Manager, Enterprise Financial Operations

Job Title

Manager, Enterprise Financial Operations

Agency

Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi

Department

Autonomy Research Institute

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

Corpus Christi, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

PURPOSE

The Manager, Enterprise Financial Operations manages complex financial operations, budget portfolios, and financial project management to effectively support the Autonomy Research Institute (ARI) executive leadership. This position provides enterprise-wide financialmanagement and oversight across ARI programs, projects, and funding sources. Manager, Enterprise Financial Operations ensures financial alignment with Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) and ARI requirements, simultaneously manages multiple high-priority financial and project activities, and provides coordination and oversight for ARI financial personnel.

The Manager, Enterprise Financial Operations, manages the ARI Enterprise Financial Operations Portfolio and assigned staff, providing oversight of complex, multi-account budgets and project financial activities across ARI. Responsibilities include developing and monitoring budgets, analyzing expenditures and revenues, forecasting financial activity, monitoring budget execution and financial performance, and preparing periodic financial assessments, reports, and recommendations for leadership. The position provides enterprise-level financial management and project support across state, local, and sponsored project accounts of varying size, complexity, and funding requirements.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Enterprise Financial Management: 60%

• Develops, monitors, and manages departmental and project financial accounts and costing allocations to ensure funds and personnel expenses are appropriately allocated and utilized in accordance with applicable funding requirements.

• Reviews and reconciles monthly financial activity, including payroll, expenditures, revenues, and other transactions; identifies discrepancies and coordinates corrective actions as necessary.

• Monitors and evaluates financial internal controls and budget processes across the ARI Enterprise and recommends improvements to strengthen financial accountability, compliance, efficiency, and budget oversight.

• Coordinates with University Accounts Payable and Purchasing to ensure financial transactions are accurate and processed in accordance with established procedures.

• Manages the ARI Enterprise Budget estimated between $7-10 million annually across state, local, and sponsored project funding sources.

• Advises and guides ARI Executive Leadership on proposed expenditures, funding availability, budget impacts, procurement requirements, and program budget development and submission processes.

• Develops and coordinates Requests for Proposals (RFPs) and related procurement documentation, as needed.

• Oversees the collection, analysis, and reporting of financial information across ARI programs, projects, and funding sources to support accurate financial management and oversight.

• Analyzes financial performance, trends, and variances and shares findings and recommendations to ARI Executive Leadership and project stakeholders to support financial planning and decision-making.

• Develops monthly and fiscal-year financial forecasts and projections, including expenditures, encumbrances, and projected balances.

• Provides ARI Executive Leadership with budget updates and recommendations to support annual budget development, resource allocation, and fiscal planning.

• Conducts periodic reviews of financial transactions to evaluate accuracy, supporting documentation, compliance, and adherence to established financial procedures and internal controls.

• Manages project and program budget portfolios throughout the project lifecycle, including cost estimation, budget monitoring, and financial closeout, to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and applicable financial requirements.

• Supervises assigned ARI personnel and provides leadership, direction, and performance oversight.

• Conducts comprehensive reviews of budgets, grants, statutes, regulations, policies, and related financial requirements to assess impacts on ARI operations.

• Supports project delivery objectives through coordination with contract personnel and involvement in vendor recommendations, contract administration and execution, and project lifecycle management.

Project Support: 30%

• Develops, reviews, and maintains project financial and budget documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, compliance, and audit readiness.

• Analyzes state legislative, regulatory, and Texas A&M University System (TAMUS) changes to assess potential financial and operational impacts to ARI.

• Ensures project financial activities, expenditures, and financial deliverables comply with applicable sponsor requirements, contractual obligations, institutional policies, and TAMUS regulations.

• Coordinates pre-award and post-award financial activities, including budget development, proposal routing, and financial monitoring, in collaboration with Principal Investigators (PIs) and the Applied Research Department.

• Coordinates project financial activities among internal teams, PIs, and stakeholders to support project objectives and deliverables.

• Develops and maintains financial tracking systems to monitor project budget execution, expenditures, project deadlines, funding utilization, labor costs, grant performance, and key financial milestones.

• Identifies and communicates project budget risks, funding concerns, and compliance issues to the supervisor and recommends and implements corrective actions as appropriate.

Administrative: 10%

• Coordinates assigned financial and administrative activities with senior TAMU-CC leadership and external stakeholders.

• Develops financial procedures, workflows, and process documentation to support consistent operations.

• Serves as a point of coordination for assigned project budget activities and financial matters during the absence of the Associate Director for Grants, Research and Administration (GRA).

• Provides financial process guidance and training to ARI personnel on in-state and out-of-state travel, purchasing, and related financial procedures, as needed.

• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor27s degree in Business Administration or related field

• Eight (8) years of experience in financial management, research administration, program management, sponsored project administration or related fields

• Additional education may be used as a substitution for the minimum experience requirement:

  • Master27s degree in a related field, and six (6) years of related financial management experience

  • Doctoral degree in a related field, and four (4) years of related financial management experience

• Experience with grant and sponsored research administration, contract administration, budget management, project-level financial tracking, budget monitoring, and financial reporting.

• Experience managing multiple concurrent project budgets with competing priorities, deadlines, and funding requirements.

• U.S. Citizenship Required

SKILLS and ABILITIES

• Strong written and verbal communication skills

• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite

• High level of articulation and professionalism

• Exceptional attention to detail

• Critical thinking and proactive problem solving

• Ability to take initiative and identify opportunities for improvement

• Ability to either work in a team environment or independently with minimal guidance

• Ability to manage and prioritize tasks, resources, and time effectively

• Ability to travel up to 20% for position-associated missions and training sessions

• Ability to exercise discretion and sound judgment in financial, operational, and organizational matters

• Ability to analyze complex financial data, identify trends and variances, and communicate findings to leadership

• Ability to interpret and apply financial policies, sponsor requirements, and institutional procedures

• Ability to develop and maintain financial tracking, reporting, and budget management tools

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master27s degree in Business Administration or related field

• More than eight (8) years of experience in project financial management, program management, research administration, or sponsored project administration

• Experience with pre-award and post-award financial administration of sponsored projects

• Experience coordinating cross-functional teams and internal and external stakeholders

• Experience managing multi-million-dollar budgets or complex financial portfolios

• Experience using budget management tools and project tracking systems

• Experience supervising staff or providing work direction and performance oversight

• Familiarity with aviation, autonomous systems, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), advanced air mobility (AAM), or related technology sectors

• Experience working in higher education

SALARY: Up to $7,612.81 Monthly ($91,353.72 Annual, Approximately)

NOTE:

• All ARI employees may utilize university vehicles for official business travel, including travel to the main campus, local meetings, events, training, and travel within Texas. Employees who operate university vehicles must possess and maintain a valid driver27s license.

BENEFITS (rules, policies, eligibility apply)

INSURANCE:

• Medical

  • $0 - $30 per month for Employee Only coverage after university contribution ($920 value).

  • Up to 83% of premium covered by the university:

    • Employee and Spouse

    • Employee and Children

    • Employee and Family coverage

• Dental & Vision

• Life Insurance, Accidental D&D, Long Term Disability, Flexible Spending Account and Day Care Spending Account

DUAL CAREER PARTNER PROGRAM

ON-CAMPUS WELLNESS OPPORTUNITIES

Work Life S