Business Operations Specialist

About This Role

This specialist role provides comprehensive management of the Fowler School of Engineering's financial and business operations, ensuring accuracy, integrity, compliance, and effective administration of financial activities, budgets, and employment processes. The position acts as a liaison between the School and various University departments, facilitating timely resolution of financial and operational matters. It suits an accountable individual with strong initiative, attention to detail, and sound judgment, capable of working independently while building partnerships in a collaborative team environment.

Responsibilities

• Manage the school’s financial processes, improve accountability, control expenses, and monitor financial activity
• Generate biweekly, monthly, and annual reports, reporting potential variances, and ensure budget targets are met
• Serve as a liaison to Offices of Financial Services, Academic Financial Operations, Payroll, Financial Aid, Purchasing, University Advancement, and Sponsored Projects
• Review and monitor all financial transactions, including purchase orders, expense reimbursements, purchasing card activities, payroll, service agreements, contracts, and payments to ensure compliance with University Fiscal Policy and funding agency guidelines
• Assist in the development and management of annual operating budgets, assessing monthly and yearly budgetary needs
• Provide consultation and support on budget management, enhancement requests, fund allocation, analyze trends, and recommendations on prioritizing needs and resources
• Oversee faculty and student travel and research allowances, start-up packages, gifts, and awards
• Notify recipients of allocations, balances, and advise on appropriate use of funds
• Provide regular training and communications to staff, faculty, and student workers regarding financial and business policies, procedures, and deadlines
• Guide, train and monitor staff and faculty use of PeopleSoft Finance, Concur, PeopleAdmin, and shared systems to manage purchasing, personnel, and financial processes
• Guide the development liaison and Dean in creating annual endowment and gift reports, donor acknowledgments, gift agreements, and tracking the use of funds
• Initiate communications with faculty/principal investigators regarding grant finances and pending activities
• Collaborate with the Director, the Office of Sponsored Projects, and various departments to resolve discrepancies
• Serve as a liaison to the Offices of Human Resources, Faculty Affairs, Payroll, and various University departments to support hiring and employment-related transactions for faculty, researchers, postdocs, staff, and students
• Oversee, record and track full-time faculty, postdocs, student worker, and research personnel files from initiating the hiring process to employment renewals and separation