We are currently seeking a Financial Operations Manager to support the University Student Services (USS) Auxiliary Team. The team comprises on-campus living, housing facilities, resident life, off-campus housing, dining, scheduling, and event services, as well as the JHU Tech Store.
Reporting to the Sr. Financial Manager of Auxiliary Services. The Financial Operations Manager is a key position within the Johns Hopkins University Student Services Auxiliaries Team. It will interface with a wide array of USS leaders and staff, as well as internal and external business partners, regarding accounting, financial compliance, and financial reporting for the Auxiliaries functions of Johns Hopkins University. The position will also provide oversight of Auxiliary Services financial and billing systems with a goal of maintaining data accuracy and internal audit controls.
The Financial Operations Manager will work closely with the Sr. Financial Manager of Auxiliary Services to oversee the full scope of Auxiliaries' financial operations.
This includes all procurement, contracting, billing, vendor management, cash receipting, payroll recording, and related operational reporting. This position will also work closely with the Sr. Financial Analyst and Budget Analyst for Auxiliary Services to identify the impacts of the operational activity on Auxiliaries' budgets, projections, and annual results. The incumbent will routinely interact with JHU's Central administration, including Johns Hopkins Internal Audits, Johns Hopkins Controller's Office, Cash Accounting, Treasury, General Accounting, Accounts Payable, and Procurement.
The Financial Operations Manager will be a specialist in all financial and data management systems used by USS Auxiliaries, including SAP, Oracle, Concur, Star Rez, Transact, and Energy Cap Utilities Systems. The incumbent will have a key role in developing new policies, system processes, and automation to ensure strong resource stewardship, operational efficiency, consistent financial performance, risk mitigation, and financial management across all operations. This role will regularly review financial and reporting processes to identify opportunities for improvement and will lead any required system development projects related to Auxiliary Operations.
The Financial Operations Manager will oversee the Auxiliaries' operational activity to ensure revenue and expense activity remains compliant with Johns Hopkins University policies.
Specific Duties & Responsibilities
Financial Operations & Compliance
- Supervises two Accounting Specialists in carrying out the daily financial operations of USS Auxiliaries, including billing, procurement, vendor management, contract management, travel reimbursements, and payroll.
- Works closely with USS finance staff, JHU Cash Accounting, Treasury, General Accounting, Human Resources, and Accounts Payable Shared Services to transact all incoming cash entries and outgoing disbursements.
- Oversees monthly reconciliations of accounting postings to ensure accuracy.
- Serves as a subject matter expert on a variety of JHU systems.
- Suggests optimizations and leads special projects to increase efficiency.
- Manages GAAP accrual and journal transfer activity to support the funding model.
- Meets regularly with finance personnel to audit processes and routine tasks.
- Work closely with suppliers to educate them on JHU's procurement policies and procedures and collaborate closely with JHU's Procurement and Accounts Payable departments to ensure timely payment of all vendors.
- Plays a key role in creating and revising manuals, job aids, standardized templates, and workflows.
- Monitors, identifies, and communicates important budgetary issues such as over expenditures, revenue reductions, potential cost savings, and unplanned costs to the Sr. Financial Manager.
- Analyzes non-financial metrics reporting to support leadership decision-making.
- Provides support to the Hopkins Student Center financial staff in carrying out financial operations and compliance.
Financial Systems & Workflows
- Regularly reviews systems, including procurement systems, travel and reimbursement systems, billing systems, payroll systems, and vendor management systems to identify development projects to address growing business demands and reporting needs.
- Regularly audits staff using internal financial systems and shared workflows to identify improvement opportunities.
- Coordinates closely with Sr. Financial manager and Auxiliaries team to map processes and build new tools and templates.
- Oversees interaction with vendor systems such as Energy Cap.
Payroll
- Oversees an Accounting Specialist in the weekly processing of payroll for 200 bargaining unit team members and 30 staff (non-BU).
- Creates payroll reports from the payroll system and reconciles payroll entries in SAP.
- Runs various BW Analysis reports on staff, headcount, positions, salary overpayments, etc.
Financial Reporting
- Utilizes existing SAP reporting tools to summarize operational activity and its impact on the USS's financial performance.
- Continuously monitors reporting portfolio with a goal of leveraging existing software tools and automation options to improve, streamline, and develop new automated solutions for enhanced reporting to stakeholders, where needed.
- Utilizes knowledge of the Auxiliary operational activities to support the Sr. Financial Manager and the Sr. Financial Analyst in formulating the Auxiliary annual budget and five-year plan and quarterly financial reporting to the Office of Planning and Budget.
- Maintains compliance with JHU's GAAP accounting, cash accounting, and fund balance accounting.
- Works closely with the Sr. Financial Analyst in the monthly reporting of Auxiliary operating results, key expense and revenue drivers, and key performance metrics for presentation to leadership. Provides analytical insight and makes recommendations.
- Responds to a wide range of recurring and ad-hoc reporting requests from stakeholders; ensures deadlines are met.
- Provides analytical support to the Sr. Finance Manager and Sr. Financial Analyst on the impact of operational activity on financial projections and plans.
- Identifies opportunities to improve the Auxiliary bottom-line results by analyzing vendor relationships.
Leadership & Staff Development
- Supervises two Accounting Specialists, providing them with leadership and development opportunities.
- Co-leads meetings with the finance team to ensure an open and collaborative work environment where information is shared and challenges are discussed.
- Plays a key role in strategic planning to identify and implement improvement projects.
- Provides daily guidance on all financial questions. Provides training and direction to a wide range of staff.
- Promotes and models a culture of exceptional customer service.
- Demonstrates leadership and delivers measurable results by effectively mentoring team members.
- Represents Auxiliaries in meetings pertaining to central initiatives.
- Establishes collegial partnerships with leadership across the Johns Hopkins entity to ensure cross-divisional information sharing and connectivity.
- Models good knowledge management behavior and insists on similar behavior from staff.
Special Knowledge, Skills & Abilities
- US citizen or legal permanent resident due to federal export controls.
- Exhibits integrity, respect, civility, and ethical behaviors toward staff; supports cultural diversity, equity, and fairness in the workplace.
- Demonstrated ability to work with flexibility on several tasks simultaneously and meet various concurrent deadlines.
- Strong interpersonal skills.
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
- Can adapt quickly to shifting priorities and project trajectories.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities with an attention to detail.
- Strong ability to visualize large data in clear, concise ways.
- Demonstrated accounting and financial reporting experience.
- Demonstrated appreciation for new ideas and methods that challenge existing standards.
- Experience implementing new software tools to support business needs.
- Understanding of Federal financial cost principles, GAAP.
- Must possess strong computer skills (MS Word, PowerPoint) and be an advanced Excel user.
- SAP and Oracle experience.
- Experience with Star Rez, Dayforce, Transact, or Concur is a plus.
Minimum Qualifications- Bachelor's Degree in Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field.
- 5 years of progressively responsible related work experience.
- Additional education may substitute for required experience, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula.
Preferred Qualifications- MBA, CPA or Master's Degree in Finance preferred.
- US citizen or legal permanent resident due to federal export controls.
- Knowledge of JHU accounting systems and software preferred.
Classified Title: Accounting Supervisor
Job Posting Title (Working Title): Financial Operations Manager
Role/Level/Range: ATP/04/PE
Starting Salary Range: $73,300.00 - $128,300.00 (Commensurate with experience)
Employee group: Full Time
Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Exempt Status: Exempt
Location: Hybrid/Homewood Campus (On-site 3-4 days a week)
Department name: Hopkins Dining
Personnel area: University Student Services
