrative and Accounting Assistants on routine financial, operational, and policy-related questions; resolve routine matters and escalate complex issues appropriately.
• Coordinate the monthly Administrative and Accounting Assistant training program.
• Maintain awareness of Administrative and Accounting Assistant vacancies and immediate coverage needs across academic departments.
• Afford temporary coverage arrangements and redistribute existing capacity as directed by the Associate Provost.
• Coverage union vacancies, including applicant review, interview coordination, reference checks, and offer/onboarding coordination with Human Resources.
• Support Administrative and Accounting Assistants and department chairs on routine workload or operational questions and connect them with Human Resources or Labor Relations when appropriate.
• Supervise the two Accounting Specialists supporting multiple academic departments.
• Review and approve weekly time reporting and provide day-to-day work direction and performance feedback.
• Partner with Finance, Human Resources, ITS, Labor Relations, and other institutional offices on matters related to assigned Academic Affairs operations.
• Coordinate with ITS on computer procurement for new Academic Affairs hires and other assigned operational needs.
• Participate in special projects and other duties as assigned by the Associate Provost.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and a minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in budget management, financial operations, operations management, or a comparable professional environment in a complex multi-unit organization, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Demonstrated experience managing operating budgets, approving financial transactions, and overseeing expenditures across multiple accounts or cost centers.
• Experience identifying and resolving financial discrepancies and processing corrections in an ERP, financial management system, or comparable enterprise platform.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating or facilitating training programs for staff on operational policies, procedures, or systems.
• Experience reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, and making hiring recommendations.
• Experience assessing operational needs across multiple units, identifying coverage gaps, and recommending practical solutions.
• Demonstrated ability to support staff navigating workplace or operational challenges; knows when to resolve independently and when to escalate.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative working relationships with senior leaders, department heads, and operational staff across a complex organization.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work with discretion and sound judgment on sensitive personnel and financial matters.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with Workday HCM, SAP, Oracle, or a comparable HRIS or financial management system.
• Demonstrated commitment to working within a diverse environment and interacting openly with individuals of different backgrounds.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressively responsible experience in budget management, financial operations, operations management, or a comparable professional environment in a complex multi-unit organization.
• Experience managing operating budgets, approving financial transactions, and overseeing expenditures across multiple accounts or cost centers.
• Experience identifying and resolving financial discrepancies and processing corrections in an ERP, financial management system, or comparable enterprise platform.
• Experience coordinating or facilitating training programs for staff on operational policies, procedures, or systems.
• Experience reviewing applications, interviewing candidates, and making hiring recommendations.
• Experience assessing operational needs across multiple units, identifying coverage gaps, and recommending practical solutions.
• Ability to support staff navigating workplace or operational challenges; knows when to resolve independently and when to escalate.
• Ability to build collaborative working relationships with senior leaders, department heads, and operational staff across a complex organization.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; ability to work with discretion and sound judgment on sensitive personnel and financial matters.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with Workday HCM, SAP, Oracle, or a comparable HRIS or financial management system.
• Demonstrated commitment to working within a diverse environment and interacting openly with individuals of different backgrounds.

Skills

• Financial management and budget operations.
• Operational support and training.
• Academic department staffing and recruitment.
• Supervision and performance management.
• Collaboration and relationship building.
• Interpersonal and communication skills.
• Microsoft Office proficiency.
• HRIS and financial management system experience.

Benefits

This is an on-campus position working up to 37.5 hours per week. Details on benefits can be found at Wesleyan University’s website.

Pay

$25.00 - $31.00/hr.

Schedule

On Campus.