Finance and Business Manager

Job no: 524842
Work type: Staff Full Time
Location: UMass Amherst
Department: CBIKS
Union: PSU
Categories: Accounting/Finance/Budget, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, PSU A

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

In partnership with the Center Director and Managing Director, the National Science Foundation Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledges and Science (CBIKS) Finance and Business Manager plans and manages the budget and pre- and post-grant financial functions for the Center and its externally funded programs. The Finance and Business Manager is responsible for accounting, policy compliance, reporting, cash flow analysis, budget development, and budget forecasting for day-to-day operations and for existing sponsored research programs and proposal development. These activities require independent decision-making and continuous collaboration with research administration offices.

Essential Functions

• Acts as primary finance and budget administrator for the Center’s externally-funded research activities, serving in a leadership role by interacting effectively with a diverse group of people, including faculty, staff, students, higher level administration, and outside parties from other universities, Tribal and Native Nations, including international partners.
• Manages the overall fiscal operations of the Center which includes budget development, management and monitoring of all Center fiscal activities involving complex budgets and complex financial situations. Interprets, implements, and monitors compliance with federal regulations, and with regulations impacting international and Tribal partners. Makes budgetary recommendations/decisions. Handles subcontracts, and interacts with sponsoring agencies. Directs grad students, post docs, staff, and faculty to ensure spending is in compliance with University, State, and Federal rules and regulations.
• Liaises with Principal Investigators, Controller’s Office, Procurement, Office of Pre-Award Services, Office of Post-Award Management, and various off-campus personnel to establish, execute, and manage federal grant contracts, with complex subcontracts. Works closely with the subcontractors from other universities and Tribal organizations to see that the proper budgets, and budget justifications are in order so that the subcontracts can be executed.
• Performs analyses, forecasts, and projections and prepares reports for short- and long-term fiscal planning. Oversees collection and integration of data to provide up-to-date and accurate grant information to principal investigators, collaborators, and sponsors and to monitor the flow of funds. Prepares reports for principal investigators and, in coordination with Controller’s Office, prepares external reports for cost sharing, invoicing reports, and quarterly reporting to grant and industry sponsors. Fulfills reporting and deliverable requirements, grant and contract changes, extensions, and amendments.
• Works with faculty and other Center stakeholders to identify and resolve budget and compliance issues and reporting requirements.
• Compiles, coordinates, and develops budget and financial information for new external grant proposals, and internal mini-grants. Assists faculty with the pre-proposal preparation and tracks proposal submission information. Ensures that proposals comply with funding agency guidelines, internal policies and procedures, and deadlines.
• Maintains all Center fiscal records, including implementing and managing internal financial and accounting systems, policies, and procedures. Oversees all Procurement and Controller’s Office activities, including Contracts for Services, Sole Source Justifications, journal entries, account reconciliation, and requisition approval. Ensures that unallowable expenditures are not charged to grants.
• Acts as a resource for all participants in the Center for Braiding Indigenous Knowledges and Science (faculty, staff, students) with regard to budget, administrative, and fiscal matters.
• Serves as the Center liaison for all Financial and PeopleSoft updates and coordinates effort reporting for the Center.
• Supervises a Grants and Contracts Coordinator by providing support, mentoring, and ensuring appropriate workload.

Other Functions

• Assumes other duties as needed by the Managing Director.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Bachelor’s Degree in accounting or a related field with five years of relevant experience, or Master's Degree with three years of relevant experience
• Ability to plan and initiate workflow with minimal direction in a fast-paced environment; ability to exercise independent judgment on all business management matters and to solve problems and implement new systems.
• Excellent ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively within a diverse environment.
• Initiative to be anticipatory and flexible with the ability to adjust planning within a dynamic growing center environment.
• Excellent ability to create and maintain harmonious relationships with internal and external Center stakeholders, University staff, and to use effective and appropriate supervisory practices to manage and support reporting staff.
• Extensive knowledge of best financial practices. Expert computer usage skills including spreadsheets (including formulas, graphs, and charts), word processing, and databases. Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.
• Willingness to learn more technology skills to improve efficiency of financial and reporting operation.
• Excellent attention to detail and the ability to investigate a situation, seek out additional information and resolve discrepancies. Ability to think through problems, organize information, identify key factors and underlying causes to generate solutions.  
• Must be able to understand, apply and explain rules, regulations and policies/procedures related to duties. 

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Knowledge of the UMass financial and grant administration systems.
• Supervisory experience.
• Understanding of indigenous communities.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

• Typical office work environment.

• This position has the opportunity for a hybrid work schedule, which is defined by the University as an arrangement where an employee’s work is regularly performed at a location other than the campus workspace for a portion of the week. As this position falls within the Professional Staff Union, it is subject to the terms and conditions of the Professional Staff Union collective bargaining agreement.

Additional Details

• This is a four-year, term-limited position. Continuation of the position for an additional five years is contingent upon grant funding.

Work Schedule

• Monday – Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm.

Salary Information

Level 27

PSU Hiring Ranges

Special Instructions to Applicants

Upload your resume and cover letter along with your completed application. Our team will check references at the final stage of the interview process. Please be prepared to provide contact information for at least three (3) professional references. This position will remain open until filled or the advertised closing date, whichever occurs first. Early submissions are recommended.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised: Aug 29 2024 Eastern Daylight Time
Applications close: Dec 1 2024 Eastern Standard Time