Senior Business Administrator, Management Department, Wharton School

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
Senior Business Administrator, Management Department, Wharton School

Job Profile Title
Business Administrator C

Job Description Summary
The Senior Business Administrator will provide leadership and oversight of all financial and operational functions for the Management Department, the largest academic department within the School. This position plays a critical role in ensuring the department's financial integrity, transparency, and operational excellence.

The Senior Business Administrator will be responsible for the full lifecycle of the department's financial operations - including budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and compliance. The position will monitor all departmental expenditures, oversee travel and entertainment reimbursements, manage various purchasing platforms, and maintain vendor relationships. This role will also actively manage and track faculty research awards, staff salary distributions, and payroll activities.

In support of the department's commitment to transparency and accountability, the Senior Business Administrator will implement and maintain efficient systems for financial tracking and reporting. The Senior Business Administrator will serve as a key liaison to the Wharton F&A department, with direct accountability for aligning departmental financial operations with university-wide standards, controls, and strategic objectives.

The Senior Business Administrator will provide day-to-day management of the department's financial, course, and front desk staff, ensuring appropriate staffing levels, providing guidance to support their development and ensure consistency in operational execution. Additionally, the role will serve as the primary liaison with school partners on matters related to departmental office operations and collaborate closely with the Chair's office on financial, and operational issues related to faculty, doctoral students, staff and visitors.

Job Description

Key responsibilities include:

Managing all expense reporting, procurement systems, and reimbursement processes with attention to compliance and timely execution

Leading the department's budgeting and forecasting processes with a focus on accuracy, clarity, and proactive planning

Overseeing payroll, faculty funding allocations, and salary distributions

Day-to-day management of the department's financial, course, and front desk staff, and ensure efficient operational execution

Primary liaison with school partners related to departmental office operations

Collaborate with Chair's office on financial and operational issues for faculty, doctoral students, staff and visitors.

Ensuring effective vendor management and procurement practices

The Senior Business Administrator reports to the Department Chair and holds formal accountability to the Wharton F&A team for all financial operations and reporting activities.

Qualifications:

Bachelor degree and 3 to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

A Bachelor's degree is required, preferably in accounting, business administration, or a related field. Candidates should have a minimum of five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, budgeting, or operational administration or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. The ideal candidate brings strong financial skills, with familiarity in using Penn financial systems or university-based financial platforms.

This role requires the capability to manage multiple projects and workstreams independently - from initial design through successful implementation - while balancing department priorities and operational details. A self-starter with a strong desire to learn and engage across diverse business functions will thrive in this environment. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to see the big picture while maintaining a keen eye for detail and accuracy. Strong interpersonal and communication skills are essential, as this position involves frequent collaboration with faculty, staff, and University partners across various levels.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Wharton School

Pay Range
$76,000.00 - $100,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements
Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
  
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
  
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
  
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family-whatever your personal needs may be.
  
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
  
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
  
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
  
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
  
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
  
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
  
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
  
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.
  

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay


Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
To apply, visit https://wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recruiting/upenn/careers-at-penn/job/SD---Wharton-Management-Dept/Senior-Business-Administrator--Management-Department--Wharton-School_JR00105693-1









Copyright 2025 Jobelephant.com Inc. All rights reserved.

Posted by the FREE value-added recruitment advertising agency

jeid-122fb0db7a7b62428bea984577b848f4

Create a Job Match for Similar Jobs

About University of Pennsylvania

Penn has a long and proud tradition of intellectual rigor and pursuit of innovative knowledge, begun by Benjamin Franklin in 1740. That tradition lives today through the creativity, entrepreneurship, and engagement of our faculty, students, and staff. Academic life at Penn is unparalleled, with an undergraduate student body of 10,000 from every U.S. state and around the world. The entering class of 2015 is the most talented and diverse in Penn's history. Consistently ranked among the top 10 universities in the country, Penn welcomes an additional 10,000 students to our top-ranked graduate and professional schools.

Connections working at University of Pennsylvania

More Jobs from This Employer

https://main.hercjobs.org/jobs/21305895/senior-business-administrator-management-department-wharton-school

Return to Search Results