Position Summary

The incumbent will assist the Department of Teacher Education in budget management, reporting, forecasting, and financial planning of general fund, designated, and discretionary accounts related to departmental operation.  The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated expertise in academic financial operations, an understanding of HR, and strong communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively across a diverse range of individuals, including students, administrative professionals, and faculty. The incumbent will work closely with the Chair of Teacher Education, college budget officer, dean’s office accountant, and college human resources.

This position oversees the fiscal activities of a moderately large and complex academic unit, with responsibility for both short- and long-term financial strategic planning with the chairperson of the department.

Key Responsibilities:

BUDGETING: Manages a mid-size complex budget and maintains accounting controls for the total department budget of general fund, designated, and discretionary accounts; Develops annual general fund budget for the fiscal year with chairperson and loads into SFN; Provides budgets, spendable balances, and guidance on allowable expenses per MSU policy to department chairperson

ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT: Monitors, adjusts, and acts on all departmental expenditures; Processes financial forms; Prepares and reconciles records relating to departmental expenditures; Authorizes all purchases on departmental general fund, designated, and discretionary accounts; Assists in developing financial policies and accounting controls and procedures; Contributes to departmental shared drive for official department documents related to budget, expenditures, and financial planning

REPORTING: Provides regular budget and accounting reports to department chairperson and college; Research, prepares, and verifies the accuracy of financial statements and reports; completes monthly and quarterly forecasting by utilizing financial trends and assessing potential impacts on the department’s budgets

FINANCIAL GUIDANCE: Addresses non-routine financial questions and situations, often requiring investigation and/or research of precedents within the department/college/university regarding fiscal matters to advise the chairperson on options; Uses patterns, trends and precedents to analyze situations and determine course of action to advise departmental chairperson regarding options

HUMAN RESOURCES: Coordinates with CEDHR to provide accounting strings and labor projections; Assisting unit and CEDHR with the preparation of faculty/academic staff and graduate student appointments, determining effort % based on load; Collaborate with CEDHR regarding payments and problem-solve payment issues; Consults with CEDHR if questions arise about compliance with university policies and procedures, collective bargaining agreements, and state and federal legislation; Develop and maintain relationships with key contacts to enhance workflow and work quality

Additional duties may be assigned to support administrative operations.

Hybrid work statement: The college is currently operating under a hybrid modality structure, with staff working two days in person and three days remotely. This structure is subject to change at any time.

Minimum Requirements

Knowledge equivalent to that which normally would be acquired by completing a four-year college degree program in Accounting; three to five years of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in supervision, accounting procedures and developing accounting controls, policies and procedures; or an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Desired Qualifications

Eight years or more of related and progressively more responsible or expansive work experience in financial or accounting practices in an academic department in higher education, overseeing budgets and account management.

Experience working in a fast-paced, complex, and multi-faceted academic department environment.

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a diverse academic setting.

Proficiency in EBS including KFS, Business Intelligence and Analytics, SAP, Power BI, SFN, and Concur.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, age, disability or protected veteran status.

Work Hours

STANDARD 8-5

Website

education.msu.edu

Remote Work Statement

MSU strives to provide a flexible work environment and this position has been designated as remote-friendly. Remote-friendly means some or all of the duties can be performed remotely as mutually agreed upon.

Bidding eligibility ends February 10, 2026, 11:55 PM

About Michigan State University

Spartans work every day to advance the common good in uncommon ways.Together, we tackle some of the world?s toughest problems to find solutions that make life better?from alternative energy to better food safety to breakthrough medical and environmental applications achieved through rare isotope research.We teach. We explore and we discover. We collaborate and lead. We innovate, inspire, and empower. We achieve our potential and create circumstances that help our students and others achieve theirs.We're good at it, and we've been at it for more than 150 years.The nation?s pioneer land-grant university, MSU began as a bold experiment that democratized higher education and helped bring science and innovation into everyday life. The revolutionary concept became a model for the nation.Today, MSU is one of the top research universities in the world?on one of the biggest, greenest campuses in the nation. Home to nationally ranked and recognized academic, residential college, and service-learning programs, we?re a diverse community of dedicated students and scholars, athletes and artists, scientists and leaders.In ways both practical and profound, we work to create a stronger, more sustainable, and more hopeful future for all.

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