Job Details

BUSINESS SERVICES SPECIALIST, University Libraries

Position Number: 6552358
Location: Boston, MA
Position Type: Libraries

BUSINESS SERVICES SPECIALIST, University Libraries

Job Description
BUSINESS SERVICES SPECIALIST, University Libraries

Category
Charles River Campus --> Library
Job Location
BOSTON, MA, United States
Tracking Code
25500948200906
Posted Date
9/8/2025
Salary Grade
Grade 48
Position Type
Full-Time/Regular

The Boston University Libraries seek a Business Services Specialist to support the library's financial and administrative operations by managing vendor payments, payroll processing, expense reporting, and student employment systems. This role ensures accuracy and compliance across financial transactions, maintains up-to-date records and reports, and provides training and guidance to staff on university systems and policies. The Business Services Specialist collaborates with internal and external stakeholders to resolve issues, improve workflows, and support budget management.

The Business Services Specialist will:

Process orders and vendor payments for BU Libraries, ensuring invoices have proper approvals, are accurate, and include necessary documentation. Remit payments both within and outside of Ariba, the University's ordering system, maintaining accurate records in BU's SAP accounting system, SAC. Collaborate with vendors, BU Payment Services, and Library staff to resolve payment issues. Maintain financial data that is accurate, current, and aligned with the library's accounting practices, reconciling posted and pending transactions. Track, reconcile, and analyze order and contract data. Maintain regular financial reporting in support of budget management activities.
Oversee the timesheet process in SAP for hourly staff and student employees, ensuring submissions are accurate, properly coded, and approved on time. Communicate payroll schedules, reviews timesheets for compliance with University policies and collective bargaining agreements, and processes corrections as needed. Collaborate with the Director of Finance and other stakeholders to resolve any issues. Provide support to managers and supervisors for payroll procedures, roles, and responsibilities.
Support library staff in using BU's JobX student employment systems by providing training, guidance, and resources. Serve as the primary liaison to the Student Employment Office and share updates with Libraries student employee supervisors. Develop local workflows, process guides, and a knowledge base tailored to Libraries' practices. Track student employment spending, identify discrepancies, and ensure accurate payroll accounting and timely resolution of funding adjustments.
Review Concur expense reports to ensure accuracy, proper coding, and compliance with University and local policies and practices. Support staff with expense submissions, develop training materials, and onboard new professional staff to the system. Collaborate with the Director of Finance to create reports and track spending trends and encumbrances. Flag anomalies and escalates issues as needed.

Required Skills

Bachelor's degree in related field.
3-5 years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications :

Familiarity with systems used by Boston University, including ordering and vendor management system Ariba, SAP, SAP accounting system SAC, employee expense report system Concur, and student employment system JobX.

For consideration, please submit a cover letter, CV, and list of professional references. This position will remain open until filled. Working at Boston University Libraries Boston University Libraries is a learning organization that supports BU librarians, archivists, and information and subject specialists seeking and sharing knowledge, practices, and perspectives that advance library collections services, and their own professional development. In a collaborative, supportive, and engaging work environment, BU Libraries expert staff assist multidisciplinary research and exploration, build distinctive collections and archives of enduring research value, and empower users to thrive amid an ever-changing information environment. Located in the heart of Boston, the BU Libraries are embedded in numerous vibrant regional and national library and information specialist networks. The BU Libraries are active members within the Boston Library Consortium (BLC), the Association of Research Libraries (ARL), the Northeast Research Libraries Consortium (NERL), HathiTrust, and the Coalition for Networked Information (CNI), and library staff at BU serve as engaged thought-leaders on a wide breadth of library management and service areas across diverse communities. Boston University, a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), is one of the leading private research and teaching institutions in the world, with three primary campuses in the heart of Boston and programs around the globe. Chartered in 1869, the University is home to more than 33,000 students from more than 130 countries, 375,000 living alumni, 10,000 faculty and staff, and 17 schools and colleges.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Required Skills

Job Location: BOSTON, MA
Position Type: Full-Time/Regular
Salary Grade: Grade 48

To apply, visit https://jobs.silkroad.com/BU/External/jobs/315869