Business Manager - UMass Press (Hybrid Opportunity)

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

 

About Research & Engagement

The UMass Amherst community engages more than 31,000 students, 1,400 faculty, and 5,000 staff in 11 schools and colleges with a wide variety of degree programs, research, and public service. More than 800 faculty lead sponsored research projects in many areas from basic to applied that are sponsored by federal, state, and private sources with expenditures of more than $240 million in 2023.

 

Job Summary

The Business Manager manages the budgeting process and financial reporting at UMass Press. This role ensures accurate financial planning, analysis, and reporting, while also managing the Press’s key operations. This position requires a balance of financial acumen and technical expertise, with regular interaction with various university departments, vendors, and the Press's distributor. The role is essential for ensuring the financial health and smooth functioning of the Press. The Press publishes 40-50 titles per year and has a backlist of over 1100 titles.

 

Essential Functions

• Budget and Finance Management:
  • Develops and manages the budgeting process and planning using the University budgeting system and QuickBooks. Provides quarterly, on-demand, and year-end reconciliations. Tracks and codes all expenses and revenue to ensure accurate profit and loss statement for the Press as a whole.
  • Develops, coordinates and administers policy and procedure for the procurement of goods and services and fiscal management of the UPress.
  • Makes budgetary recommendations/decisions and directs accordingly to ensure spending complies with University, state, and federal rules and regulations.
  • Prepares financial reports including payroll, quarterly financial reports, departmental budgets, cost of goods data, title-specific profit and loss statements sales assessments, and other analyses as needed.
  • Performs analyses, projections and integrates data into spreadsheets to provide up-to-date and accurate information and monitors the flow of funds. Fulfills reporting and deliverable requirements, contract changes, extensions, and amendments. Performs ongoing analysis of revenue, expenses, and cash flow, and prepares both routine and query-based reports for Director.
  • Monitors and interprets variances to the budget, communicating findings to the Director.
  • Works with Production, Marketing, and other University Press departments to communicate budget updates.
  • Prepares accrual-based budget information for association annual reports, including quarterly and annual data for Association of University Presses.
• Royalty Management:
  • Inputs and manages author royalty payments for tracking and disbursement activities.
  • Prepares annual royalty statements and administers payments.
  • Accesses and maintains distributor’s system for all royalty information.  
  • Responds to author queries about royalties.
  • Manages database with all contract terms, including subsidiary rights and addresses. 
• Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable Management:
  • Assembles and assesses book payment data from vendors.
  • Processes and approves purchases with vendors and payments to individuals, including employee reimbursements.
  • Maintains record of all income, purchases and payments, including vendor information. Monitors and tracks this process regularly utilizing QuickBooks.
  • Establishes subvention accounts.
  • Tracks all Accounts Receivable and outstanding payments.
  • Processes and manages bill payments.
• Rights and Contracts Management:
  • Tracks and manages permission, translation, and option queries. Negotiates and processes translation and film option agreements.
  • Sets permissions fees for use of the Press’s copyrighted materials.
  • Tracks and files publishing and distribution agreements.
• Operational Support Services:
  • Manages overstocks and out of print titles.
  • Exercises independent judgment in the role of liaison between UPress and various University departments including but not limited to Budget, UPST, IT, Telec