Business Administrator

The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities and the world. 

The Office of International Mission, which relates to the Board for International Mission and implements its policies, is responsible to the President of

the Synod through the Chief Mission Officer for the work of the Synod in foreign countries as stated in the Bylaws.

Reporting Relationships

• This position reports to the Regional Business Manager
• Works closely with the LCMS Communications staff to inform and involve LCMS constituents in a meaningful way in the work of the OIM on the field through support-building, newsletter-writing, and home-service presentation reporting.

Essential Job Functions

• Commit to an ongoing schedule and strategy for ministry support raising, (Network Support Model) Orientation, and initial support building is typically six (6) months.
• Communicate via monthly newsletter to and maintain a relationship with the sending church that includes Together-In-Mission (TIM) congregations as well as other supporting churches, groups, and individuals.
• Complete missionary training and language acquisition plan under the direction of the Regional Director and the Director of Missionary Services.
• Learn the culture of his or her assigned area and behave according to cultural norms that are not in violation of Scripture.
• Assists the Regional Business Manager with the preparation, monitoring, analysis and ongoing revision of the multi-year regional budget.
• Work with missionaries to develop a detailed operating budget in area of assignment.
• Utilizes reporting tools and methodologies, primarily in the area of finance, to support decision making within the region. 
• Provides financial assistance and training support for missionaries engaging in strategic and tactical planning.
• Works with regional leadership to orchestrate the effective implementation of program facets; assists in identifying resources to meet regional and global objectives.
• Assists the Regional Business Manager in the creation and montioring of grant agreeements.
• Assist with payment disbursements by performing accounts payble functions.
• Assists with the management of the field accounting system and assists with the oversight of subsidiary offices in countries as required.
• Ability to serve as a project manager on special assignments.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Experience and proven knowledge of fund accounting, internal control, international finance and congregational treasury functions preferred.
• Experience in a business operations role or equivalent preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance or other business related field.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Active member of an LCMS congregation of any of its partner churches and personal faithfulness to the Holy Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.
• Understanding of accounting principles and procedures, capable of effectively and efficiently managing multiple priorities, quickly evaluating complex issues and identifying resolution.  
• Able to balance empathy with data-orientation; inclined to protect process and personal integrity.
• Strength in qualitative and quantitative analysis.    
• Oriented toward big-picture goal attainment with an understanding of tactical requirements.
• Able to maintain performance expectations in diverse cultural contexts, psychologically stressful environments and physical hardship conditions with limited resources.  
• Ability to understand global conditions and differences; able to relate and work effectively within varied, nuanced cultures.
• Evidenced maturity of skills and proclivity for discretion.
• Proven ability to work independently, as well as, collaboratively.   
• Demonstrated communication skills to include verbal and written, attentive and active listening, critical thinking, advising and counseling. 
• Prior experience with accounting systems is preferred.
• Demonstrated ILR 2 proficiency in Spanish preferred. If not proficient, a willingness to participate in a language learning program to achieve such proficiency.
• Ability to utilize standard technology on the field – laptop, smartphone, and basic connectivity troubleshooting.
• Ability to use the Microsoft Office suite, particularly Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and the email functions and calendar functions of Microsoft Outlook.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately up to 20% of the time.

Supervisory Responsibility

• Coordination of tasks with non-direct reports/deployed team members and staff within the region.