Posting Details

Posting Details

Posting Number
S07192P

Position Title
Senior Business Manager

Functional Title
Senior Manager, Finance and Business Operations

Department
Honors College Dept

Salary Range

Pay Basis
Monthly

Position Status
Regular full-time

Location
Richardson

Position End Date (if temporary)

Posting Open Date
08/13/2026

Posting Close Date

Open Until Filled
Yes

Desired Start Date
09/14/2026

Job Summary

The Senior Business Manager serves as the principal business and financial leader for the Hobson Wildenthal Honors College (HWHC) and key affiliated programs, including Debate, Chess, and the Archer Center. Reporting directly to the Dean and partnering closely with the Assistant Dean, this highly visible position provides the opportunity to shape the financial strategy, operational effectiveness, and long-term success of a dynamic academic environment.

The position provides independent, professional-level leadership across a broad portfolio of responsibilities, including budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis and reporting, accounting close and reconciliation, internal controls, revenue and accounts receivable management, scholarship and stipend administration, purchasing, payroll, human resources coordination, and long-range operational planning.

The Senior Business Manager serves as a trusted advisor to college leadership, providing strategic financial insight, identifying and mitigating financial risk, developing policies and decision-support models, and supporting informed decision-making across multiple departments and programs. The position also supervises administrative staff and leads initiatives that strengthen financial stewardship, enhance operational efficiency, support compliance, and advance the College's strategic goals.

Minimum Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree and seven years of related accounting and office management experience. 3 years supervisory experience. Equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education and Experience

Preferred Education & Certifications

• Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field with an accounting or finance emphasis.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) credential.

Preferred Experience

• Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible accounting, finance, or financial management experience, including responsibility for complex, multi-department budgets and financial operations.
• Three (3) or more years of supervisory, managerial, or functional leadership experience.
• Experience with complex budget development and administration, financial forecasting, financial reporting, variance analysis, month-end and year-end close processes, account reconciliations, and internal controls.
• Experience in public higher education, fund accounting, scholarship or student-award administration, research or stipend programs, tuition and fee billing, accounts receivable, purchasing, payroll, and/or human resources administration.
• Experience advising leaders on financial and operational matters and resolving complex financial, accounting, or compliance issues.
• Experience using PeopleSoft or a comparable enterprise financial and human resources system, including development and maintenance of financial reports and models.
• Experience developing and implementing financial policies, audit support processes, compliance practices, and internal control frameworks across multiple departments or programs.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Advanced knowledge of accounting principles, budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, revenue management, accounts receivable management, reconciliations, and internal controls.
• Knowledge of fund accounting and the ability to interpret and apply institutional policies, fund restrictions, purchasing requirements, and applicable state and federal regulations.
• Strong analytical and financial modeling skills, including the ability to identify root causes, assess risk, and translate complex financial data into actionable recommendations.
• Advanced proficiency with spreadsheets, enterprise financial systems, reporting tools, and business intelligence or data visualization software.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise staff, lead cross-functional initiatives, establish accountability, and influence stakeholders without direct reporting authority.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex financial and accounting matters to diverse audiences, including senior leadership.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, recurring financial cycles, and special projects.
• Demonstrated professionalism, discretion, sound judgment, accuracy, and the ability to work independently on complex and sensitive matters.
• Ability to develop policies and procedures, strengthen internal controls, improve financial processes, and support strategic and operational planning.

Other Qualifications

To the extent this position requires the holder to research, work on, or have access to critical infrastructure as defined in Section 117.001(2) of the Texas Business and Commerce Code, the ability to maintain the security or integrity of the critical infrastructure is a minimum qualification to be hired and to continue to be employed in the position.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Leadership and Strategic Financial Management

