4007 International Financial and Operations Manager

POSITION IDENTIFICATION

TITLE International Financial and Operations Manager

CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 4007

GRADE 45

CLASSIFICATION Exempt

IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Vice President for Community and Global Partnerships

GENERAL FUNCTION

The International Financial and Operations Manager designs and maintains financial controls and financial recording policies and procedures to ensure accurate financial accounting and budgetary oversight for MSU International Programs, including the LNU-MSU College of International Business in China, Education Abroad, English Language Institute, Foreign Language Institute, International Services, International Certificate Program, and the International Leadership and Training Center. The International Financial and Operations Manager also assists the Vice President for Community and Global Partnerships in supervising operations of MSU International Programs and the Jim D. Morris Center.

MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS

Education:  A Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, technology, or a related field is required.  Master’s degree in business field is preferred. An equivalent combination of years of experience and education may be considered for substitution of educational requirements.

Experience:  At least two years of accounting, business planning/operations, financial analysis, or budgetary experience is required. At least one year of international accounting experience is preferred.  Accounting, budgetary and/or operations management experience in higher education preferred.

Skills:  A high aptitude in accountancy and a demonstrated ability to work with international exchange of currency is required. Strong computer skills, including knowledge of Excel and the ability to develop spreadsheets and management reports using graphs and charts are required. Demonstrated experience with word processing and database software programs is required.  Effective interpersonal, communications, organizations, administrative, and decision-making skills are required. The ability to initiate and follow through with work responsibilities and to meet deadlines with a minimum of supervision is required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Advises the Vice President for Community and Global Partnerships regarding financial decisions by providing accurate information regarding the financial status of individual programs, accounts, and the division as a whole and by interpreting university financial reports.

2. Assists the Vice President for Community and Global Partnerships in annual budgeting and financial planning by providing revenue and expense projections.

3. Understands and interprets the exchange of foreign currency to U.S. currency and prepares financial reports and entries using this information, including reports for the Vice President for Community and Global Partnerships and the university CFO.

4. Reports on the financial position of International Programs units, international partnerships, and joint venture partnerships in areas of income and expenditure based on past, present, and forecasted operations by overseeing the collections, organization, and analysis of financial data. Manages the daily accounting tasks following university policies, generally accepted accounting practices, and international financial reporting standards.

5. Maintains accuracy of financial data, and ensures budget numbers, expense codes, journal entries and budget adjustments are recorded correctly. Researches and analyzes data, as needed, and provides oversight to all financial matters.

6. Ensures the financial integrity of all budgets, international partnerships, and departments within International Programs by monitoring balances and expenditures, reviewing documents, and providing information and reports.

7. Provides assistance to the Vice President for Community and Global Partnerships by collecting, organizing, and analyzing financial and other statistical data for the preparation of financial and non-financial reports, establishing reporting deadlines for those providing data for those reports, and utilizing the Banner system to assist with financial management responsibilities.

8. Assists the Vice President for Community and Global Partnerships in supervising operations of International Programs and the Jim D. Morris Center.

9. Accepts signature authorization responsibilities to approve various personnel forms, payroll forms, purchase orders, and other documents as delegated by the Vice President for Community and Global Partnerships.

10. Utilizes effective interpersonal, problem-solving, and decision-making skills to handle special administrative and trouble-shooting projects assigned by the Vice President for Community and Global Partnerships by gathering information, coordinating, and communicating with various departments, and following through with projects to completion.

11. Supervises ILTC Certificate Program by coordinating with approved international training partners to prepare, record and distribute non-credit professional development certificates for approved programs endorsed by ILTC.

12. Serves as a liaison between International Programs, international partnerships, joint venture partnerships, and Financial Services as well as ensuring financial information shared between the areas is accurate and complete.

13. Provides guidance to personnel within International Programs as it relates to financial accountability and related university policies.

14. Contributes to a work environment which encourages knowledge of, respect for, and development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.

15. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing professional contacts with colleagues, and attending professional development courses and other training as required by the Vice President for Community and Global Partnerships.

16. Contributes to the overall success of International Programs by performing all other essential duties and responsibilities as assigned, maintaining high levels of accuracy and maintaining a professional demeanor and appropriate levels of confidentiality.

SUPERVISION

The International Financial and Operations Manager is supervised by the Vice President for Community and Global Partnerships and supervises full-time employees, graduate assistants, and student employees as assigned.

OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES

FEBRUARY 2023

JOB FAMILY 4

Factor 1: Professional Knowledge, Skill, and Technical Mastery

Level 4.0 - 2300 Points: Knowledge of the principles, concepts, practices, methods and techniques of an administrative, managerial, or professional field such as accounting or auditing, financial management, business administration, human resources, engineering, social sciences, communications, education, law, or medicine. Knowledge permits the employee to complete assignments by applying established methods to recurring types of projects/problems susceptible to well-documented precedents or to schedule, plan, and carry out precedented projects. Alternatively, knowledge at this level might also permit the employee to carry out precedented projects requiring considerable experience in specific areas within higher education. Knowledge at this level is typically acquired through a combination of formal education and/or training and experience that includes a requirement for a college degree in a specific technical or professional specialty along with significant related work experience. Alternatively, equivalent knowledge requirements at this level include a non-technical or general Bachelor's degree requirement with substantial work experience or a non-specific Master's degree requirement with substantial work experience. Knowledge requirements generally also include a significant amount of related work experience and may include administrative or supervisory experience.

Factor 2: Supervisory Responsibility

Level 2.0 - 130 Points: Regular, but limited, supervision, training, or directing the work assignments of (a) small numbers of student, part-time or temporary workers, or (b) one or more permanent, full-time employees. The nature of supervision is largely confined to scheduling work and assigning tasks. Supervision at this level typically does not include a full range of supervisory responsibilities, and supervisory duties typically do not consume a large portion of the work day.

Factor 3: Interactions with Others

Level 4.0 - 500 Points: Interactions with others are somewhat unstructured. The purpose may be to influence or motivate others, to obtain information, or to control situations and resolve problems. Interactions may be with individuals or groups of co-workers, students, or the general public, may be moderately unstructured, and may involve persons who hold differing goals and objectives. Individuals at this level often act as a liaison between groups with a focus on solving particular unstructured problems. Interactions at this level require considerable interpersonal skill and the ability to resolve conflict.

Factor 4: Job Controls and Guidelines

Level 3.0 - 500 Points: The employee operates under general supervision expressed in terms of program goals and objectives, priorities, and deadlines. Administrative supervision is given through statements of overall program or project objectives and available resources. Administrative guidelines are relatively comprehensive and the employee need only to fill in gaps in interpretation and adapt established methods to perform recurring activities. In unforeseen situations, the employee must interpret inadequate or incomplete guidelines, develop plans, and initiate new methods to complete assignments based on those interpretations. Assignments are normally related in function, but the work requires many different processes and methods applied to an established administrative or professional field. Problems are typically the result of unusual circumstances, variations in approach, or incomplete or conflicting data. The employee must interpret and refine methods to complete assignments. Characteristic jobs at this level may involve directing single-purpose programs or performing complex, but precedented, technical or professional work.

Factor 5: Managerial Responsibility

Level 4.0 - 1500 Points: Work involves the primary accountability for a smaller department, program, or process. Work activities involve managerial decisions that directly affect the efficiency, costs, reputation, and service quality of the department, program, or process. Work affects a limited range of professional projects or administrative activities of the University. Work activities have a direct and substantial impact on the department. While work activities do have some effect on the efficiency and reputation of the cost center, departments, programs, or processes at this level represent a relatively minor function within the cost center. Employees in jobs at this level may have responsibility for developing budgets, distributing budgeted funds, and exercising the primary control over a relatively small budget.