Business Manager for Donor Funds and Scholarship Operations - Division of Student Success - UTK

The Business Manager for Donor Funds and Scholarship Operations serves as the division's subject matter expert and principal administrator for donor-funded financial resources within the Division of Student Success. Reporting to the Director of Finance and Administration, the position provides independent oversight, strategic leadership, financial stewardship, and compliance management for endowments, gift funds, scholarships, and other restricted resources. The incumbent exercises significant professional judgment in interpreting donor requirements, advising leadership, mitigating risk, and ensuring the effective and sustainable utilization of donor-funded resources.

Restricted Funds & Scholarship Administration (40%)

• Direct and administer the financial management and stewardship of restricted funds, endowments, gift funds, scholarships, and other designated accounts.

  • Oversee fund activity, expenditures, allocations, commitments, and balances to ensure compliance with donor intent and funding requirements.

  • Interpret donor agreements and related documentation to ensure appropriate application of funding restrictions and obligations.

  • Oversee and ensure the integrity of the establishment, administration, reconciliation, and maintenance of restricted fund and scholarship accounts.

  • Provide leadership for scholarship funding workflows, account transactions, approvals, allocations, documentation, and issue resolution.

  • Serve as the division's authoritative advisor and subject matter expert regarding restricted funds and scholarship administration.

  • Provide leadership and consultation when working with Advancement, Financial Aid, and campus partners in resolving complex funding questions and account discrepancies.

  • Ensure the maintenance of complete and accurate records supporting all restricted fund and scholarship activities.

Financial Planning, Analysis & Stewardship (35%)

• Lead financial planning activities, including the development of forecasts, projections, and analyses supporting strategic decision-making.

  • Evaluate financial performance, fund utilization, and spending trends, identifying risks and opportunities for optimization.

  • Provide executive-level financial reports, dashboards, and analyses to divisional leadership and stakeholders.

  • Lead long-range financial planning and budget development efforts to promote sustainability of donor-funded resources.

  • Ensure compliance with donor restrictions, university policies, accounting standards, and applicable regulations.

  • Maintain robust internal controls and accountability measures that safeguard donor-funded resources.

  • Direct audit preparation, financial reviews, reconciliations, and reporting requirements.

  • Exercise independent judgment in identifying compliance risks and implementing corrective actions.

Strategic Operations & Process Improvement (20%)

• Provide strategic leadership for continuous improvement of processes, systems, and controls.

• Establish and oversee standardized procedures, reporting tools, and operational guidelines.

• Serve as a divisional consultant, providing expert guidance on financial policies, procedures, and systems.

• Lead collaboration with campus stakeholders to resolve complex business and operational challenges.

• Communicate financial information effectively to leadership and non-financial audiences.

• Provide leadership for strategic initiatives related to financial management, scholarships, and donor-funded resources.

• Advise divisional leadership on financial strategy, stewardship practices, risk management, and resource optimization.

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

• Perform additional duties, special projects, and assignments in support of divisional, departmental, and university priorities.

• Address emerging business, financial, operational, and compliance needs assigned by leadership.

• Contribute to cross-functional initiatives that advance the mission of the Division of Student Success.

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree :in Accounting, Finance, Business, or closely related field

Experience:

• A minimum of 2+ years of progressively responsible accounting, financial, scholarship, and/or related work experience.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Ability to communicate effectively, including active listening skills, plus the ability to work with a diverse group of staff, administrators, and other stakeholders.

• Ability to prioritize and manage a high volume of complex projects simultaneously to meet constant deadlines in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.

• Ability to be detail-oriented with strong organizational and problem-solving skills.

• Ability to be flexible and exercise sound judgment, with an open and collaborative style of work that encourages teamwork and cooperation.

• Ability to provide excellent customer service with a commitment to exceptional quality.

• Ability to think analytically, quantitatively, creatively, and strategically and to work with ambiguity.

• Skill to be an independent thinker with professional skepticism.

• Ability to be a team player who works well collectively and collaboratively with colleagues to achieve common goals.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office.

• Working knowledge of scholarships, financial aid policies/procedures, and restricted sources of funding.

• Must be able to maintain strict confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive financial, personnel, and operational information in accordance with university policies and applicable laws and regulations.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s Degree: Business Administration

Experience:

• 4+ years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, financial, or scholarship administration; experience in a higher education environment.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Ability to interpret and communicate federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to administrative operations, policies, and procedures.

• Knowledge of UT fiscal, human resources, and other relevant policies.

• Experience with Oracle, Power BI, and other reporting tools.

• Experience with scholarships, financial aid, or related processes in a higher education setting.

Work Location

• Location: Knoxville, TN

• Onsite

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR 11

• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here

• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted.

• Resume

• Cover Letter