A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

The Business Manager is responsible for managing the research and financial activities of the Stamps School of Art & Design.  This position successfully guides the day-to-day operations of the Finance Office, including supervision of 1.5 FTE accounting and administrative staff; develop budgetary controls, prepare financial reports, oversee account reconciliation and trouble-shooting; interpretation and communication of University and School policies and guidelines; perform data analysis and reporting including the creation and maintenance of FileMaker Pro databases and other information systems; and collaborating with the Chief Administrative Officer, the Dean, and other senior leadership in budget planning and monitoring, forecasting, and annual budget processes.  This position reports to the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).  Specific duties include:

Financial Management & Budgeting (50%)

Serve as the School’s financial manager, financial unit liaison, and purchasing card administrator.  Review and authorize all related paperwork or workflow in the University system. Advise and assist the CAO regarding fiscal issues for the School.  Participate in policy creation and revision at the School level. Establish financial controls for compliance and to maintain budget limitations.  Announce University-wide policy changes.  Serve as a resource for staff on financial policy and management. Provide necessary business-related training.  Oversee unit compliance with internal controls standards. Oversee a range of business processes (account reconciliation, gross pay register audits, purchase orders, non-PO vouchers and reimbursements, P-Card reconciliation, Concur review and approvals, scholarship awards, student accounts billing, etc.), ensuring operational efficiencies, effective engagement within the School and with other University units, a strong commitment to customer service, and appropriate internal controls in compliance with University policies and guidelines.  Oversee set up, updating and reconciliation of all fund accounts using FileMaker Pro databases, Business Objects, Microsoft Excel software.  Prepare (or oversee) and distribute monthly budget to actual reports, quarterly scholarship and awards reports, and other financial ad-hoc reports as needed.  Use Tableau software for data visualization and foster a data informed decision-making culture at the Stamps School.  Work with Stamps School Academic Services and International Office to process financial aid grants and act as liaison with the UM Office of Financial Aid.  Advise faculty and staff regarding policy, process and procedural issues.

Research Administration (25%)

Manage all financial aspects of federal and non-federal sponsored projects for the School.  Coordinate the proposal submission process.  Work with Associate Dean for Research, PIs and research support staff on contracts/subcontracts, etc.  Serve as liaison with the Office of Research and Sponsored Projects (ORSP). Provide faculty with monthly financial reports that track salary and other expenditures. Produce budget projection reports.  Ensure timely submission of financial and narrative reports. Administer final project close out.  Advise principal investigators on budget matters and on policy, process and procedural issues. Proactively review funding notices and forward on to relevant faculty. Assist faculty with funding searches.  Act as the liaison with Stamps School development office staff and ORSP Foundations area, in developing grants to assist faculty with seeking support from foundations. Collaborate with Stamps School Associate Dean for Research to implement strategic faculty research initiatives.

Supervision (10%)

Supervise the School’s Finance Office staff (1.5 FTE), including setting performance goals, conducting evaluations, promoting professional development, and other activities that leverage the individual and group expertise of the office.

Special Projects & Other Duties (10%)

Participate in special projects and committees as assigned. Produce custom budgets, regular and ad-hoc reports, and financial analyses as needed.  Assist the Chief Administrative Officer in preparing the School’s annual budget proposal. Work cooperatively and communicate effectively with other area managers with their budget status and with other faculty and staff of the School and other operations procedures, policies etc. Undertake other specific tasks and special projects as assigned by the Dean or the Chief Administrative Officer.

Liaison (5%)

Represent the Stamps Finance Office on School committees. Represent the School on University-wide committees, such as the Small School and College Research Administrator Group (SSCRAG) and Research Administrators Network (RAN).

Bachelor’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.  A minimum of five years professional experience in accounting and financial management, preferably in an academic setting including externally-sponsored contracts/grants. Experience managing collaborative projects between university or business units. Extensive knowledge and experience managing financial data within large enterprise financial and administrative systems; Demonstrated ability to assess competing priorities, manage workflow and meet operational deadlines; experience with FileMaker Pro, and Excel; Experience creating ad hoc queries and reports using an Oracle-based SQL database; outstanding communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a diverse constituency across all levels of an organization; familiarity with University of Michigan policies and financial/accounting procedures. Demonstrated ability to lead teams, integrate activities and manage change. Exceptional organizational, problem solving and communication skills (written, oral and interpersonal).

Master’s degree in Business Administration or a related field will be strongly preferred. Knowledge of University of Michigan financial policies and procedures. Experience in sponsored project administration and compliance, including eResearch. Experience with M-Pathways financial, payroll, student financial aid and HR data warehouses. Awareness of contemporary creative work culture and practices. Working knowledge of Tableau data visualizing software for building data models for analysis.

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks.  Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days.  The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.