Business Manager (Director of Finance & Planning)

Job Description

Position OverviewThe Director of Finance & Planning (DFP) serves as the fiscal administrative officer for the School of Law. (School) The DFP has the overall responsibility for the financial reporting, financial analysis, budgeting, and preparation and review of the organizational budget for the School and serves as the fiscal liaison between the School and other University financial offices. The DFP is also the principal adviser to the Dean on all budget and financial matters and collaborates with the Dean on developing strategic planning that furthers the goals of the School in relation to the University as a whole. The DFP also supports budget preparation of grant applications. This position is part of a senior administrative team and plays a key role in developing strategic financial plans for budgeting, cash management, forecasting, risk management, and financial analysis.Job Description50% Budget / Planning:

• Provides overall financial leadership and planning in the management of all funding sources available to the School of Law, the Wheat Law Library, the Office of Admissions, the Office of Career Services, Douglas County Legal Aid, Moot Court, and other units within the School.
• The DFP ensures the School is following State and University policies and procedures. Coordinates strategic reviews of resource allocation to ensure funds are directed toward strategic initiatives of the School and the University.
• Prepares and develops the annual operating budgets, analysis of carry forwards and reserve balances, and an all-funds budget model.
• Reviews and authorize state and private payments to verify appropriate funding sources are used and that funds are not overspent or underspent.
• Manages annual budget requests from internal units, summarizes requests for the Dean, and distributes approved budgets to units.
• Assists Associate Dean with developing the summer school budget and analyzes various profit/loss scenarios. Develops and provides lecturer budget for the School.
• Coordinates activities related to the University’s general research fund (GRF), summer research, and publication/presentation awards. Performs all University budget collection processes (BCP) and transfers following the KU Budget Office’s procedures and deadlines. Consult with KU’s Budget Office, Comptroller Office, and other units on funding and policy issues. Assist principle investigators (typically faculty) with the appropriate expenditure of grant funds.
• Provides consultation and reviews significant purchases.
  
  

35% Audit/Reconciliation/Reporting/Service Coordination:

• Audits financial activities, payroll processes, and internal controls to verify that the School is following state and/or endowment policies and procedures.
• Advises the Dean on various financial matters and significant budget issues. Serves as key contact for all University audits. Reviews and reconciles various state and private funds to OAC (KU’s departmental executive management information system) and One Solution (endowment online accounting system).
• Provides detailed budget reports to various units and the Dean on a regular basis. Compiles financial data for annual ABA Questionnaire, ABA Foreign Summer Programs, US News, and other reports as requested.
• Coordinates fiscal, human resource and grant transactions for the School with Shared Service Center staff.
• Provides funding and reports to the SSC and serves as a liaison between School personnel and the SSC staff. Reviews services performed and assists the SSC staff in identifying opportunities to create efficiencies to better serve the School.
• Attends budget, payroll, and other financial meetings held by the university, KUCR and endowment. Performs other duties as assigned.
• The DFP is responsible for reviewing and approving all financial transactions through FITC, One Solution, and Concur.
  
  

10% Personnel/Payroll:

• Coordinates funding for all appointments in the School including faculty, staff, and research student hourly.
• Provides consultation to Dean, library, and other directors regarding payroll and/or personnel issues.
• Coordinates job postings and obtains official approvals for all temporary lecturer hires and related pools and communicates and oversees hiring processes with SSC personnel.
• Provides oversight with various payroll documents and monitors the accuracy of appointments, including summer research, summer school, and publication awards for faculty, unclassified staff, and support staff as applicable.
• Verifies bi-weekly payroll gross and fringe are accurately processed by Time Reviewers and reported in the School’s budget.
• Maintains security of personnel files and other confidential records.
  
  

5% Special Projects/Other:

• Develops internal policies and procedures for all financial operations in accordance with best practices.
• Disseminates University policies and provides guidance and direction to ensure proper compliance. Provides consultation and reviews significant purchase/lease agreements for the School.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
  
  

Position RequirementsThis position is on-site at the Law School, Green Hall, Lawrence campus.Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field and 3 years of related experience OR associate’s degree and 5 years of related experience OR High School diploma and 6 years of related experience.
• Two years of management, supervisory experience, and/or project team leadership.
• Excellent written communication skills as demonstrated by application materials.
• Experience in developing and administering budgets as demonstrated by work history.
• Experience in data projection, data analysis, and data reporting as demonstrated by work history.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications

Required

Master’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field.

Experience in developing and using financial models, forecasting tools, and predictive analytics.

Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with a diverse population of students, staff, faculty, administrators, and other members of a post-secondary educational institution.

Excellent analysis and problem-solving skills, as demonstrated by work history.

Experience with PeopleSoft Financials and Human Resources systems.

An understanding of KU business operations, policies, procedures, and fiscal processes.Additional Candidate InstructionsIn addition to the online application, the following documents are required to be considered for this position:

• A cover letter addressing how required and preferred qualifications are met.
• Resume or curriculum vitae.
• Contact information for three professional references (including at least one previous or current supervisor).
  
  

Review of applications will begin June 1 and will continue until a suitable candidate is selected to ensure priority consideration, apply before the review date.Contact Information to ApplicantsCrystal M. Mai

Associate Dean, Administration

cmai@ku.edu Advertised Salary RangeMin starting $72,000/year; Final determination commensurate with skills and experience.Application Review BeginsMonday June 1, 2026Anticipated Start DateMonday June 15, 2026Apply to Job