Business Manager I

Position Function:

Manages and coordinates the business operations of a department/unit. Performs duties required to maintain and administer departmental budgets; administers staff policies and/or procedures; compiles reports; performs administrative procedures.

Salary Grade:  15

Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges. 

Department Profile:

The College of Architecture, Art, & Design is made up of the School of Architecture, Department of Art, Department of Building Construction Science, Department of Interior Design, the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio, the Fred Carl Jr. Small Town Center, and the Dean’s office administration. Overview | College of Architecture, Art, and Design (msstate.edu)

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Manages the daily financial activities of the department or unit, which include budget preparation and control, accounting, purchasing, and business planning and management; ensures compliance with university policies and procedures, state, and federal regulations.
2. May supervise departmental staff, which includes work allocation, training, promotion, enforcement of internal procedures and controls, and problem resolution; evaluates performance and makes recommendations for personnel actions; motivates employees to achieve peak productivity and performance.
3. Coordinates, design, and implements internal financial reporting systems, financial controls, and management information systems in coordination with the automated financial reporting systems of the university.
4. Develops and implements systems and processes to establish and maintain records for the operating unit.
5. Prepares, in conjunction with the budget office, budget requests, operating budgets, legislative budget requests, an formal budget revisions as required.
6. Coordinates the preparation of reports of disbursements, special analyses, and information reports for management; presents recommendations for changes and/or improvements, monetary control, and adherence to budgets.
7. Evaluates and/or negotiates contracts for purchase of services in coordination with the university purchasing department.
8. Manages cash, cash-related receipts, accounts receivable and credit and collection functions, ensuring timely processing of billing, payments, and collection of program revenue.
9. Manage the regular administrative and financial functions of the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio and the Fred Carl Jr. Small Town Center, including procard, travel, payroll, and hiring processes.
10. Regular travel to the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio in support and oversight of their fiscal and administrative processes and controls.
11. Develops or assists with the development and implementation of policies and procedures consistent with those of the organization to ensure efficient and safe operation of the unit.
12. May coordinate financial aspects of research proposals, contracts, and sub-contracts, including the development of budget, proposal preparation, and adherence top funding requirements; serves as a liaison with university administrators, state, federal, and private funding sources.
13. Works cooperatively with the personnel within the Dean’s Office in the College of Architecture, Art, & Design, and liaisons with the directors of the Gulf Coast Community Design Studio and the Fred Carl Jr. Small Town Center.
14. Participates in development, implementation and maintenance of policies, objectives, short- and long-range planning; develops and implements projects and programs to assist in accomplishment of established goals.
15. Represents the organization at various community and/or business meetings.
16. Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance or other appropriate discipline. 

Substitutions Allowed:

*Bachelor’s degree in any discipline with a minimum of 18 credit hours in business (i.e., business, finance, marketing, accounting, or management) as approved by Human Resources Management. Of the 18 credit hours, two (three hour) classes must be in Accounting.

Experience (yrs.): 1 year directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Skill in organizing resources and establishing priorities.
• Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
• Strong interpersonal and communication s