Northwestern University
Overview
Job ID: 52554 | Location: Chicago, Illinois
Department: MED-Cancer Center Salary/Grade: EXS/9
Target hiring range for this position will be between $78,482 and $105,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.
Job Summary Manages a university accounting-related area or program. Manages financial operations and/or analysis in support of the area/unit’s mission and in coordination with central offices such as HR, Budget, Financial Aid, Facilities, Purchasing, IT, Provost, etc. Reviews a portfolio of multiple schools/departments' financial operations and manages daily, monthly, quarterly and annual financial processes. Applies industry and professional standards, interprets university policy and procedures, federal and state laws, granting agency guidelines, and other regulations (as applicable); recommends accounting policy for the university. Represents and guides the business area on internal and external financial affairs by recommending alternatives and suggestions. Leads and performs all aspects of post-award financial management for sponsored projects.
Specific Responsibilities Budget
Serves a primary role in the development and implementation of annual budget, including fiscal resource allocation of appropriated, discretionary, endowment and gift revenues and expenses.
Manages budget and provides timely, accurate financial status for the current fiscal year and future plan.
Guides units of responsibility through university budgeting and forecasting processes, reviews budget and forecasting submissions.
Acts as Budget Office expert on units and functions within the portfolio of responsibilities.
Coordinates and completes all associated fiscal year close/open processes.
Reviews and reconciles actual expenses to budget per NU Audit guidelines.
Approves funds reallocation within budget as necessary and appropriate.
Analysis, Statements & Reporting
Measures individual net performance of all areas/units as well as the consolidated area/unit income statement and balance sheet using predefined analytical financial tools.
Recommends changes to tools to improve analysis, forecasting, modeling and reporting, and the quality of financial information provided to management for planning, evaluating and controlling operations.
Establishes proper accounting and audit trails for revenue and expenses related to programs and initiatives.
Oversees monthly reconciliation and reports on current financial performance, impact on year-end forecast, opportunities and risks.
Prepares area or program financial statements and regulatory reports.
Acts as the key contact for external auditors; prepares financial statements 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.
May serve as primary Level III school approver for NU Financial transactions.
Provides optimal customer service and financial guidance to areas/units.
Oversees processing of all daily financial transactional activity.
Reviews exception forms and reimbursements that require special attention.
Requests new chart strings.
Prepares faculty salary recovery and summer salary.
Creates and monitors recharge centers.
Monitors open encumbrances and deficit chart strings; stops an expense as needed.
Reviews status of related university unit accounts and processes; troubleshoots issues as needed.
Leads and provides support for internal and/or granting agency audit requests.
Grants and/or Awards
Typically involved in the budget management of numerous research grants.
Oversees and/or completes pre- and post-award research administration.
Utilizes established systems (effort reporting, direct cost charging/SDA, and financial reporting) to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.
Interacts with Principal Investigators (PIs) to build relationships, transfer knowledge and advise on research policies and procedures.
Oversees payroll for research appointments and ensures faculty completion of effort certification.
Provides appropriate training for staff and PIs.
Monitors commitments and expenditures to ensure compliance with granting agency guidelines.
Verifies accurate setup of sponsored project accounts.
Administration
Identifies current and future resource planning and allocation issues; develops, leads, and supervises complex studies and analyses to assist senior staff in reaching resource planning and allocation decisions.
Processes and presents associated data through the application of database, graphic and spreadsheet tools.
Negotiates with vendors for purchases and leases.
Acts 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.
Ensures that service level goals are met.
Training
Provides training and support to related university units or program participants.
Develops and maintains website content and training materials.
Supervision
Supervises employees, trains employees, hires employees, evaluates performance, and provides work direction to other employees.
Miscellaneous
Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Either a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or related field with an equivalent combination of education and experience, or a full 4-year degree in a related area; or an appropriate combination of education and experience.
5 years of financial, budgeting and/or preparing account reconciliations or financial statements along with financial analysis experience.
Minimum Competencies
Excellent computer skills including proficiency in spreadsheet, database and word processing software.
Strong understanding of financial reporting.
Familiarity with FASB requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
CFE-Certified Fraud Examiner
CIA-Certified Internal Auditor
CISA-Certified Information Systems Auditor
CPA-Certified Public Accountant
Preferred Competencies
SoCRA certification
Experience managing Recharge Facility finance budgets and developing Recharge Rates
Ability to build relationships with clients and collaborators
Benefits and EEO Benefits: Northwestern offers meaningful, competitive health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more. Visit the benefits page for details: https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html
Work-Life and Wellness: Northwestern supports programs to help navigate life challenges and maintain healthy lifestyles. Visit https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html for more information.
Professional Growth and Development: Northwestern supports employee career development. Visit https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. If you need accommodations in the application or hiring process, contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on accommodations.
