Salary Range:

Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications

About SMU

SMU’s more than 12,000 diverse, high-achieving students come from all 50 states and 80 countries to take advantage of the University’s small classes, hands-on research opportunities, leadership development, community service, international study and innovative programs. The University offers a strong foundation in the humanities and sciences and undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs through eight schools.

Now in its second century of achievement, SMU is increasingly recognized for the ways it supports students, faculty and alumni as they become ethical leaders in their professions and communities. The University’s entrepreneurial spirit lives in people from every academic discipline who see opportunities to create something new in the world – and work hard to bring their innovations to life. SMU’s relationship with Dallas – the dynamic center of one of the nation’s fastest-growing regions – offers unique learning, research, social and career opportunities that provide a launch pad for our students, faculty and alumni to make a global impact. On the most beautiful college campus in the country, SMU Mustangs are energized by unbridled opportunities – from teaching, learning and research to creativity, performance and athletic endeavor.

About the Department:

Department is the academic support arm of the Office of Budget and Finance and provides support to all seven academic areas, the Provost and the Moody Graduate School. The team includes a two-part unit which includes financial business managers involved with the annual budget and merit processes, year-end close, financial reporting and approvals and a transaction-focused unit that facilitates journal processing, accounts payable processing, as well as other functions, in a high-touch customer service environment.

About the Position:

This role is an on-campus, in-person position.

This position serves as financial/strategic advisor to the Dean of assigned school with the following responsibilities: Handle routine & specialized budget activities including funding decisions/start-up management, audit, analysis & reporting; Oversight of purchasing, including capital purchase planning & purchase requisition approvals; Management of Concur/Pcard & other systems including access, maintenance & coordination/communication of compliance issues; Support HR activities including job description review, comp. decisions for both faculty & staff, draft/review employment agreements & management of position budgeting; Oversee/guides the annual budget & merit process & year-end close process; Responds to questions from tax, internal/external audit & the controller; Manage/maintain financial org structure, handles routine/special reporting needs, cost/expense analysis/projections; participates in leadership meetings as needed.

Essential Functions:

• Budgets - coordinates annual budget process with leadership, faculty & staff including annual merit process; quarterly budget review and routine audit activities; monthly budget review/reconciliation on assigned programs/projects; reallocation/adjustments of budget resources; balance sheet recon; ad-hoc analysis and reporting; reserve balance analysis; assisting org owners w/questions, etc.
• Budgets (specialized) - assists school leadership with budget development, forecasting & projections for special projects, start-ups, new programs/centers; handles position budgeting or assists if assigned to others; oversees assigned orgs/budgets specific to them; analysis & reporting on tuition & enrollment data if applicable; coordinates/supports financial reporting in student financials, etc.
• Purchasing/Contracts - primary contact for capital purchase planning; approves purchase reqs ($5k and above); can initiate purchase reqs on behalf of leadership; assists with/reviews contracts as needed; drafts or assists with employment/retirement agreements; serves as liaison with school on purchasing/contract questions; assists/coordinate report on fixed asset inventory; compliance/issues, etc.
• Concur/Pcard Management/Cash Handling - provides direction on proper cash-handling/deposits; assists faculty/staff using Concur when needed (educates); approvals in Concur as required; handles new pcard requests/limit changes; coordinates/communicates regarding compliance issues; reviews monthly compliance reports; etc.
• Human Resources/Recruitment - Consults w/leadership on recruitment options/pay decisions; oversees recruitment budget if applicable; handles new faculty relocation, recruitment & work authorizations; reviews/signs terminations; oversees/approves employment agreements/contracts; participate on hiring decisions/interviews candidates as needed; position budgeting; etc.
• Payroll/Human Resources - Primary school contact for all payroll/HR duties; faculty leave comp adjustments, manages faculty pay options and summer comp; initiates/approves perm faculty/staff PAFs/PRCs; can initiate extra-comps (VP/Dean approves); handles personnel actions; approves adjunct PAFs; requests access to TimeAccess/ePay system, approves delegates, maintenance; distributes/provides vacation accrual info; etc.
• Year-end Close/Tax Compliance - establish year-end close calendar for assigned school & initiates required tasks; assists Controller with year-end close decisions; fund start-ups, review & handle restricted fund deficits, request fund balance transfers; makes decisions on prepaids/deferred expenses/accruals; responds to tax compliance (form 990/990T & Unrelated Business Income) & ext. audits; consults on tax treatment of travel payments, honorarium & reimbursements of foreign visitors; etc.
• Reporting: Distributes Q-drive financial reports monthly; Cost/rev analysis requests; G&C: Assists PIs w/financial reports, faculty salaries, start-up estimates, review/approvals, etc.; Institutional Research: Assists with data collection/information requests; Reports on tuition/fees (not enrollment/scholarship data); Assists/directs requests for external reporting/questionnaires/surveys for financial data; Reports on specific boards/centers, Requests item types for revenue/scholarships, etc.
• General Management - assist, facilitate and/or direct faculty/staff w/questions/concerns about programs, policy, or process (or direct to formal training/proper manager); evaluate/manage org financial structure; oversight on balance sheet accts; inactivate/request new orgs; request Q-drive access/org owner changes; req access to grant report folder; assist with & monitor start-up funding obligations; point of contact/liaison with Dean/other(s) as requested; attend Dean's leadership team meetings if requested.
• Gifts/Development Services - oversight on endowment utilization for school; serves as a resource for endowment donor reports/directs appropriately; manages gift designation creation/assignment with GL; assists with obtaining donor data for financial reporting; assists with projecting endowment income for programs/centers/projects; etc. Other duties as assigned/or as needed to support assigned school/college during vacancies in key areas.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree is required. Preferably degree in accounting, finance or business.

A minimum of seven (7) years of experience is required.

Candidate with work experience in general accounting/general ledger; work environment that included a private university setting is desired. Knowledge of staff and/or program management experience is strongly preferred. Work experience with forecasting and planning strongly desired; experience with change management a plus.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Candidate with CPA certification is preferred. Candidate must demonstrate to possess knowledge about and able to articulate GAAP/FASB. Candidate must also demonstrate strong customer service orientation. Candidate with advanced Excel skills is required. Experience with PeopleSoft Financials is a plus. Attention to detail is a must.

Candidate must demonstrate strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to communicate broadly across the University and develop and maintain effective relationships with a wide range of constituencies. Must also demonstrate strong written communication skills.

Candidate must possess strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify and analyze problems, as well as devise solutions. Must also have strong organizational, planning and time management skills.

Physical and Environmental Demands:

• Sit for long periods of time

Deadline to Apply:

Priority consideration may be given to submissions received by June 5, 2023.

Open until filled.

EEO Statement:

SMU will not discriminate in any program or activity on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or gender identity and expression. The Executive Director for Access and Equity/Title IX Coordinator is designated to handle inquiries regarding nondiscrimination policies and may be reached at the Perkins Administration Building, Room 204, 6425 Boaz Lane, Dallas, TX 75205, 214-768-3601, accessequity@smu.edu.

Benefits:

SMU offers staff a broad, competitive array of health and related benefits. In addition to traditional benefits such as health, dental, and vision plans, SMU offers a wide range of wellness programs to help attract, support, and retain our employees whose work continues to make SMU an outstanding education and research institution.

SMU is committed to providing an array of retirement programs that benefit and protect you and your family throughout your working years at SMU and, if you meet SMU's retirement eligibility criteria, during your retirement years after you leave SMU.

The value of learning at SMU isn't just about preparing our students for the future. Employees have access to a wide variety of professional and personal development opportunities, including tuition benefits.