TO APPLY: Please see the Jobs at Columbia (JAC) posting for further information. All applications must be made through JAC.
The Center for Science and Society (CSS) at Columbia University seeks a Business Manager. Reporting to the Associate Director of the Center for Science and Society, the Business Manager exercises primary responsibility for the Center’s administrative and programmatic budgets, for personnel expenses, for grant and gift accounts, for Financial Accounting System reconciliation and human resources related appointments and processing.
The Business Manager works closely with the Associate Director and Director to develop budgets for administrative, project, grant, event, personnel, and operational accounts. S/he is responsible for knowing and interpreting all University financial policies and systems, complying with internal audit, government, and private agency regulations on financial disbursements, and providing analytic and problem-solving support to the Directors on matters pertaining to operating budgets and financial planning.
The Business Manager resolves financial problems, prevents overdrafts, manages reconciliation of accounts, and generates financial reports, including budget variance reports. S/he has DAF signature authority, including but not limited to transactions in PAC, ARC, FinSYS, and P-card systems. S/he is responsible for advising the Directors on historical levels of spending, managing financial databases and records of all financial income and expenditures, and works closely with the Office of the EVP for Arts & Sciences to perform fiscal year-end closing.
The Business Manager oversees the Center’s Project Manager(s) and other administrative staff on all financial processing and serves as the primary HR point of contact, processing academic and administrative personnel appointments and issuing HR-related communications. The Business Manager supervises visiting scholar and research personnel immigration and visa processing; allocates and approves payroll for casual and work study employees; ensures departmental compliance with I-9 policies and procedures; supervises purchasing and maintenance of all equipment; oversees Center’s facilities and space utilization; coordinates requests to Facilities Management for repair and space improvements and planned capital projects including space renovations; manages the hiring, training, and supervision of casual and work study staff; and performs other duties as required.
***This position is funded for two years. To extend, additional funding must be secured.***
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree and/or its equivalent and 2 years of relevant experience in financial administration is required. Strong communication, interpersonal, and organizational skills are required. Ability to handle multiple tasks, meet deadlines, handle confidential materials, and work independently are required. Must demonstrate aptitude for quantitative analysis, and the ability to understand and clearly present financial information. Computer literacy, including high proficiency using Excel, and the ability to acquire skills of the University’s financial and personnel systems are required.
