The Business Manager position will be responsible for the Online Education Unit and the Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology departments.

The Online Education Unit (OEU) at Carnegie Mellon University offers a unique opportunity to be part of an internal "start-up" dedicated to the successful launch and delivery of online graduate degree programs, certificates, and professional education. This new unit provides marketing, recruiting and student support services to academic units across the university with ultimate responsibility for student enrollment and retention. As such, we are seeking individuals who can think strategically about launching and maintaining program enrollment.

This position will play a critical role with primary responsibility for managing both the departmental budget and the shared-revenue model of financial reconciliation with the partner departments. They will handle day-to-day financial activities, help to evaluate the financial viability of new program offerings as well as manage all financial reporting and associated data management. In addition, they will oversee selected operational activities including various strategic initiatives, legal and regulatory issues related to online programs and administrative HR functions.

Carnegie Mellon Institute for Strategy and Technology (CMIST) was created to raise CMU's thought leadership and international profile in shaping how digital and new technologies are changing national and international security. The Institute's mission is to draw upon, highlight, and connect the remarkable security-related technological innovations already underway throughout the university, with cross-cutting analyses of their ethical, social, political, and economic impacts by social scientists. Emphasizing diversity across all dimensions, the Institute takes an entrepreneurial problem-solving approach to reducing the risks and maximizing the opportunities of emerging technologies in war and peace.

The position will also play a critical role with primary responsibility for managing the departmental budget and Sponsored Project proposal entries. In addition to the entry of project proposals into the CMU's SPARCS system and outside sponsor's websites (i.e., NSF, DOD), will handle day-to-day financial activities, help to evaluate the financial viability of new program offerings as well as manage all financial reporting and associated data management. In addition, they will prepare expense reports, verify procurement card expenses, prepare journal entries in Oracle, and manage HR paperwork within Workday.

The Business Manager will report to the AVP for Finance within the Provost's Office-Finance and Business Operations department with a dotted line to both the Business Director, Online Education Unit and Deputy Director for Security Policy Studies, Carnegie Institute for Strategy and Policy.

The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing a budget and financial operations, ideally in a university setting. They will have exceptional communication, problem solving and critical thinking skills with an ability to juggle multiple projects simultaneously without losing sight of the big picture. They will be obsessed with accuracy and have strong attention to detail.

Primary Responsibilities

Annual Departmental Operating Budget

• Create and manage the annual departmental operating budget.
• Monitor and analyze complex financial data.
• Identify and report variances and trends in budget activity.
• Have a firm grasp on both completed and planned spending; use this knowledge to effectively manage all forecasting reports.
• Evaluate and assist in the formulation of budget policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Collaborate and engage key stakeholders in the financial planning and analysis process.

Program Budget Reconciliation

• Be an expert on the online program financial model and have the ability to explain it to stakeholders with varying degrees of financial acumen.
• Manage the budget reconciliation process for all programs working collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure accuracy and agreement.
• Perform cost benefit analysis related to projects and/or programs and make recommendations for future adjustments.
• Analyze the effectiveness of the online program financial model and make recommendations as needed.

Day-to-Day Financial Management

• Manage requests for proposals, contracts, and invoices.
• Prepare expense reports and procurement card transaction verifications.
• Create journal entries.
• Maintain positive relationships with procurement, accounts payable and all other relevant university departments.
• Enter sponsored project proposals into CMU's SPARCS system and sponsor's websites (NSF, DOD)

Reporting & Data Management

• Use superior communication skills (both oral and written) to provide a comprehensive narrative analysis and recommendations for discussion with leadership team for all areas of budget responsibility.
• Create and present monthly, quarterly, and semi-annual budget reports and financial model outcomes.
• Assist in other departmental reporting as needed.

Operations

• Support management in executing strategic initiatives and process improvement efforts across the department.
• Oversee, in collaboration with CMU's Office of General Counsel, various regulatory, data privacy and other laws related to online learning programs (OEU).
• Liaise with human resources and other relevant departments on all administrative aspects of HR related matters (such as creating positions in the system and budget aspects of new roles).
• Documents processes and procedures as needed.
• Any other business-related tasks that emerge; all other duties as assigned.

New Program Analysis (Online Education Unit)

• Create financial models to assess capital and return on new programs.
• Make recommendations on financial viability of new programs based on market data and current program operations.
• Reporting findings and recommendations to senior leadership.

You should demonstrate:

• Extensive experience managing a budget, ideally in a university setting. Proven success in forecasting, analysis, and reporting.
• Relevant experience analyzing budget performance and making recommendations based on that analysis. A history of successful recommendations and subsequent course of action taken.
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, and a tendency to over-communicate changes, updates, or issues.
• Comfort and interest in working with data for reporting purposes beyond the budget.
• Related experience managing projects beyond the typical scope of finance work.
• A history of and commitment to creating, measuring, and reporting metrics to improve outcomes. A growth mindset with commitment to constant improvement.
• Exceptional communication and customer service skills; an ability to represent CMU, the schools, programs, and unit at a high level at all times.
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills; a bias towards action, even when faced with uncertainty and resistance.
• Strong attention to detail and a commitment to ensuring quality and accuracy at all times. A "check-it-twice" approach to the work.
• Strong project management skills with a focus on documentation and process improvement.

Qualifications:

• 3-5 years' experience as financial analyst with experience in budgeting and forecasting. 5-7 years preferred.
• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business, or another related field. Master's Degree preferred.
• Ability to interpret financial data, write reports, and present financial information required.
• Experience creating financial models and processes required.
• Experience with Oracle is helpful.
• Advanced Excel skills required. Experience in other data management systems is welcome.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; demonstrated experience in building effective partnerships with cross-functional colleagues.
• Capable of working on multiple projects simultaneously; ability to prioritize to meet deadlines and work effectively independently.

Requirements:

• Successful background check

Additional Information:

• Hybrid work arrangement
• Applications with cover letters explaining how your background aligns with this role will receive stronger consideration.

Location

Job Function

Position Type

Full Time/Part time

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