Financial Coordinator Position, Job ID 45974

Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Northwestern University

The Chemistry of Life Processes Institute (CLP) at Northwestern University invites applications for the position of Financial Coordinator. The Financial Coordinator is responsible for providing financial support for the Chemistry of Life Processes Institute (CLP) in areas related to financial analysis and reporting, reconciliation, HR/payroll, and transactional oversight for sponsored and non-sponsored accounts. This position maintains confidential information for CLP and its affiliated center and core recharge facilities under the direct supervision of the CLP business manager.

Benefits:

• Opportunities for partial remote work and flexible hours
• Northwestern tuition reimbursement
• Full training in NU financial administration
• An entry point to higher-level positions in research administration and financial management
• Supportive team

Job Summary:

Are you looking to join a talented, creative, and collaborative team passionate about advancing human health? Northwestern University’s Chemistry of Life Processes Institute (CLP) is a transdisciplinary nexus for world-class drug development and biomedical discovery. Our pioneering faculty, professional staff, students, and state-of-the-art facilities accelerate understanding, diagnostic approaches, and treatment of disease. We also train the next generation of biomedical innovators. CLP is committed to cultivating a genuinely inclusive culture where all members of our community—including individuals with diverse backgrounds, viewpoints, and experience—feel welcomed, valued, and supported.

Responsibilities include the following:

• Supports a university accounting-related area or program under supervision of the area manager.
• Supports a school/dept’s financial operations.
• Reviews a portfolio of multiple schools/depts’ financial operations comprised primarily of standard and routine work.
• Provides transactional oversight.
• Applies industry and professional standards, university policy and procedure, federal and state laws and other regulations (as applicable).
• Represents &/or guides business area on internal &/or external financial affairs by exchanging information.

Please Note: May need to occasionally work a few evening hours to meet deadlines.

Supervisor provides objectives & deadlines.  Work is reviewed for fulfillment of objective & deadlines & overall compliance with policy & procedures.  EE completes some activities without direction, informing supervisor only of potentially controversial matters, &/or far-reaching implications.

Specific Responsibilities:

Budget:

• Prepares materials for annual budget planning such as analysis, budget performance reports & year-end close data.
• Provides updated budget estimates & account research.
• Guides units of responsibility through university budgeting and forecasting processes, reviews budget and forecasting submissions.
• Coordinates &/or provides information for annual salary review process.

Analysis, Statements & Reporting:

• Creates daily, monthly &/or annual analysis & reports regarding area/unit, grants &/or awards, accounts, funds, payroll, expense &/or revenue allocation, etc.
• Prepares financial analysis for supplies, equipment, &/or personnel decisions.
• Assists with monthly/quarterly/annual journal entries, reports and statements
• Provides support for quarterly financial forecasts.
• Maintains, and updates financial models and analysis.

Transactions:

• Provides review and oversight and some approvals for all types of financial transactions some of which may be complex in regard to size or duration of account.
• Enters individual &/or summary of transactions into NU enterprise system and unit’s financial records.
• Reviews; ensures approval based on alternatives regarding practice & policy; analyzes and classifies transactions in accordance with established chart or coding of accounts; establishes new chartstring fields in Cognos; prepares, processes, reconciles & provides receipts (as appropriate) for transactions.
• Processes transfer &/or appropriation charges & may balance &/or close accounts.
• Troubleshoots problems; performs vendor/account research as needed; obtains additional information from or provides instruction & guidance for customers/vendors; corrects or escalates.
• Accesses Card Connect systems to process transactions and/or retrieve information.
• Provides financial policy interpretation to determine the validity of customer requests & ensure compliance.
• Provides support for internal audit requests.

Grants &/or Awards:

• Provides assistance to Sr. Research Administrator for post award accounting and monthly reconciliations.
• Assists with Closing grants.
• With approval from the Sr. Research Administrator ,Approves expenditures, up to $1,500, in NUFS, along with various forms, such as Intra Institutional Vouchers, Requests for Accounting Corrections, in accordance with granting agency guidelines & University policies & procedures.
• Verifies payroll funding entries.
• Corrects charges to various accounts.

Administration:

• Processes & presents data & information through the application of database, graphic & spreadsheet software.
• Obtains data by downloading from enterprise system; develops and runs queries.
• Completes special financial projects such as: (enter in explanation of special projects): Core performance dashboard, Compensation analysis, etc.and provides information for the annual space survey.
• Recommend and implement, as needed, business process improvements related to this position.
• Performs general office support activities.

Training:

• Assists with training of new staff members
• Creates & provides financial training on practice, procedure, policy & laws to customers.

Supervision:

• Supervises Financial Assistant during supervisor’s absences (FA has an indirect reporting line to this position)
• Performs other duties as assigned.

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.
• 1 year financial, budgeting &/or preparing account reconciliations or financial statements along with financial analysis or other relevant experience.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Excellent computer skills including proficiency in the use of Excel, database and word processing software.
• Familiarity with financial reporting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor degree in accounting or the equivalent combination of education, training, and experience from which comparable skills can be acquired.
• At least three years’ related experience in an academic research environment.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• .Experience with NUFinancials, Cognos, myHR, Caesar and other University systems.
• Knowledge of NUCore.
• Knowledge of Northwestern’s financial management policies.
• Advanced Excel level, working knowledge of pivot table, power query, data modeling, data visualization, VBA.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to independently identify and resolve problems.
• Ability to meet deadlines and handle last minute changes.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers, faculty, staff, and other members of administration.
• Demonstrated customer service skills, including the ability to use appropriate judgment, independent thinking, flexibility and creativity when resolving issues.
• Ability to explain NU Business rules and policies to stakeholders.
• Strong written and verbal communications

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern requires all staff and faculty to be vaccinated against COVID-19, subject to limited exceptions. For more information, please visit our COVID-19 and Campus Updates website.

The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.

To view the job posting and/or apply for the job, please click here.

Current employees of Northwestern University should use this link.