• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $64,000 - $77,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Academic Administration and Finance (DAAF) in the Department of Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies (MESAAS), the Business Manager is responsible for the financial, budgetary, and administrative operations of the department.

MESAAS is a leading center for the study of the culture, history, and politics of the Middle East, South Asia, and Africa.  Our faculty of distinguished scholars and outstanding teachers represent some of the most innovative and influential figures in their fields.  Our approach to learning stresses a knowledge of languages and intellectual traditions, but the subjects we explore cover a range of fields from literature and the history of ideas to contemporary history and politics.

Responsibilities

Finance and Budget Operations 

• In close collaboration with the DAAF, develops, implements, and tracks budgets with periodic re-forecasting.
• Manages the day-to-day Accounts Payable and Purchasing operations.
• Acts primarily as approver and serves as a backup initiator for department HR and finance systems, including but not limited to ARC, PAC (People at Columbia), Labor Accounting, FDS, and the Budget Tool.
• Initiates and may approve payroll for casual and work-study employees.
• Interprets and communicates financial policies to faculty and administrators and works together to ensure compliance.
• Serves as the department’s Secondary Effort Reporting Coordinator.
• Supervises the administration of departmental participation in the Faculty Research Allowance Program and other Arts and Sciences (A&S) reimbursement and special funding programs for faculty.  Processes documentation and budget for sponsored and non-sponsored grants.
• Generates weekly, monthly, and quarterly financial reconciliation reports; prevents overdrafts and ensures compliance with policies of granting agencies.
• Works with the DAAF and A&S EVP Office to perform fiscal year-end closing.

Administrative Operations 

• Manages the hiring process and ensures compliance with human resources policies and procedures.
• In collaboration with the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO), handles the visa application process.
• Supervises a full-time Financial Assistant.
• Responsible for space management, oversees maintenance and repair of office equipment and furniture, and prepares and tracks facilities service requests.
• Manages logistics of internal and external programming events.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or two years of related experience. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous work experience in a finance-related role.

Other Requirements

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain high confidentiality and professionalism with a client focus.
• Strong multi-tasking, prioritization, and organization skills.
• Attention to detail, research, critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Self-starter, a fast learner who can work independently under limited supervision.
• Work well in an interactive team environment.
• Working knowledge of database programs.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office.
• Ability to interpret accounting and purchasing policies.
• Capacity to build morale and group commitments to objectives.
• Ability to adjust work schedule and time off according to the needs of office staff.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.