Business Manager

Description

The Business Manager turns accurate financial information into budgets, forecasts, and actionable insights that support business decisions across Smith News & Media. Reporting to the Controller, AP/AR Specialist, and department leaders to provide clear visibility into revenue, expenses, cash flow, and profitability. Success is measured by stronger forecasting, meaningful financial analysis, and increased departmental accountability.

Perks:

• Opportunity to shape financial reporting and planning processes across a growing company.
• Collaborative partnerships with company leadership and department managers.
• Meaningful work supporting local journalism and community news.

Requirements

Responsibilities:

Lead annual budgeting, maintain departmental and company forecasts, and manage a rolling 13-week cash-flow forecast to identify financial risks early.

• Prepare budget-versus-actual-versus-forecast reports, conduct monthly department financial reviews, and follow up on material variances and corrective actions.
• Analyze profitability across advertising, circulation/membership, commercial printing, digital services, publications, and other business units, including production job costing and margins.
• Evaluate pricing, break-even points, staffing, vendor, equipment, and capital proposals; provide return-on-investment analysis and recommend opportunities to improve revenue and margins.
• Develop financial dashboards and KPI reporting, provide concise weekly and monthly updates to the Publisher, and partner with the Controller to ensure accurate financial information.
• Improve budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and financial workflows while supporting department leaders’ ownership of their results and respecting established accounting and approval authority.

Qualifications:

• Ability to develop and manage budgets, rolling forecasts, and cash-flow projections.
• Strong financial analysis skills, including profitability, job costing, pricing, and return-on-investment evaluation.
• Ability to translate financial information into clear reports, dashboards, and actionable recommendations.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills to support department leaders and reinforce financial accountability.
• Disciplined attention to accuracy, confidentiality, follow-through, and process improvement.

Compensation and Benefits:

Full-time, exempt position. Compensation and benefits details will be provided during the hiring process.

About Us

We are a growing, family-owned community newspaper with roots stretching back over 140+ years. We believe local journalism matters — and we’re investing in it. We are growing, stable, and mission-driven. Our properties serve loyal, engaged communities across the Southwest, and we’re looking for a leader to grow our audiences across every channel.