Financial and Program Operations Manager

General Summary:

The Finance & Program Operations Manager provides college-wide financial leadership in partnership with the Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance, Dean’s Office leadership, and departmental administrators. The role leads budget development, forecasting, and financial analysis across operating, payroll, research, endowment, and gift accounts, while designing and maintaining complex tracking systems for course buyouts, releases, start-up commitments, and personnel funding. The position oversees Dean’s Office–managed research and student success accounts, resolves financial discrepancies, supports post-award grant administration, and delivers accurate, decision-ready reporting that ensures fiscal integrity and informed leadership decision-making.

In addition, the role ensures compliance with federal, state, sponsor, and university policies while driving process improvement across CSM’s financial and operational systems. The Finance & Program Operations Manager provides expert guidance on procurement, contracts, travel, payroll, and university systems; supports personnel budgeting and payroll coordination; and oversees financial operations for key research and student programs. Through advanced data analysis, cross-unit collaboration, and operational leadership, the position strengthens internal controls, improves workflows, and ensures continuity of critical financial operations across the College

Examples of Duties:

Financial Management and Budget Support

• Partner with the Assistant Dean for Administration and Finance (ADAF), Dean’s Office leadership, and departmental administrators to lead budget development, forecasting, financial analysis, and decision-ready reporting across operating, payroll, endowment, gift, and RTF.

• Prepare, oversee, and analyze budget data, expenditure reports, and payroll allocations to ensure accuracy, compliance, and institutional fiscal integrity.

• Design and maintain standardized tracking tools and templates, including complex shadow systems for course buy-outs, course releases, start-up commitments, and personnel funding allocations.

• Oversee internally funded research initiatives, faculty RTF accounts, student success programs, and other strategically managed Dean’s Office–managed accounts.

• Identify and resolve discrepancies in financial activity and direct timely corrections through journal entries, reallocations, or other appropriate mechanisms.

Compliance, Policy Oversight, and Process Improvement

• Maintain and apply current knowledge of federal, state, foundation, sponsor, and university fiscal and administrative policies, ensuring that all transactions consistently comply with applicable requirements.

• Provide leadership-level training and guidance to Administrative Managers and faculty on university systems and procedures, including purchasing, BuyWays, Concur, payroll, Summit, and contract processes.

• Assist in designing and implementing improved financial systems, workflows, documentation, and strengthened internal controls to support continuous improvement within CSM.

• Serve as a subject-matter resource to departments and the Dean’s Office to resolve compliance issues and mitigate policy risks.

Procurement, Contracts, and Fiscal Operations

• Oversee and coordinate purchasing, travel, reimbursement, and complex service contract processes for the Dean’s Office and supported CSM activities.

• Serve as the primary point of contact for BuyWays, Concur, and the University bank card program, coordinating

• cross-functionally with Procurement, the Controller’s Office, and other central units to resolve complex issues.

• Provide strategic oversight and guidance on procurement processes, including complex services contracts and formal competitive procurements when required.

• Recommend, design, and implement improvements to procurement and fiscal workflows to ensure operational efficiency and policy compliance.

Research Grants and Special Accounts Administration

• Provide lead-level post-award financial oversight for externally funded grants and contracts, working strategically with the Departmental Research Administrator (DRA) and departmental Administrative Managers.

• Track, monitor, and analyze expenditures for grants, gifts, and other restricted and complex accounts to ensure appropriate use of funds.

• Support and coordinate reconciliation and decision-support reporting for research and programmatic accounts managed through the Dean’s Office.

Fiscal and Program Operations Support

• Coordinate and oversee financial and operational support for student success and research programs, including CSM Research Fellowships, Student Travel Funds, merit scholarships, and special partnership programs.

• Support program administration by preparing decision-ready materials for review and selection panels,monitoring budgets and expenditures, and maintaining auditable program records.

• Collect, analyze, and synthesize program participation, financial activity, and outcome data for internal planning and external reporting.

• Maintain and optimize databases and tracking systems to support institutional assessment, reporting, and long-term program evaluation.

Personnel Budget Coordination

• Monitor, coordinate, and analyze personnel budgets for Non-Tenure-Track (NTT) faculty and other staff positions.

• Assist ADAF with developing payroll projections, directing funding adjustments, and overseeing reconciliation of personnel costs.

• Maintain and validate records related to salary funding sources, and start-up or special funding commitments.

Data Analysis, Reporting, and Collaboration

• Develop, maintain and enhance spreadsheets, dashboards, and analytical tools to support forecasting, reporting, and strategic decision-making.

• Assist in preparing and delivering financial summaries, reports, and presentations for Dean’s Office leadership and other stakeholders.

• Serve as a primary liaison between the ADAF, Dean’s Office staff, departmental administrators, and central administrative offices.

• Demonstrate operational leadership by stepping in to support critical financial and operational tasks during staff absences, transitions, or peak workload periods.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, higher education administration, or a related field.

• 3–5 years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, budget administration, or fiscal operations, preferably in a higher education environment.

• Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and enterprise financial systems.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work independently with sound judgment.

• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and written and oral communication skills.

• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Preferred

• Master’s degree in business, finance, public administration, or a related field.

• Experience with post-award research administration and restricted funds.

• Familiarity with PeopleSoft, Summit, BuyWays, Concur, and HR Direct.

• Experience providing training, guidance, or process improvement support to administrative staff

Application Instructions:

Please apply online with your resume, cover letter and list of three professional references.

Review of candidates will begin following the application closing date.

Only Internal candidates in the Professional Staff Bargaining Unit will be considered during the first 10 business days of the posting. All other candidates will be considered after that period.

Salary Ranges for the appropriate Pay Grade can be found at the following link:

Grade: 30

This is an exempt union position.

UMass Boston is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, we will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact [email protected] or 617-287-5150.