Senior Finance and Operations Manager

Title: Senior Finance and Operations Manager

Executive Area: Academic Affairs

College/School/MBU: Admin Support Units

Department: Provost's Office

Work Location: Amherst

Schedule:Full time

Work Arrangement:Hybrid

Job Summary

Reporting to the Director of Financial Planning and Operations, the Senior Finance and Operations Manager leads business operations for the Provost's Office and assigned administrative units within Academic Affairs, exercising independent judgement and handling highly confidential personnel matters. This position is a key member of the Provost's Office Administration & Finance (A&F) team, which serves as a centralized shared services hub providing comprehensive financial, operational, and administrative support to over a dozen administrative units and programs across Academic Affairs.

Essential Functions

Oversee day-to-day execution of financial operations, including budget monitoring, procurement, revenue operations and billing, contract management, grant and award support, and transaction processing for the Provost's Office and administrative units; perform analyses, projections, and reconciliations to support accurate and timely financial reporting. Support academic affairs financial operations and planning as needed, including collaboration and exposure to planning initiatives.

In collaboration with the Director of Financial Planning and Operations and Assistant Provost for Financial Planning and Operations, support the annual budget development process, including compiling and validating accurate financial data in preparation of mid-year, third quarter, and year-end spending plans; annual base budget uploads; and annual revenue-based budget submissions to the University Budget Office. This work requires advanced knowledge of confidential strategic directives and personnel planning.

Oversee bank card administration and troubleshooting. Manage cardholder onboarding and offboarding, ensure policy compliance, and serve as the primary escalation point for complex bank card issues. Delegate routine bank card support and reallocation to the appropriate staff, providing guidance as needed.

Manage the full lifecycle of complex procurement transactions including equipment, furniture, restricted items, and high-value vendor contracts; ensure adherence to University purchasing regulations and approval thresholds.

Execute all billing processes for the Provost's Office and administrative units, including management of Five College appointments and associated billing, college and program revenue settlements, Early College programs, Common Application billing and refunds, and other recurring billing processes. Identify and resolve discrepancies in collaboration with campus partners, including the Controller's Office, Five Colleges, Inc., and Enrollment Management.

Manage vendor onboarding, maintenance, administration and negotiation as needed, and troubleshooting in coordination with Procurement and Accounts Payable; manage change requests and resolve vendor payment issues.

Support post-award financial management for the Provost's Office grants and foundation award portfolio under the direction of the Director of Financial Planning and Operations. Monitor expenditures, prepare periodic financial reports, reconcile sponsored accounts, and coordinate with the Controller's Office and Research & Engagement offices (OPAM/OPAS) on compliance and reporting requirements.

Directly supervise a team of full-time staff and a team of undergraduate student employees; assign and review work, provide ongoing coaching and feedback, and conduct performance management, including corrective action as needed in collaboration with the assigned human resources business partner(s).

Provide training, guidance, and feedback to staff across Academic Affairs administrative units on University systems, policies, procedures, and compliance requirements. Exercise independent judgment in responding to inquiries and escalate complex situations to the Director as appropriate. Support the onboarding and training of new administrative staff within the Academic Affairs administrative units, ensuring they have appropriate access and resources.

Identify opportunities for efficiency, automation, and process improvement across financial operations; make recommendations to the Director and implement approved changes. Contribute to the development and maintenance of budget templates, financial tracking tools, and other resources used across the Provost's Office and Academic Affairs units.

Supervise the Academic HR Specialist and oversee confidential faculty personnel processes for faculty with appointments in the assigned administrative units. This includes, but is not limited to, recruiting, direct hires, search waivers, appointments, reappointments, promotions, fellowships and prestigious awards, compensation, and leaves. Manage administrative appointments for faculty serving in leadership roles for supported units. Review and make recommendations on complex and confidential personnel actions and disputes in collaboration with Academic HR, including interpretation and application of relevant collective bargaining agreement provisions.

Other Functions

Perform related duties as assigned or required to meet department, Academic Affairs, and University goals and objectives.

Work creatively, collaboratively, and effectively to promote teamwork, diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Represent the Provost's Office as a trusted liaison to vendors, campus administrators, department heads, faculty, staff, and other stakeholders within and outside of the University.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree (preferably in finance, accounting, business administration, or a related field) and four (4) years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, budgeting, or accounting.

Or a Master's degree or above in finance, accounting, business administration, or related field and two (2) years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, budgeting, or accounting.

Demonstrated experience managing complex budgets, financial records, and procurement processes, with a strong working knowledge of financial policies, procedures, and compliance requirements.

Experience preparing, analyzing, and interpreting financial reports and data; ability to draw conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.

Experience providing training, oversight, and/or feedback to staff or colleagues on financial systems or processes; demonstrated ability to explain financial concepts clearly to non-financial audiences.

Proficiency with financial systems and ERP platforms (PeopleSoft, Workday, or similar) and advanced Microsoft Excel skills.

Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail with the ability to manage a high volume of concurrent responsibilities and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

Ability to access, handle, and maintain confidentiality of sensitive information, including management's positions related to labor relations and collective bargaining matters.

Ability to exercise sound and independent judgment.

Strong written and oral communication skills with the ability to explain information clearly and concisely to a diverse group of stakeholders with different levels of financial experience and knowledge.

Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a diverse population of faculty, staff, administrators, and vendors.

Strong computer skills with the ability to learn new tools and systems at a moderate pace.

Preferred Qualifications

Prior experience in higher education finance or academic unit administration.

Experience with grants or sponsored award financial management, including post-award monitoring, reporting, and compliance.

Experience with contract management, RFP processes, or vendor management in a university or public sector setting.

Familiarity with UMass Amherst financial systems and processes, including Summit, Oracle EPM, SAP Concur, BuyWays, Kuali, and PeopleSoft.

Experience working in a shared services or multi-unit financial support model.

Prior supervisory experience or demonstrated experience providing formal guidance, training, or mentorship to staff.

Working Conditions

Work is performed in a standard office or indoor university environment and involves minimal physical exertion.

Work Schedule and Work Arrangement

Monday - Friday, 40 hours per week.

Salary Information

Pay Grade:PSSAP Grade 28

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Special Instructions for Applicants

Along with the application, please submit a resume. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide the names and contact information for three (3) professional references.

This position will remain open for the time period required by any applicable collective bargaining agreement and will continue until a suitable candidate pool is identified. Interested applicants are strongly encouraged to apply early.