Department Business Administrator

The Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism seeks to hire an experienced Department Business Administrator to support its schoolwide finance team. The ideal candidate will be a detail-oriented professional with strong analytical and organizational skills, capable of managing complex budgets and ensuring compliance with university policies. This role offers an opportunity to contribute to a dynamic academic environment and play a key part in supporting the financial health and strategic goals of the School.

Job Accountabilities:

• Administers the business function of a large administrative, auxiliary or academic department. Processes daily transactions, prepares financial reports for internal and external distribution. May supervise staff.

• Administers unrestricted account budgets. Plans and develops short and long-term budgets. Provides projections and forecasts and analyzes financial impacts. Analyzes actual versus budget performance to determine variances. Takes corrective action, as required.

• Administers internal financial policies and procedures. Ensures department's compliance with applicable laws, rules and regulations, as well as university financial policies and procedures.

• Assists in determining that strong internal controls are implemented in such areas as maintaining and reviewing receipts, procurement, disbursements, payroll, etc.

• Administers personnel and payroll functions for department. Coordinates affirmative action, employment, compensation, benefits and employee relations with appropriate Personnel Services staff and department administrators or Dean's Office. Ensures timely and accurate processing of payroll. Coordinates faculty appointments and promotions, as assigned.

• Assists in strategic planning activities, as assigned. Researches and compiles data required for development of assumptions, projections and strategies. Monitors action plans, implements changes, as required.

• Provides regular and special financial reports, as required for department's operations.

• Develops, enhances and maintains information systems to support financial operations. Ensures that internal systems complement university-wide systems and that information is reconciled on a regular basis.

• Administers contracts, grants, and gifts. Establishes budgets, monitors and reports on expenses. Interacts with university contract administrators and agency 5
  representatives to provide information, resolve questions or problems and coordinate on-site visits.

• Other duties may be assigned at the direction of the supervisor.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience with Workday Finance

Applications should be submitted via the USC Careers page and must include the following:

• Resume or CV
• Cover letter

Additional Information:

• This is a full-time (37.5 hour/week), hybrid, hourly staff position. 

• The hourly range for this position is $45.25 - 46.67. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

• Job openings are posted for a minimum of (5) five business days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended, so please apply on the same business day if interested.

• USC has excellent benefits, including health and dental benefits for staff and their family with access to the renowned university medical network; eligibility for retirement plans; tuition benefits for staff and their family; central Los Angeles location with easy access to commuter trains, transit subsidy program, buses and free tram pick up services; discounts to sporting and other campus events.

About the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism

Located in Los Angeles at the University of Southern California, the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism is a national leader in education and scholarship in the fields of communication, journalism, public diplomacy and public relations. With an enrollment of more than 2,200 students, USC Annenberg offers doctoral, master's and bachelor's degree programs, as well as continuing development programs for working professionals across a broad scope of academic inquiry. The school's comprehensive curriculum emphasizes the core skills of leadership, innovation, service and entrepreneurship and draws upon the resources of a networked university located in the media capital of the world. For additional information, see our website: https://annenberg.usc.edu/.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

The university is committed to maintaining a safe and secure environment for students, employees, volunteers, and visitors on our campuses and those entrusted to our care, including patients, students, and minors. To that end, the university conducts background screening, including screening for criminal convictions, on all applicants after a conditional offer of employment and as a condition of employment. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix C for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of the Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring ordinance.

Job Qualifications: Education: Bachelor's Degree Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education. Work Experience: 3 years Preferred Work Experience: 5 years Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum work experience