Senior Business Analyst, Accounting - Athletics at Vanderbilt University

The Senior Business Analyst is a key contributor within the Athletics Business Office, focusing on expense management and reporting. This position will be responsible for serving as the financial unit manager for assigned areas within Athletics and Student Recreation, while also having oversight of various areas within the business operation including but not limited to the student-athlete funding program, internal payment coordination, and PCI compliance, confirming account coding is accurate and University, NCAA, and PCI compliance standards are met. Reporting directly to the Athletics Chief Business Officer, the Senior Business Analyst will collaborate with multiple operating units on a routine basis to ensure streamlined business operations and financial stewardship within Vanderbilt Athletics.

The Senior Business Analyst position will analyze and review complex data within various systems in support of key business office functions. The successful candidate must possess the strongest accounting skills, data visualization and presentation, conceptual, organizational, and interpersonal skills. This position will help achieve institutional goals through ongoing customer service, and the role requires professionalism, poise, and an ability to discern, handle sensitive information, and make decisions in the midst of ambiguity.

This position will cultivate and foster relationships across the Athletic Department to promote consistency in decision making, answer complex strategic questions, and further Athletics strategic priorities.  The ideal candidate will serve as the operational focal point for Athletics leadership in expense reporting, student athlete reimbursement and per diem, bank management, NCAA audit reporting, and PCI compliance for multiple areas within Athletics.

About the Work Unit

Vanderbilt University's Athletics Department prepares student-athletes to become leaders and champions in life by placing the highest values on integrity, character, sportsmanship and victory. Vanderbilt is a charter member of the Southeastern Conference and is the conference’s only private school. The university fields 17 varsity teams (6 men’s teams and 11 women’s teams), 15 of which compete in the Southeastern Conference.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Review and approve purchase orders, internal transactions, and expense reports for the department.
• Routine bank deposits for all Athletic units, including the Ticket Office and Recreation Center, creating cash management entries.
• Manage petty cash and change funds.
• Validate all third-party revenue systems reconcile with bank transactions.
• Build and maintain effective and collaborative relationships with stakeholders throughout the Athletic Department, as well as external partners, including banks and third-party vendors.
• Review all departmental cash management external transactions worksheets.
• Oversight of the student-athlete funding program.
• Attend annual pre-season team meetings to review processes with student-athletes.
• Liaison with Athletics compliance office to manage the student-athlete assistance fund and other crossover matters of business and compliance.
• Serve as secondary contact for Athletics department camp processes.
• Serve as departmental PCI Compliance officer.
• Collaborate with operating units to develop processing efficiencies and business continuity; identify and pursue opportunities to optimize effectiveness.
• Understand strategic financial plans, including annual operating budgets and capital plans, and the overall impact on Athletics financial, strategic, and operational planning.
• Play a key contributor role in the annual NCAA audit process.
• Promote an environment of collaboration, transparency, approachability, and support.
• Review and approve student- athlete reimbursements, travel per diem, and other eligible expenses.
• Consistently anticipate the needs of business partners, collaborating and communicating potential solutions to emerging issues.
• Utilize advanced functions of spreadsheet, database, and presentation software applications.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree and five years or more experience is necessary.
• CPA, MBA or related Masters degree is preferred.
• Prior experience in an Athletics business office is preferred.
• Thorough understanding of NCAA and GAAP accounting systems including purchasing, accounts payable, inventory control, accruals, cost accounting and reporting is strongly preferred.
• Ability to form productive alliances effectively and persuasively with financial and non-financial administrators at all levels of the organization.
• Exceptional ability to bridge gaps and problem-solve to reach solutions that address the needs of stakeholders.
• Ability to balance competing priorities.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills, collaboration, partnership and change management skills.
• Sophisticated mental agility and the ability to work and/or manage up in a fast-paced, fluid environment.
• Humility and collegiality in the face of adversity and challenge.
• Strong written and oral communications skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with staff, peers, and other university and outside contacts.

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