Business Operations Manager

University of Southern Mississippi - Hattiesburg, MS

Full-time - Mid Level

Hattiesburg, MS

10,001+ employees

Educational Services

About the position

The University of Southern Mississippi is seeking a Business Operations Manager to provide essential financial oversight and administrative support to the Associate Vice President for Facilities and Planning Management. This role is pivotal in ensuring that the Physical Plant budgets are accurately forecasted and managed, while also evaluating cost/benefit analyses and exploring business improvement options across the Hattiesburg and Gulf Coast campuses. The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering timely, high-quality financial information that supports the operational needs of the Physical Plant division. In this position, the Business Operations Manager will oversee the approval of all Physical Plant accounts payable vouchers for the Hattiesburg campus, utilizing PeopleSoft software to ensure that all departmental payments are processed promptly. The role also involves supervising the establishment of work-in-process accounts and monitoring expenditures related to construction funds. As the primary liaison between the Physical Plant and the Office of the Controller, the manager will assist in preparing necessary financial schedules and disclosures for the annual financial report. The Business Operations Manager will lead the annual budget development process for the Physical Plant division, collaborating closely with the Office of Fiscal Planning and Analysis. This includes preparing monthly budget reports and ensuring that the division operates within its budgetary constraints. Additionally, the manager will maintain a comprehensive list of projects funded by Legislative Capital Expense Funds, ensuring compliance with legislative requirements and timely processing of expenses. The role also requires maintaining detailed records for capital projects funded by university-issued bonds, preparing submissions for reimbursement requests, and organizing documentation for potential audits. The Business Operations Manager will assist in implementing financial systems and perform other duties as assigned, contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the Physical Plant operations.

Responsibilities

• Provide timely financial information to the Associate Vice President for Facilities and Planning Management.
• Approve all Physical Plant accounts payable vouchers using PeopleSoft software for the Hattiesburg campus.
• Supervise the establishment of work-in-process accounts in PeopleSoft and monitor construction fund expenditures.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Office of the Controller and assist in preparing financial schedules and disclosures.
• Manage the annual budget development process for the Physical Plant division, working with the Office of Fiscal Planning and Analysis.
• Prepare monthly budget reports and monitor financial results to ensure budget compliance.
• Maintain a list of projects funded with Legislative Capital Expense Funds and ensure compliance with legislative requirements.
• Organize invoices for reimbursement requests to IHL and maintain files for bond documentation.
• Assist in the implementation of financial systems and perform other assigned duties.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field from an accredited college or university.
• Three to five years of accounting, bookkeeping, or related experience and/or training.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals and governmental regulations.
• Proficient in writing reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.
• Strong mathematical skills, including the ability to compute rates, ratios, and percentages.
• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions in various forms.
• Proficient in using personal computers and software such as PeopleSoft and Microsoft Office.

Nice-to-haves

• Work experience with a construction company or managing business operations for large-scale projects.