"Business Specialist-College of Sciences & Mathematics"

Summary

This is a professional position responsible for planning, administering, and managing the complex financial operations for the college, including oversight of fiscal operations. Works under general supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Reports to the Dean or their designee.

Job Description

This is a professional position responsible for planning, administering, and managing the complex financial operations for the college, including oversight of fiscal operations. Works under general supervision, with considerable latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment. Reports to the Dean or their designee.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, or a related field is required. Related experience may be substituted for required education on a basis set forth by the Department of Human Resources. Three years of related experience in bookkeeping or accounting is required. Experience in higher education is preferred. Supervisory experience is preferred. Additional education may substitute for experience on a basis set forth by the Department of Human Resources.

Essential Job Functions

1. Works with the dean to manage the fiscal operations of the college, ensuring a system of controls is in place that complies with state, system, and institutional policies and procedures regarding fiscal management.
2. Assists with development and oversight of budgets, monitors expenses, and reconciles special departmental and college accounts. Reviews funding sources, account expenditures, and reported use of funds to ensure compliance with restrictions, regulations, policies, and procedures.
3. Analyzes budgets and financial documentation. Compiles statistical data and prepares reports for accounting and fiscal management purposes. Works with dean, unit heads, and provost’s office to optimize budgets and use of funds.
4. Prioritizes and resolves problems. Analyzes situations and determines solutions. Responds to request for reports from internal and external customers. Communicates with affected parties and follows up to ensure satisfactory resolution and implementation of systems to avoid repeated issues.
5. Analyzes and reconciles faculty workload and course schedule. Reports any issues and provides recommendations to improve efficiencies to dean. Ensures faculty workload and course schedule is reconciled with Electronic Personnel Action Forms (EPAFs) to ensure accurate and timely payroll for the college.
6. Provides communication, training, guidance, and informational materials to staff regarding budget management, reporting, and reconciliation methods. Develops and implements tools and reference materials for staff within the college.
7. Evaluates practices and proposes improvements to enhance service delivery capabilities for the use of fiscal resources. Works with unit heads and college staff to implement approved improvements.
8. Advises on college policies and procedures. Ensures compliance of federal, state, local, system, university, and departmental laws, policies, and procedures.
9. Monitors salary budget, including list of vacancies and salary savings to assist with hiring needs within the college. Compiles academic and financial data to support position requests.
10. Gathers, validates, analyzes, and reports academic and financial data to the dean, unit heads, provost, and other stakeholders to facilitate decision making and to comply with all reporting requirements.

Non-Essential Job Functions

1. May attend meetings and serve on committees.
2. May receive and/or supervise the receipt of payments from students and others for college-sponsored activities.
3. May handle cash and cash receipts for the office in accordance with university policy.
4. May supervise administrative office staff and train student workers and graduate assistants.
5. May process college EPAFs.
6. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

The individual must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities or be able to explain and demonstrate that the individual can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

1. Knowledge of, or the ability to learn, university and departmental policies, procedures, and fiscal regulations.
2. Knowledge of, or ability to learn, general budgeting practices and procedures.
3. Knowledge of bookkeeping and accounting procedures and methods, and ability to apply them to specific situations.
4. Knowledge of general office practices and procedures.
5. Skill in the use of computer applications, including spreadsheet, word processing, database, and other analytical software.
6. Skill in completing assignments accurately and with attention to detail.
7. Skill in collecting and analyzing complex data.
8. Ability to manage a budget and work within the constraints of that budget.
9. Ability to set priorities and complete assignments on time.
10. Ability to identify problems, evaluate alternatives, and recommend and implement effective solutions.
11. Ability to communicate effectively in both oral and written form.
12. Ability to accurately prepare and maintain records, files, and reports.
13. Ability to compile, organize, interpret, and communicate financial data and results in a concise format.
14. Ability to understand and interpret policies and procedures accurately.
15. Ability to establish and maintain a good rapport with university faculty and staff, students, and the general public.
16. Ability to work with and maintain confidential information.
17. Ability to train others.
18. Ability to learn office and university-specific software.

Special Conditions of Employment

Stephen F. Austin State University recognizes the potential for accidents in performing job-related tasks. SFA promotes a safe working environment. Employees will be responsible for completing assigned tasks safely and efficiently. Employee evaluations will include safe job performance. This is a security-sensitive position subject to criminal record check. This is an IT-sensitive position subject to Computer and Network Security policy.