Manager, Finance & Operations, Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Temporary
• End Date if Temporary: 12/31/2025
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Salary Range: $72,000 - $85,000

Position Summary

The Atlantic Fellows for Racial Equity (AFRE) is a global network of changemakers building solidarity and action for a more equitable future. Through leadership development, community building, design labs, and narrative change, AFRE supports these leaders' personal development and capacity and catalyzes broader social change activity based on the view that both are required to achieve racial equity.

Reporting to the Director of Finance and Operations and assisting with AFRE's finance and operational deliverables. The Manager is responsible for financial accounting and reconciliation, budget management, administration, operations, and financial reporting.

*** This is a temporary, grant-funded, one-year assignment ***

Responsibilities

Vendor and Financial Management

• Create, update, and maintain vendor records within the University's PaymentWorks and ARC systems.
• Initiate, process, and manage various financial transactions, including program-related invoices, check requests, reimbursements, contracts, and payments (e.g., Fellow payments, consultancies, and partner sub-awards) using ARC and Concur.
• Handle travel and business expense reports and honoraria.
• Serve as a liaison for financial communications with fellows, NMF, U.S. partners, and Columbia's financial staff.
• Monitor accounts payable transactions, performing accounting transfers, journal entries, and expenditure corrections as needed.
• Reconcile overdrafts on unrestricted project codes and facilitate payments to international service providers.
• Track and reconcile P-card, C-card, and Columbia Air & Rail transactions for approval.

Financial Reporting and Budget Oversight

• Prepare and maintain monthly status reports, contract balances, and financial tracking reports (annual, quarterly, and monthly).
• Assist with fiscal year-end closing deliverables and variance analysis.
• Oversee AFRE's budget, resolve financial issues, prevent overdrafts, and participate in budget planning meetings.
• Support fiscal year budget preparation, inputting data into the CU Budget Tool.
• Provide financial reporting for events and projects, ensuring actual spending aligns with the budget.
• Support strategic and tactical budget management, cost-benefit analysis, managerial accounting, and forecasting in coordination with the Executive Director.
• Perform year-end closing tasks with the Director of Finance and Operations.

Operational Coordination

• Manage purchasing, maintenance, and contracts for equipment and technology, including software subscriptions and renewals (Salesforce, Office 365, Adobe, Form Assembly).
• Coordinate departmental facilities, space utilization, and capital improvements.
• Maintain relationships with internal and external stakeholders (Interchurch, Columbia, IT consultants) to troubleshoot and resolve issues.
• Arrange travel through Concur for fellows, staff, and board members.

Staff and Administrative Support

• Participate in staff recruitment, onboarding, and support personnel needs (e.g., processing vacation accruals, managing absence and paid time off).
• Prepare, submit, and track contracts and renewals for service providers.
• Assist in developing organizational documents and participate in various administrative tasks to ensure smooth operations.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and a minimum of 3 years of related experience.

Other Requirements

• Knowledgeable on applicable human resource management principles, practices, methods, and procedures required.
• Demonstrated financial administration experience is required.
• Familiar with relevant Federal, State, and local laws, regulations, codes, and/or statutes.
• Experience in employee relations principles and practices, including conflict resolution techniques.
• Demonstrated ability to set priorities, handle multiple assignments, and work with resourcefulness and efficiency in a fast-paced and changing environment with multiple constituencies required.
• Demonstrated comprehensive financial reporting responsibility in a complex organization required.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills.
• Confidentiality and discretion are required, as is a demonstrated ability to forge partnerships.
• Must be able to function independently and exercise discretion and sound judgment.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.