Business Manager, The Lauder Institute

Business Manager, The Lauder Institute

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
Business Manager, The Lauder Institute

Job Profile Title
Business Manager B

Job Description Summary
Wharton School Overview
Founded in 1881 as the world's first collegiate business school, the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania is shaping the future of business by incubating ideas, driving insights, and creating leaders who change the world. With campuses in both Philadelphia and San Francisco, Wharton has over 850 staff, a faculty population of more than 235 renowned professors, and 5,000 undergraduate, MBA, executive MBA, and doctoral students. Each year 13,000 professionals from around the world advance their careers through Wharton Executive Education's individual, company-customized, and online programs. More than 104,000 Wharton alumni form a powerful global network of leaders who transform business every day. Wharton is home to a dynamic community of staff, bringing a wide range of skills, experiences, and perspectives. To learn more, visit

The Lauder Institute
The Joseph H. Lauder Institute of Management and International Studies was founded in 1983 at the University of Pennsylvania by brothers Leonard and Ronald Lauder, in honor of their father Joseph Lauder. The Institute houses a 24-month joint degree MA degree program in International Studies for incoming cohorts of approximately 75 students each year. The degree is awarded by the School of Arts and Sciences and is offered as a joint program with the Wharton MBA or the JD Program at Penn Carey Law School.

Job Description

Reporting to the Managing Director of the Lauder Institute, this position is responsible for managing and coordinating key functional areas including accounting, budgeting, compliance with financial processes and policies, partnering with other functional areas such as Admissions & Student Financial Aid, Lauder committees, and advising senior leadership on the financial impact of strategic initiatives and Lauder Institute programming. Working closely with multiple stakeholders, the Business Manager analyzes and advises senior Institute leadership and finance board committee, ensures financial management and compliance of domestic and international programming with faculty, students, staff, host institutions, and third-party vendors. In addition, this position liaises with other units at the University including Deans' Offices for faculty appointments, Student Registration and Financial Services, Wharton Computing and Human Resources. This position plays a critical role in integrating strategic initiatives and priorities into fiscal planning and thus serves in an advisory capacity to senior leadership at the Institute. The incumbent supervises two full-time staff positions that provide Registrar and Travel support services for the Lauder Institute office as well as work-study students and/or interns. This position serves as principal liaison to Wharton Computing and Facilities.

Duties Include:

• Financial management, reporting, and advising for Lauder Institute finance committee and Wharton F&A
• Assist and advise senior Institute leadership for board reporting and strategic initiatives
• Oversee procurement, disbursement and travel & entertainment budgets and policies for Lauder Institute's international programming
• Manage payroll and key functions in Workday. Manage faculty appointment deadlines and processes with multiple schools.
• Ensure compliance with gift agreements, provide spending data to External Affairs
• Ensure accurate budgeting and awarding of Student Financial Aid, serving as principal liaison to financial aid offices (SAS, Wharton, PennCarey)
• Exercise sound resource stewardship and ensure compliance with related University and School policies and procedures
• Supervise two full-time employees
• Serve as liaison to Building and Facilities administration, Computing and HR

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 3 to 5 years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong knowledge of financial management, budgeting, and reporting practices, ideally in an academic setting.
• Experience with compliance processes, financial policies, and resource stewardship.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze financial data and provide strategic recommendations to leadership.
• Experience supervising staff and/or managing teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with previous experience collaborating effectively with senior leadership, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Familiarity with faculty appointments, payroll, or academic administration processes.
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships across multiple units (finance, HR, admissions, student services, facilities, IT).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• Knowledge of gift agreement compliance, procurement policies, and international programming finance.
• Experience with financial, student records, and HR systems in an academic setting.
• Prior experience advising senior leadership and preparing board-level financial reports.
• Experience managing faculty appointments, payroll, or academic administration processes.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Wharton School

Pay Range
$76,000.00 - $114,845.00 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.
  

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To learn more, please visit:

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