Newly appointed academic managers are often unsure how to effectively manage their department's fiscal affairs. The Jossey-Bass Academic Administrator's Guide to Budgets and Financial Management is specifically designed for administrators who need guidance for managing the fiscal resources of a department or unit. Using this book, administrators can learn to better understand the broad fiscal context of their institutions and thereby master their own role and function within the institution.

MOST PROGRAM MANAGERS, principal investigators, division leaders, and department chairs are bright, capable, and competent persons in their field of expertise. However, when appointments are made to administrative posts in higher education, new academic managers often come to their positions without much experience in fiscal management and administration. Prior to their appointment, the personal interactions of new academic managers with the fiscal management of the institution have primarily related to individual issues regarding salaries, benefits, and grants. An administrative role, however, carries with it expectations for effective management of the fiscal resources of the department or unit. Questions that must be answered are varied and will be asked of the new budget manager very quickly. Can a new piece of equipment be purchased? Is it possible to immediately hire a new support staff person for the unit? Will the department provide travel support for a faculty member to attend a conference and present a paper? The list of questions could go on and on. It is no wonder that a new budget manager can feel a bit overwhelmed. Where can you, as a new budget manager, find the answers to questions that you and others have, and how can you sort out the real fiscal issues within your unit?