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Department: MED-Cancer Center Salary/Grade: EXS/9
Target hiring range for this position will be between $78,482 and $105,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.
Job Summary Manages a university accounting-related area or program. Manages financial operations and/or analysis in support of the area/unit’s mission and in coordination with central offices such as HR, Budget, Financial Aid, Facilities, Purchasing, IT, Provost, etc. Reviews a portfolio of multiple schools/departments' financial operations and manages daily, monthly, quarterly and annual financial processes. Applies industry and professional standards, interprets university policy and procedures, federal and state laws, granting agency guidelines, and other regulations (as applicable); recommends accounting policy for the university. Represents and guides the business area on internal and external financial affairs by recommending alternatives and suggestions. Leads and performs all aspects of post-award financial management for sponsored projects.
Specific Responsibilities Budget
Serves a primary role in the development and implementation of annual budget, including fiscal resource allocation of appropriated, discretionary, endowment and gift revenues and expenses.
Manages budget and provides timely, accurate financial status for the current fiscal year and future plan.
Guides units of responsibility through university budgeting and forecasting processes, reviews budget and forecasting submissions.
Acts as Budget Office expert on units and functions within the portfolio of responsibilities.
Coordinates and completes all associated fiscal year close/open processes.
Reviews and reconciles actual expenses to budget per NU Audit guidelines.
Approves funds reallocation within budget as necessary and appropriate.
Analysis, Statements & Reporting
Measures individual net performance of all areas/units as well as the consolidated area/unit income statement and balance sheet using predefined analytical financial tools.
Recommends changes to tools to improve analysis, forecasting, modeling and reporting, and the quality of financial information provided to management for planning, evaluating and controlling operations.
Establishes proper accounting and audit trails for revenue and expenses related to programs and initiatives.
Oversees monthly reconciliation and reports on current financial performance, impact on year-end forecast, opportunities and risks.
Prepares area or program financial statements and regulatory reports.
Acts as the key contact for external auditors; prepares financial statements 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.
May serve as primary Level III school approver for NU Financial transactions.
Provides optimal customer service and financial guidance to areas/units.
Oversees processing of all daily financial transactional activity.
Reviews exception forms and reimbursements that require special attention.
Requests new chart strings.
Prepares faculty salary recovery and summer salary.
Creates and monitors recharge centers.
Monitors open encumbrances and deficit chart strings; stops an expense as needed.
Reviews status of related university unit accounts and processes; troubleshoots issues as needed.
Leads and provides support for internal and/or granting agency audit requests.
Grants and/or Awards
Typically involved in the budget management of numerous research grants.
Oversees and/or completes pre- and post-award research administration.
Utilizes established systems (effort reporting, direct cost charging/SDA, and financial reporting) to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations.
Interacts with Principal Investigators (PIs) to build relationships, transfer knowledge and advise on research policies and procedures.
Oversees payroll for research appointments and ensures faculty completion of effort certification.
Provides appropriate training for staff and PIs.
Monitors commitments and expenditures to ensure compliance with granting agency guidelines.
Verifies accurate setup of sponsored project accounts.
Administration
Identifies current and future resource planning and allocation issues; develops, leads, and supervises complex studies and analyses to assist senior staff in reaching resource planning and allocation decisions.
Processes and presents associated data through the application of database, graphic and spreadsheet tools.
Negotiates with vendors for purchases and leases.
Acts 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.
Ensures that service level goals are met.
Training
Provides training and support to related university units or program participants.
Develops and maintains website content and training materials.
Supervision
Supervises employees, trains employees, hires employees, evaluates performance, and provides work direction to other employees.
Miscellaneous
Performs other duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Either a bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or related field with an equivalent combination of education and experience, or a full 4-year degree in a related area; or an appropriate combination of education and experience.
5 years of financial, budgeting and/or preparing account reconciliations or financial statements along with financial analysis experience.
Minimum Competencies
Excellent computer skills including proficiency in spreadsheet, database and word processing software.
Strong understanding of financial reporting.
Familiarity with FASB requirements.
Preferred Qualifications
CFE-Certified Fraud Examiner
CIA-Certified Internal Auditor
CISA-Certified Information Systems Auditor
CPA-Certified Public Accountant
Preferred Competencies
SoCRA certification
Experience managing Recharge Facility finance budgets and developing Recharge Rates
Ability to build relationships with clients and collaborators
Benefits and EEO Benefits: Northwestern offers meaningful, competitive health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more. Visit the benefits page for details: https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html
Work-Life and Wellness: Northwestern supports programs to help navigate life challenges and maintain healthy lifestyles. Visit https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html for more information.
Professional Growth and Development: Northwestern supports employee career development. Visit https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. If you need accommodations in the application or hiring process, contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on accommodations.
#J-18808-Ljbffr