Director, Budget Operations And Analysis

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $110,000 - $120,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Associate Dean of Curriculum and Programs, the Director of Budget Operations and Analysis provides high-level support to all phases of the development and management of degree programs, with special emphasis on financial and operations management. This position independently manages, executes, and strategically oversees the overall financial management of the departmental budgets under Curriculum & Programs including budgeting, forecasting, tuition and partnership program expense reconciliation, student billing, and accounts payable, and serves as main liaison with the Columbia Business School (CBS) Financial Planning Office (FPO). This position supervises the Assistant Director, providing training and ensuring successful completion of all required financial transactions.

Responsibilities

• Working closely with the Associate Dean of Curriculum & Programs, drafts, establishes, and actively adjusts operating budgets totaling $13+ million.

• Responsible for monitoring departmental budgets monthly, analyzing fiscal data and supplying concise budget reports to senior leadership, reconciling monthly University financial statements with internal records, and oversees the close of budgets at end of each fiscal year. Proactively prepares reports and Analysis for the Associate Dean of Curriculum and Programs as well as other appropriate senior administrators for the purposes of budget monitoring, variance analysis, and preparation of the department’s new needs requests.

• Manages all expense reconciliations and ensures accuracy of transactions. Proactively resolves inquiries on payment status for internal and external stakeholders. Oversees all production and operations including materials, merchandise, resources, and literature needed for student matriculation through graduation.

• Manages and oversees the following tasks relating to financial management: accounts payables, invoices, check requests, expense reports, contracts, and purchase orders; journal entries; deposit invoices; refunds; faculty travel stipends; late fee waivers; credit card reconciliation; cash and check management; and tuition prepayment. Administers expenditure processing from contract origination through payment for all events and programs administered by the program offices.

• Communicates with the CBS Financial Planning Office, Operations, Information Technology Group, Multimedia, and other departments as necessary in relation to logistics of operating programs on campus, ensuring smooth facilities and building operations. Liaise and collaborate with internal and external partners such as University Events Management and approved University vendors for event management, financial administration, operational needs, etc.

• Manages partner accounts and international seminar and elective reconciliations, working closely with FPO to ensure that all appropriate expenses are included, and with partners at LBS to ensure final reconciliation documents from all schools are compiled, approved, and processed.

• Work closely with the Dean of Students to manage the Dean’s Discretion and Dean’s Affordability programming and initiatives from creation through execution and reconciliation. Including but not limited to: CBS Flex, the Community Engagement Grant, Conference and Community Service Subsidies, ONE CBS Events, emergency funds in crises, and additional Ad-hoc programming. The position will monitor student organization spending and provide recommendations to Club Advisors regarding best practices. Works closely with the team on various student and team initiatives.

• Manages Assistant Director of Budget & Operations, delineating tasks, offering coaching and training where needed, setting goals, and delivering performance reviews.

• Manages the Third Party Billing process for incoming EMBA students, ensuring proper account setup with Student Financial Services, as well as proper billing to all enrolled EMBA-NY and CBS-billed EMBA-Global students.

• Manages the EMBA-specific fee refunds and tuition offsets (for credits over 60), works to ensure that they are compiled and processed in a timely manner.

• Performs other duties and supports program activities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required. 6-8 years related work experience, preferably in an Operations and financial management capacity.

• Applicants must have superior interpersonal, organization, communication, and presentation skills along with the ability to work in a fast paced, high stakes atmosphere while balancing multiple, competing, or changing priorities. Prior budget reconciliation/reporting experience required. Ability to build strong and effective relationships with partners, faculty, and other individuals critical to successful running of degree programs. The aptitude to exercise discretion and judgment in confidential financial matters and in decisions and interactions involving students and/or faculty members is required. Candidate must be a proactive problem solver; Initiator and self-motivator who requires minimal day-to-day supervision with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a diverse and inclusive team and student environment. Computer proficiency in word processing, database management, Excel, and other budgetary systems is essential. Ability to work occasional weekends and evenings.

• Knowledge of Columbia University’s ARC system is required.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.