Financial Analysis & Business Operations Specialist

About the role

The Department of Neurosurgery at the University of Maryland School of Medicine seeks a motivated early-career professional to join its Finance & Administration team as a Financial Analysis & Business Operations Specialist. Reporting directly to the Director of Finance & Administration, this role is an opportunity to build a broad foundation in academic medical finance and administration while contributing meaningfully to a dynamic, high-performing department.

Responsibilities

• Maintain financial and budget spreadsheets; download, compile, categorize, and manipulate departmental financial data to support accurate and timely reporting.
• Prepare and distribute financial reports, budget-versus-actual variance analyses, and financial summaries for department leadership.
• Aid in basic financial and budget forecasting across fund types including state funds, revolving funds, grants and contracts, and discretionary accounts.
• Review assigned financial accounts and expenditures to identify trends, anomalies, and year-end projection data.
• Maintain budget archives and financial data files to support ongoing reporting needs.
• Data Collection & Reporting
• Collect, organize, and maintain operational data to support management reporting and decision-making.
• Produce ad hoc reports, summaries, and data visualizations as requested by department leadership.
• Aid in responses to internal and external data requests from university administration and sponsoring agencies.
• Payroll & Effort Reporting
• Facilitate department payroll activities including analysis of commitment accounting data, effort logs, payroll adjustments, cost-sharing commitments, and timesheet compliance.
• Perform payroll reconciliation audits to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Support salary allocation tracking and coordinate with the Central Payroll Office as needed.
• Purchasing & Expense Management
• Maintain purchasing records and serve as a reviewer or approver of procurement transactions; ensure cardholders maintain compliance with university purchasing policies and procedures.
• Manage the department's travel and business expense reporting process, including review of expense reports for policy compliance, accurate coding, and timely submission.
• Cook up with cardholders and staff to resolve coding discrepancies and documentation deficiencies.
• Process & Policy Documentation
• Develop, document, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) for business operations functions within the department.
• Identify opportunities to improve workflow efficiency and recommend process enhancements to the Director of Finance & Administration.
• Ensure departmental practices are aligned with university policy; communicate procedural standards to relevant staff.
• Contribute to the department's culture of continuous improvement by proactively flagging compliance gaps and operational risks.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Accounting, Public Administration, or a related field required.
• Experience: Three (3) years of business-related experience required, with at least one (1) year of experience in at least two of the following areas: finance, accounting, payroll, research administration, purchasing, or human resources.
• Experience in an academic medical center, university, or health system setting preferred.
• Certification/Licensure: Not required. CPA, CMA, CFM, or CIA a plus.

Benefits

UMB offers a comprehensive benefits package that prioritizes wellness, work/life balance, and professional development, along with additional exciting perks that employees can take advantage of. This position participates in a retirement program (pension or optional retirement plan/ORP) that must be selected and is effective on your date of hire. Exempt regular staff receive a generous PAID leave package that includes over 4 weeks of vacation accrued each year, 16 paid holidays, 3 personal leave days, unlimited accrual of sick time, and comprehensive health insurance; professional learning and development programs; tuition remission for employees and their dependents at any University System of Maryland school; and flexible work schedules and teleworking options (if applicable per job).

Pay

$68,000 - $79,000 per year / Commensurate with education and experience

Schedule

Full Time