PAY GRADE: 32E

CONTEXT OF THE JOB 

Under the limited direction of the Division of Student Life Business Officer (DBO), the Senior Business Administrator (SBA) manages, develops, and administers a portfolio of complex budgets for multiple Student Life departments including Residence Life and Housing.

The SBA is the main point of contact for financial and budgetary matters for their portfolio and is responsible for ensuring fiscal responsibility, compliance with divisional and institutional financial policies and procedures, and alignment of budgets and spending with Divisional and institutional strategic priorities. The SBA works collaboratively with Student Life staff and senior leadership to provide strategic consultation, recommendations for budget allocations and financial operations, and support for short and long-term financial planning.

The SBA manages the review, approval, and reporting of all expenditures on compensation, physical plant, goods and services, and travel, and serves as the liaison with Procurement Services for financial aspects of contract negotiations for portfolio departments. The SBA prepares a wide range of financial reports, analyses, and projections to support data-driven decision-making.

The SBA provides leadership and oversight of the fiscal affairs of portfolio departments and serves as liaison with other University departments on behalf of those departments. The SBA supports the DBO for strategic and operational planning and decision making as a member of the Student Life budget, procurement, and financial operations shared services team.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manages, develops, and administers a portfolio of complex Student Life budgets with numerous fund types including basic budget, self-supporting/revenue, gifts, endowments, and reserves, totaling more than $12 million per year.
• Oversees and manages financial systems; ensures financial processes adhere to appropriate UD accounting policies and procedures; communicates policies and procedures and changes to policies and procedures to staff in portfolio departments.
• Prepares and presents business cases, budget proposals, financial reports, projections, and related materials to summarize and justify portfolio departments’ budget requests, including data gathering/reporting and trend analyses in connection with budgetary formulation and administration.
• Serves as main point of contact with Facilities and Auxiliary Services for all Residence Life and Housing budgetary matters including planning for expenditures, conducting financial analysis, creating and revising budgets, and determining appropriate allocation of expenses. 
• Works with appropriate University offices, including Institutional Research and Student Financial Services, as needed to obtain accurate enrollment, fee and revenue information; prepares a wide range of financial reports as needed by Student Life senior leadership, including Assistant Vice Presidents, Executive Directors, Directors, the Vice President for Student Life and the DBO.
• Completes annual budget projections in the University Budget Turnaround system (Axiom), including for labor expenses, supplies, travel, medical commodities, systems and technology, and capital expenditures, consults with directors for anticipated expenses, operational needs, and variances from budget.
• Assists the DBO with operational and administrative matters; reviews, interprets, recommends, and/or implements financial policies and procedures; identifies and resolves issues regarding fiscal matters; develops systems to monitor financial deadlines.
• Participates in the creation and implementation of short- and long-range financial goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures; monitors and evaluates operational effectiveness.
• Collaborate with and provide strategic consultation to portfolio directors, executive directors, and assistant vice presidents regarding the development and implementation of budgetary and financial strategies to support and improve operational efficiencies and resource allocation; assist with and provide solutions to problems by recommending appropriate approaches and methodologies that support departmental, divisional, and institutional priorities.
• Oversees and manages complex financial processes and ensures appropriate allocation of expenses and trouble-shoots and resolves issues as needed.
• In conjunction with Procurement Services and other appropriate departments, maintains and negotiates financial aspects of contracts in accordance with University standards and policies.
• Ensures portfolio departments’ furniture, technology, and equipment repair/replacement schedules are updated regularly and expenses are budgeted and allocated appropriately.
• Serves as purpose code approver for UD Financials and Cost Object Approver (COA) for Concur for portfolio departments’ transactions and expenses, expense reports, reimbursements, and travel requests; monitors compensation and non-compensation expenses charged to budgets and ensures proper allocations.
• Serves on senior leadership team(s) for portfolio departments and participates on/convenes divisional committees, task forces, and innovation collaboratives in support of the Division’s strategic priorities.
• Establishes performance standards and supervises designated financial support positions within portfolio departments as needed.
• Oversees and approves access requests to UD financials for staff in portfolio departments; develops, conducts, or recommends training for new users.
• Initiates, processes, and approves financial webforms, including purchase orders, vendor payments, and journal vouchers.
• Supports assessment and data collection initiatives as they pertain to budgetary resources and return on investment (ROI).
• Performs additional job-related duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree preferred, in business or a related field and five years of experience in business administration or higher education which provides the necessary skills and abilities, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Skill in strategic planning and budget preparation and management.
• Ability to gather and analyze financial and other data, create, and generate reports and make administrative/procedural recommendations and decisions.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to effectively manage multiple priorities simultaneously, meet tight deadlines, and give attention to detail.
• Ability to develop, organize and manage unit projects requiring advanced critical thinking and problem-solving skills.         
• Effective interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to produce high quality written communications materials including presentations, analyses, and reports.
• Skill in examining and reengineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures.
• Effective leadership, team building and collaboration skills.
• Knowledge of University databases and systems including UData Glance, Axiom, PeopleSoft, Concur, Work Force, UD Exchange, Talent Link, and UDSIS preferred.
• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office suite, with a focus on advanced-level skills in Excel, including data analysis, advanced formulas, pivot tables, macros, and data visualization.
• Ability to communicate and work effectively with a wide range of constituents in a diverse community and to maintain a positive and collaborative work environment.
• Strong skills in Microsoft Office with demonstrated skill with advanced functions in Excel.
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community and rapidly changing technical environment.
• Commitment to fostering a workplace culture of belonging, where diversity is celebrated, and equity is a core value.
• Demonstrates an understanding and consideration of the differing needs and concerns of individuals with varying identities, cultures, and backgrounds.