Business Manager

Business Manager

Department: COE-Research & Graduate Educ

Location:

Athens Area

The incumbent of this position handles a variety of tasks of a financial and human resource nature. They perform professional‑level accounting work and manage the life cycle of employees. This individual will need strong interpersonal skills to work with various faculty, staff, students, and administrators at the college level. The incumbent utilizes close attention to grant/contract accounts and maintenance of income accounts to ensure they are current and balanced.

They also manage personnel records and positions for all of the MFE COE Research Center employees and complete updates across various UGA systems as needed. Activities and decisions are varied in nature, involving the solving of both common and complex problems. In partnership with college and departmental leadership, the incumbent manages funds, works to evaluate, develop, and improve business processes, and makes financial decisions that are strategic, compliant, and timely.

Discretion and confidentiality in financial and personnel conversations and matters are necessary. This employee’s supervisor or other appropriate position is consulted for clarification of policies where needed.

Bachelor’s degree in a related field or equivalent.

• Knowledge of UGA systems, e.g., UGA Financials, OneUSG Connect, UGA Jobs, P‑Card, UGA Mart, and financial reporting options.
• Knowledge of general office practices and procedures, including strong word processing and spreadsheet skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills to interact with a variety of personalities at all levels, exercising tact, confidentiality, sound judgment, diplomacy, and flexibility to promote positive working relationships and job effectiveness.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Able to exercise judgment in maintenance of accounting procedures.

Work at a computer for several hours during the work day.

Account Review and Reconciliation

• Review all transactions for state, IDC, sales, grant, residuals, and foundation accounts on monthly basis, comparing local records with appropriate ledgers. Make any needed corrections immediately when errors are identified.
• Work closely with center directors to prepare and maintain budgets. Review account balances with directors regularly in order to discuss plans for revenue and expenditure.
• Assist faculty and post‑award paperwork for grants and contracts.
• Maintain financial records, track all account activity, and reconcile College of Education’s center accounts monthly.

Personnel

• Consult regularly with Center directors regarding personnel needs to help determine appropriate processes needed to ensure appointment changes are made in a timely fashion.
• Advise directors on HR and Payroll policy and procedure.
• Prepare or help prepare UGAJobs postings and help prepare hiring paperwork.
• Complete alternative hiring paperwork (Retire/rehire, dual appointment, Independent Contractor).
• Prepare or help prepare OneUSG Connect transactions for appropriate personnel and position changes.
• Review timecards to ensure appropriate entries and approvals are processed by payroll deadlines.
• Follow up with supervisors where approvals in the compliance component are needed.
• Review Estimated, Additional Pay, and Validate Pay reports for each pay period to ensure accuracy of payroll and report to CBO.
• Assist new hires with HR paperwork.

Manage purchases for Centers, including:

• Process requisitions via UGAMart, payment requests via UGA Financials, and UGAF paper or electronic payment processes.
• Communicate regularly with Centers to determine purchasing needs and distribute materials appropriately when received.
• Advise Centers on policies and procedures related to purchasing and payments. Ensure UGA/UGAF policies and procedures are followed. Review and help in processing of petty cash and gift card account requests. Reconcile transactions on these accounts and balances with custodian on a monthly basis.

Accounts Receivable Process

• Help maintain accounts…