BUSINESS SERVICES CONSULTANT #00035976

The Division of Finance and Operations supports university business operations across both academic and administrative units of the institution through financial process management, guidance, and operational support. The department works collaboratively with campus units to promote consistent, effective fiscal and operational practices and to ensure compliance with university policies and procedures. Positions within the division support a range of business and financial functions, including financial processing, account management, business operations, and coordination with academic and administrative units across the institution.

Under the direction of the Business and Finance Officer, the Business Services Consultant serves as a business operations consultant and functional resource for assigned academic and administrative units. The position provides expertise in academic personnel administration, business operations, compliance, and financial coordination across assigned units. The Business Services Consultant works closely with department administrators, department chairs, faculty, and central administrative offices to provide guidance on University policies, procedures, systems, and business processes. The position serves as a primary resource for academic hiring, personnel administration, compensation review, operational reporting, process improvement, and business compliance activities.

The position does not assume responsibility for the day-to-day administration of individual departments. Rather, it provides specialized knowledge, training, consultation, coordination, and problem resolution for issues that extend beyond routine departmental operations. The Business Services Consultant serves as an important liaison between departments and central offices including Human Resources, Finance, Procurement, Academic Affairs, International Affairs, Research and Innovation, and other University partners.

Essential Responsibilities:

Academic Personnel Administration and Recruitment

• Serve as the primary college resource for academic personnel administration and recruitment-related processes
• Coordinate and provide guidance on ranked and unranked faculty hiring activities, including new appointments, renewals, reappointments, and related personnel actions
• Review ePAFs and personnel transactions for accuracy, completeness, policy compliance, and funding availability
• Assist departments with faculty, staff, graduate student, postdoctoral, and other academic appointment processes
• Review summer salary, extra compensation, supplemental pay, and related personnel transactions for funding availability, completeness, and compliance with University and UM System policies and requirements prior to approval by appropriate leadership
• Assist departments with visa-related processes, including H-1B, J-1, DS-2019, and other employment authorization requirements in coordination with appropriate campus offices
• Track faculty recruitment activity, retention offers, appointment actions, faculty counts, and other personnel-related metrics
• Develop and maintain guidance documents, reference materials, and process resources related to academic personnel administration and recruitment activities

Business Operations, Compliance, and Process Improvement

• Provide consultation, coaching, and functional guidance to department business support staff regarding personnel, financial, and administrative processes to promote consistency and compliance across assigned units
• Develop and deliver training regarding University business processes, policies, procedures, and operational requirements
• Develop and maintain business process standards, operating procedures, and training materials to promote consistency, efficiency, compliance, and effective service delivery across assigned units
• Monitor compliance with University policies, campus procedures, fiscal requirements, and internal control expectations
• Identify recurring process issues, administrative inefficiencies, compliance concerns, and operational risks and recommend improvements
• Coordinate implementation activities associated with new systems, policies, procedures, and business processes and assist departments with adoption and training efforts
• Provide guidance regarding University contract processes, required approvals, and applicable procedures. Departments remain responsible for initiating and entering contract documentation in appropriate systems
• Research and resolve escalated business process issues in coordination with departments and central administrative offices
• Serve as a liaison between departments and central offices to ensure consistent interpretation and application of University policies and procedures

Financial Coordination and Operational Analysis

• Analyze budget-to-actual activity, funding availability, salary commitments, and other financial obligations and identify significant variances, trends, or concerns
• Research financial discrepancies and coordinate resolution with departments and central University offices
• Coordinate annual budget development activities for assigned units, including collecting departmental requests, validating supporting documentation, preparing budget materials, and assisting leadership with budget review and submission processes
• Provide guidance to faculty and department administrators regarding funding availability, budget processes, financial policies, and fiscal procedures while escalating complex, strategic, or sensitive financial matters to the Business and Finance Officer
• Monitor faculty startup commitments, extensions, retention agreements, and other funding commitments to ensure expenditures remain within approved funding parameters
• Prepare periodic reports regarding startup balances, retention commitments, and other financial obligations and communicate significant concerns to department leadership and the Business and Finance Officer
• Assist departments with budget-related questions involving sponsored projects and coordinate with Research Administration, Finance, and other central offices to resolve complex funding, budget, or reporting issues
• Gather, compile, analyze, and distribute operational, personnel, and fiscal data to support departmental, college, and University decision-making
• Produce recurring and ad hoc reports, dashboards, and decision-support materials related to personnel actions, faculty hiring activity, retention efforts, compensation monitoring, budget activity, and other operational metrics
• Utilize University financial, personnel, and reporting systems including PeopleSoft, Workday Planning, Cognos, Power BI, and related applications

Leadership Support and Special Projects

• Partner with Human Resources, Finance, Procurement, Academic Affairs, Research Administration, Institutional Research, Information Technology, and other campus offices on data collection, reporting, compliance activities, and process improvement initiatives
• Provide cross-training and support business continuity efforts across supported units
• Monitor workload trends, service demands, and recurring operational challenges and communicate concerns and recommendations to the Business and Finance Officer
• Participate in special projects, strategic initiatives, University implementations, and operational improvement efforts by providing operational expertise, analysis, and implementation support
• Support organizational planning and decision-making by providing data, analysis, reporting, and operational expertise
• Perform other duties as assigned

Monday - Friday, 8AM - 5PM

A Bachelor's degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least 3 years of experience from which comparable knowledge and skills can be acquired is necessary.

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, Management, or a related field
• Coursework in accounting, finance, management, or business administration
• Experience within the University of Missouri System
• Experience with PeopleSoft, Workday Planning, Power BI, Cognos, and related enterprise systems
• Experience supporting complex academic or administrative operations
• Experience in budgeting, financial planning, and organizational analysis

The anticipated hiring range for this position has been established as $53,976 to $69,576 annually.

Salary is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to, the individual's particular combination of education, skills, and experience, as well as organizational requirements.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Missouri provides generous leave, health plans, and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Grade: 9E
University Title: BUSINESS SERVICES CONSULTANT
To review the University of Missouri's Staff Compensation Structure you can view the Job Code detail page. Internal applicants can determine their university title by accessing the Talent Profile tile in myHR.

Applications will be accepted until this position is filled.

Employment visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

This position is eligible for University benefits. As part of your total compensation, the University offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision plans, retirement, paid time off, short- and long-term disability, paid parental leave, paid caregiver leave, and educational fee discounts for all four UM System campuses. For additional information on University benefits, please visit the Faculty & Staff Benefits website at https://www.umsystem.edu/departments-staff/human-resources/benefits-retirement

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of Missouri is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

To request ADA accommodations, please call the Office of Equity & Title IX at 573-341-7734.