Financial Senior Manager

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How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Who We Are

Facilities and Operations (F&O) has primary responsibility for the stewardship of the university's physical properties, including 37 million square feet of building space. We are responsible for sophisticated and complex academic, research and clinical facilities, as well as associated environmental stewardship and regulatory compliance. F&O is a positive organization dedicated to the principles of being respectful, collaborative, solutions-based, and proactive.

Facilities and Operations Operational Support includes finance, human resources, training, and information services. The F&O Finance team provides consolidated business support to F&O departments in the areas of fiscal management, reporting, budgeting, payroll and timekeeping, rate development, and internal controls.

Job Summary

The Financial Senior Manager oversees day-to-day accounting operations, including general ledger activity, reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, financial reporting, transaction review, and period-end close activities across multiple funding sources. The role ensures the accurate analysis and allocation of university utility costs, develops transparent and equitable utility and recharge-rate methodologies, and conducts rate studies based on operating costs, consumption, reserves, and capital needs. This position supervises and develops accounting and budget staff, strengthens internal controls, manages financial risks, and leads improvements to systems, billing, reporting, and data quality.

Serving as a trusted financial advisor to Facilities and Operations (F&O) partners, the Financial Senior Manager provides oversight / guidance for budget, capital-planning, rate-development, monthly financial reporting, analyzing trends and variances; resolves complex issues; and translates financial information into clear recommendations. The role also collaborates with F&O leadership on strategic planning, decision-making, and special projects while promoting accountability, service, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities*

Accounting

• Lead day-to-day accounting operations, including general ledger activity, journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, and financial reporting.
• Review financial transactions for accuracy, appropriate documentation, funding availability, and compliance with university policies.
• Coordinate monthly, quarterly, and fiscal year-end closing activities.
• Oversee accounting for multiple funding sources, which may include reserves, general funds, gifts, endowments, sponsored projects, auxiliary operations, plant and designated funds.
• Monitor internal controls, identify financial risks, and recommend corrective actions or process improvements.
• Lead or assign work to accounting staff; provide training, feedback, and technical guidance.

Utility Rates and Cost Allocation

• Ensures accurate recording, analysis, and allocation of utility costs - including electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, steam, and GEO exchange - across university units and facilities.
• Develop, review, and document methodologies for internal utility rates, recharge rates, and cost allocations.
• Ensure rates are equitable, transparent, consistently applied, and supported by appropriate cost data.

Leadership and Collaboration

• Supervise, train, and develop accounting and budget staff, as assigned.
• Translate complex utility and accounting information into clear recommendations for financial and nonfinancial audiences.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives to improve financial systems, billing processes, reporting tools, and data quality.
• Promote a culture of accountability, service, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Budget Support & Consultation

• Offer expert guidance to financial partners across F&O on a wide spectrum of budget-related matters, including annual and monthly budgeting for Auxiliary and General Funds, capital planning, rate development, and cost containment strategies.
• Serve as a trusted advisor, providing consultation and resolution for complex budget issues.
• Ensure the preparation and presentation of comprehensive monthly financial reporting to F&O partners, ensuring clarity and strategic foresight.
• Advise the Budget team on the analyses of monthly financial results and budget variances, focusing on identifying trends, generating insights, and providing detailed explanations

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Collaborate with financial leadership across F&O to analyze potential strategies, make informed decisions on significant matters without immediate direction, and contribute to ongoing financial planning efforts.
• Assist with various special projects and undertake additional responsibilities as assigned by the Associate Director, demonstrating flexibility and a commitment to organizational goals.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 8 years experience in accounting, budgeting, financial analysis, or controllership.
• Demonstrated knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and financial reporting.
• Experience developing budgets, forecasts, financial models, and variance analyses.
• Experience establishing or evaluating internal controls and business processes.
• Proficiency with enterprise financial systems, spreadsheet applications, and financial reporting tools.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a complex organization.
• Demonstrated experience leading, developing, and managing a high-performing team.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with technical, operational, and financial professionals.

Desired Qualifications*

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential.
• Experience working in a higher education environment.
• Advanced proficiency with financial analysis and enterprise systems, particularly BusinessObjects, BPC/Oracle, M-Pathways, AiM and Energy Billing System (EBS).

Why Work at Michigan?

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

• Generous time off, including vacation time, sick time, holiday and season days
• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Long-term disability coverage
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Strong commitment to work/life balance
• Hybrid work model - minimum 2 days onsite, 3 days remote with flexible work arrangements with respect to campus stakeholder needs

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

This position is eligible for a hybrid work model - minimum 2 days onsite, 3 days remote with flexible work arrangements with respect to campus stakeholder needs.

Additional Information

Facilities and Operations is a positive organization dedicated to the principles of being respectful, collaborative, solutions-based, and proactive.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.