Business Advisor

at  Lamar University

WHO WE ARE:

Lamar University is an accessible global university for life-long learners with a passion for broad-based community engagement. As a vital contributor to the socioeconomic wellbeing and resilience of the Gulf Coast region, our expertise is recognized locally and beyond. Lamar University is home to more than 17,000 students and is among the fastest growing Texas colleges and universities. LU is a member of The Texas State University System, which is the first higher education system of Texas and maintains the lowest average tuition and fees of any university system in Texas. With more than 100-degree options and a community that cares, Lamar students are always proud to be Cardinals.
Lamar University is committed to fostering a culture where students, faculty and staff of all backgrounds can learn, work, and serve.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or other business-related field and five years of job-related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• A thorough understanding of both theoretical and practical aspects of operating a business.
• Experience in the financial operations of business, including an ability to read and analyze balance sheets, profit & loss statements, and other financial instruments.
• Ability to communicate with people from various backgrounds effectively.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Master’s degree
• Significant knowledge of business management and operations.
• Experience in interacting with various constituencies within an institution of higher education and in the larger community.
• Experience in presenting in front of groups • Excellent communication skills orally and in writing.

ABOUT THIS ROLE:

The position of business advisor provides comprehensive business consulting services to small business owners or prospective owners on a wide range of topics including but not limited to business plan, finance, accounting, compliance, customer service and community engagement. The advisor assists clients in analyzing business strengths and weaknesses and develops strategies for improvement. The advisor remains informed on changes in laws and regulations related to small business in various areas of specialization and helps develop and conduct training seminars and presentations on a variety of topics. This position will be required to document all client sessions in the center database according to the guidelines provided by the Texas Gulf Coast SBDC Network and attend professional development classes as required.

WHAT YOU’LL DO – POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Work with clients in person or via web meeting to assist with their businessneeds. Assist client in creating business plans and projections and other formsrequired by lenders. Help clients with marketing ideas and increasing revenuestreams. Inform and assist clients in business formation and the hiring process.Provide expert advice on a variety of business-related topics to contribute toclient success.
• Document interactions with clients in the CIC database using the formatprovided and following established guidelines. Send required email follow ups toclients, and as directed by the SBDC director.
• Develop, plan, and present training sessions to groups of clients and otherattendees. Provide consulting assistance to clients.
• Research market information, state and federal regulations, and other necessaryinformation for clients and provide recommendation for client success.
• Attend scheduled Lamar University SBDC staff meetings and Texas Gulf CoastRegion SBDC staff and training meetings.
• Attend and participate in Lamar University and local business community events,trade shows, expositions, ribbon cuttings, etc. Represents the SBDC on localeconomic and community development committees to help further businessinterests in Southeast Texas.