Senior Financial Administrator (SPARC - Hybrid Schedule)

Budget Specific Responsibilities

• Serves a primary role in the development & implementation of annual budget including fiscal resource allocation of appropriated, discretionary, endowment & gift revenues & expenses.
• Manages budget & provides timely, accurate financial status for the current fiscal & future plan.
• Guides units of responsibility through university budgeting and forecasting processes, reviews budget and forecasting submissions.
• Acts a Budget Office expert on units and functions within portfolio of responsibilities.
• Captures & completes all associated fiscal year close/open processes.
• Reviews & reconciles actual expenses to budget per NU Audit guidelines.
• Approves funds reallocation within budget as necessary & appropriate.
• Measures individual net performance of all areas/units as well as consolidated area/unit income statement & balance sheet with the use of pre-defined analytical financial tools.
• Recommends changes to tools to improve analysis, forecasting, modeling & reporting & ultimately quality of financial information & analyses provided to management for planning, evaluating & controlling operations.
• Establishes proper accounting & audit trails for revenue & expenses related to programs & initiatives.
• Oversees monthly reconciliation & reports on current financial performance, impact on year-end forecast & opportunities & risks.
• Prepares area or program financial statements and regulatory reports.
• Acts as the key contact for external auditors; prepares financial statement and audit workpapers.
• Prepares sections of the university's annual financial report.
• Performs complex financial account reconciliations, statement analysis, and transaction research.
• Builds, maintains, and updates financial models and associated financial analysis.

Transactions

• Oversees accurate, efficient and compliant workflow of all transactional processes across areas/units.
• Makes sure that all transactions are processed in a timely manner.
• Requests new chart strings.
• Prepares faculty salary recovery & summer salary.
• Creates & monitors recharge centers.
• Maintains open encumbrances & deficit chart strings; &/or stops inappropriate or against deficit chart string expenses.
• Monitors status of related university unit accounts and processes; troubleshoots issues as needed.
• Supports internal &/or granting agency audit requests.

Grants & Awards

• Typically involved in the budget management of numerous research grants.
• Oversees &/or completes pre- & post-award research administration.
• Utilizes established systems (effort reporting, direct cost charging/SDA, & financial reporting) to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.
• Interacts with Principal Investigators (PIs) to build relationships, transfer knowledge & advise on research policies & procedures.
• Ensures faculty completion of effort certification.
• Provides appropriate training for staff & PIs.
• Makes sure commitments and expenditures are in compliance with granting agency guidelines.
• Verifies accurate set up of sponsored project accounts.

Administration

• Identifies current & future resource planning & allocation issues & develops, leads, & supervises complex studies & analyses that will assist senior staff in reaching resource planning and allocation decisions.
• Processes & presents associated data & information through the application of sophisticated database, graphic & spreadsheet tools.
• Negotiates with vendors for purchases & leases.
• Acts act as project manager for design and implementation of regulatory and system changes.
• Manages operation of a computer system or system processes that support the area or program.
• Makes sure service level goals are met.

Training

• Develops and maintains website content and training materials.
• Trains employees.

Supervision

• Hires employees.
• Evaluates employees' performance.
• Provides work direction to other employees.

Minimum Qualifications

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as accounting, business administration, finance, or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 5 years financial, budgeting &/or preparing account reconciliations or financial statements along with financial analysis or other relevant experience.

Minimum Competencies

• Excellent computer skills including proficiency in the use of spreadsheet, database and word processing software.
• Strong understanding of financial reporting.
• Familiarity with FASB requirements.