Pay Grade/Pay Range: Minimum: $74,900 - Midpoint: $101,100 (Salaried E12)
Department/Organization: 502702 - Campus Financial Affairs
Normal Work Schedule: Monday - Friday 8:00am to 5:00pm
Job Summary: The Manager of Financial Affairs manages day-to-day financial activities for assigned area(s). Applies accounting principles, practices, and techniques in accordance with industry standards, current laws, and University policies. Manages resources and coordinates activities to support departmental goals and objectives. Oversees financial controls and audits. Ensures policy compliance. Leads process improvements. Supervises clerical accounting staff and provides guidance on daily operations, procedures, and assigned responsibilities. Builds strong working relationships with faculty and staff across the college or unit. Assists with strategic financial planning.
Additional Department Summary: Works closely with the Director of Financial Affairs II in the Barefield College of Arts & Sciences to provide strategic leadership, oversight, and guidance for the college's financial and administrative operations. Serves as a key advisor to department heads and college leadership on budgeting, fiscal planning, procurement, payroll funding, compliance, and the effective stewardship of financial resources. Manages the development, administration, and monitoring of operating budgets, gifts, endowments, and other funding sources while ensuring compliance with University, state, federal, and sponsor requirements.
Leads college-wide financial reporting, analysis, internal controls, reconciliation oversight, audits, fiscal year-end activities, and compliance initiatives to support sound financial management and informed decision-making.
Directly supervises and develops departmental financial support staff through hiring, training, performance management, professional development, and succession planning. Working collaboratively with college leadership, departments, central administrative offices, and the college finance team, serves as a resource for resolving complex financial and administrative issues while promoting accurate, timely, and policy-compliant financial administration.
Required Minimum Qualifications: Bachelor's degree or higher in accounting, finance, business, or a related financial field and six (6) years of accounting experience; OR Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and four (4) years of accounting experience.
Skills and Knowledge: Strong leadership, supervisory, organizational, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to hire, train, develop, and support staff. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to translate financial requirements into clear procedures and guidance. Knowledge of accounting, budgeting, reconciliation, internal controls, financial reporting, and fiscal year-end processes. Ability to analyze complex financial information, identify discrepancies or risks, develop practical solutions, and communicate recommendations. Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, exercise sound judgment, and work effectively in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions. Advanced spreadsheet and database skills, including the ability to create and maintain complex tracking tools and management reports. Ability to work collaboratively with faculty, staff, department leadership, central offices, and other stakeholders while maintaining confidentiality and exercising appropriate discretion. Knowledge of University financial, accounting, purchasing, payroll, human resources, and sponsored-project policies and systems.
Preferred Qualifications: Master's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field and/or CPA. Six (6) years of experience overseeing financial operations, supervising staff, developing procedures, performing financial reconciliations or audits, and supporting budget administration. Higher education or not-for-profit accounting experience. Experience and familiarity with the University's accounting, budgeting, purchasing, payroll, sponsored-project, and human resources policies and procedures. Experience using Banner, Concur, PageUp, and related University systems.
Background Investigation Statement: Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation and information obtained from social media and other internet sources. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. A candidate with a prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags will receive an individualized review of the prior conviction or negative behavioral red flags before a hiring decision is made.
Equal Employment Opportunity: The University of Alabama is an Equal Employment/Equal Educational Opportunity Institution. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment or volunteer status without regard to any legally protected basis and will not be discriminated against because of their protected status. Applicants and employees of this institution are protected under Federal law from discrimination on several bases. More information is available in the EEOC’s Know Your Rights: Workplace discrimination is illegal poster.
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