• Lead all business and finance operations for the Honors College (HWHC), Debate, Chess, and the Archer Center; provide functional and matrix leadership across participating departments; and develop, implement, and maintain consistent financial and administrative policies and procedures.
• Advise and assist the Dean and Assistant Dean in preparing annual budgets, forecasts, projections, data analyses, operational plans, and strategies to mitigate financial risk.
• Synthesize financial information and trends and develop and maintain multi-year and long-range financial planning models for HWHC departments, the Archer Center, departmental master planning, and other University strategic initiatives.
• Lead strategic planning for HWHC programs; recommend and implement improvements to financial processes; and develop, monitor, and report key performance indicators aligned with departmental strategic objectives.
• Provide timely and accurate analyses of actual performance compared with historical results, budgets, and forecasts to support leadership decision-making and the achievement of budgetary and strategic goals.
• Exercise independent judgment and discretion in resolving complex financial and administrative matters, and provide practical financial guidance to support sound business decisions and outcomes.

Accounting, Compliance, and Reporting

• Oversee budgeting, month-end and year-end close processes, financial forecasting, management reporting, internal audit activities, revenue management, and monthly and year-end account reconciliations for HWHC-related departments.
• Prepare and review ad hoc accounting reports and reconciliations; ensure alignment among general ledgers, subledgers, and budget ledgers; prepare budget and ledger journal entries; and resolve discrepancies.
• Administer fund transfers, budget adjustments, account analyses, and spot audits; support the Dean's year-end certifications; and clearly communicate complex accounting matters to leadership and stakeholders.
• Review financial reports for errors and inconsistencies, perform root-cause analyses, recommend corrective actions, and develop statistical and financial models and related analyses.
• Oversee purchasing and payroll processes; approve employee reimbursements, travel authorizations and vouchers, and check requests; and review monthly One Card expense reports and payroll in accordance with University policies, purchasing standards, fund-group requirements, internal controls, and applicable state and federal regulations.

Scholarships, Program Finance, Billing, and Revenue

• Manage National Merit financial award appointments and eligibility tracking; create and maintain tools for complex budgeting, forecasting, and actual-to-plan analyses; process scholarship appointment forms; and reconcile tuition, fees, stipends, and housing awards for accuracy and appropriate use.
• Support the financial management of the Archer Center scholarship program, including vendor setup and requisition processing.
• Coordinate with fiscal officers and faculty across UT Dallas to allocate CV Course funds and Clark Undergraduate Research Program funds; manage stipend distributions for Clark students and PAs; and support stipend disbursements for URAP and other HWHC research initiatives.
• Provide business support for Debate and Chess camps, including vendor payments and revenue forecasting for these revenue-generating programs.
• Manage Archer Fellow student program fee billing; invoice UT System institutions on behalf of the Archer Center; and serve as a liaison to UT System institutions to resolve aging accounts.
• Maintain accurate accounts receivable records; prepare and monitor receivables aging reports; work with external parties to resolve aging invoices and payment discrepancies; and drive the resolution of materially aged balances.

Administration and Other Responsibilities

• Manage administrative staff and coordinate personnel and human resources-related processes for HWHC, Chess, Debate, and the Archer Center.
• Perform other complex financial, administrative, and special projects as directed by the Dean.

Physical Demands and Working Conditions

Physical Activities

Working Conditions

Additional Information

Remote Work Notice:After the probationary period, this role may be eligible for a hybrid (partly remote/partly in office) work schedule, subject to business need and manager approval. Must be located within the DFW Area and have the ability to be on campus with 24 hours of notice. A UT Dallas Remote Work Agreement will be required within 14 days after approval.

What We Can Offer
UT Dallas is an Equal Opportunity Employer with an employee-friendly and supportive work environment. Our comprehensive compensation and benefits package that is effective as of your hire date includes:

• Competitive Salary
• Tuition Benefits
• BCBS PPO Medical Insurance Options - including 100% paid employee medical coverage for full-time employees
• AD&D Insurance
• Dental & Vision Plan Options
• Long and short-term disability
• TRS Retirement Plan
• Fertility Benefits
• Paid time off

All UT Dallas employees have access to various professional development opportunities, including a membership to Academic Impressions, LinkedIn Learning, and UT Dallas Bright Leaders Program.

Visit https://hr.utdallas.edu/employees/benefits/ for more information.

Special Instructions Summary