Finance, Operations & Administrative Whiz

THE COMPANY

Smarty Pants is a market research and strategic consulting firm on a mission to illuminate the business world with brilliant consumer insights, inspiring human stories and ingenious brand solutions. Since 2005, the world’s most powerful brands have relied on Smarty Pants for niche consumer expertise, industry intelligence, creative research acumen, thought leadership, and a contagious passion for everything we do.

Named the industry’s Best Place to Work, Smarty Pants leads research and consulting initiatives for tech, entertainment, healthcare, toy, retail, CPG, finance, automotive and apparel/footwear giants. More specifically, we:

• Serve as strategic consultants – educating and guiding them on trends, marketing strategies, best practices, etc.
• Design rigorous research programs to meet their unique informational needs
• Execute those initiatives with our own industry-leading qualitative, quantitative and hybrid research professionals
• Carefully aggregate and analyze findings, layering on our collective wisdom
• Create visually compelling deliverables that energize and inspire
• Help our clients apply the learning to their business challenges

THE NEED

Smarty Pants seeks a tech-forward business coordinator to support the critical financial, operational and administrative functions of our growing company. More specifically, we are looking for a person who will fill three specific roles: accounting support to our financial leaders, tech-based operational and compliance support to our virtual research teams, and administrative support to our office-based and virtual leadership team.

The person who fills this role must have a can-do spirit and be smart, organized, meticulous and efficient. S/he should have a strong understanding of business and processes and be able to thrive in a fast-paced environment.  

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Financial

• Maintain accurate business records, systems, and tracking tools, including QuickBooks, dashboards, and reporting, to support visibility, organization, and informed decision-making.
• Support day-to-day operational processes, including record reviews, reconciliations, employee expense reimbursements, research participant payments, and other accounting needs.

Operational

• Accurately input and maintain project and company data within work management systems
• Manage and update client records within the CRM tool, ensuring data integrity and consistency
• Develop, document, and continuously improve processes to streamline workflows and increase operational efficiency
• Ensure adherence to financial, data privacy, and internal procedural compliance standards

Virtual and Physical Office Management

• Support company asset tracking and management, ensuring proper documentation and utilization
• Manage purchasing, vendor coordination, and shipping logistics
• Provide general administrative support to ensure smooth day-to-day operations

Administrative Support

• Provide high-level administrative support to C-suite leaders, including data gathering, reporting, and materials preparation to inform strategic decision-making
• Provide flexible support across the business by assisting with administrative tasks to help the company remain organized and successful.

DISCLAIMER

These descriptions reflect management’s assignment of essential functions; they do not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

EDUCATION, SKILLS & LEADERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

Education & Experience

• Minimum of associate’s degree – ideally in business or relevant field
• 3+ years in business operations or project coordination in a corporate/business setting
• Microsoft systems experience with strong Excel, Word and PowerPoint skills
• Experience with financial/CRM/work management software preferred

Skill & Competency Requirements

• Impeccable organizational skills
• Strong communication skills
• Strong work ethic
• Detail, accuracy and efficiency focused
• A positive, relationships-first collaboration style
• Eagerness to work five (5) days per week in Johnson City, TN, headquarters

PHYSICAL AND/OR COGNITIVE CAPABILITIES REQUIREMENTS

• Must be able to work on a company computer using digital platforms and industry-specific software for up to the full duration of the workday
• Must be able to effectively communicate and exchange information via phone, video, reading, writing, studying, analyzing and entering data
• Must be able to quickly shift gears and reprioritize tasks and workloads as needed to support the needs of various employees and clients
• Must be able to cognitively process business information, analyze situations and goals, and effectively collaborate with others without creating additional or undue work for others
• Must be able to travel to client/company meetings. Limited domestic travel may include:
  • Personal (or rented) automobiles
  • Public transportation such as rideshare, train, bus or airplane

Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Work takes place five days per week at our company headquarters in Johnson City, TN
• Work hours are 9am-5pm EST (excluding company closures, PTO)
  • Additional work outside these hours may be required based on client and/or company needs
• Smarty Pants provides all office hardware, software, equipment, supplies and tech support

COMPENSATION & PERKS

The Finance, Operations & Administrative Whiz is a full-time support position with an hourly pay between $22 and $26 per hour, depending on experience and skills. The role assumes an average workweek of 35-40 hours, factoring in a daily lunch break of up to 60 minutes. 

Additional benefits include:

• Up to 10 paid Vacation days
• Up to five paid (5) Sick days
• Up to three (3) paid personal/bereavement/floating holiday days
• Employee referral bonus eligibility
• Company swag
• The pleasure of working alongside the best and brightest

NEXT STEPS

Initial interviews will be conducted via phone or video, with lead candidates invited to participate in a final in-person interview.

Candidates may be asked to complete sample tasks and/or demonstrate capabilities.

Applicants will be assessed on a rolling basis, and the position will be filled as soon as the match is right.