Financial Specialist Supervisor

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JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS:

The Pennsylvania State University Office of Budget and Finance invites applications for the position of Financial Specialist Supervisor to support financial operations of the University. This position will initially support the Penn State University Press (PSUP), a scholarly publishing division of the University Libraries. This position is based in vibrant and beautiful University Park, Pennsylvania, and it offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of a globally respected university press.

About Penn State University Press

PSU Press is renowned for publishing groundbreaking scholarly books across its three imprints:

• Penn State University Press, scholarship in the arts and humanities and regional trade titles
• Eisenbrauns, specialist publications in biblical studies, ancient Near Eastern studies, archaeology, ancient languages, and Islamic studies.
• Graphic Mundi, trade graphic novels for general readers on important topics

Additionally, PSU Press is home to a robust journals publishing program comprised of more than 80 titles and more than 175 issues annually.

Position Overview

The Financial Specialist Supervisor will report to the Sr. Director of Administrative and Financial Services in the University Libraries. This position supports the unit and Financial Officer by providing oversight of budget and fiscal matters and will also work closely with the Executive Director, Press Managers & Supervisors, and the Libraries Business Office. Duties and responsibilities include advising departments on budget management, financial controls and policy and procedure; coordinating training for employees working with unit budgets; establishing, documenting, and implementing processes, procedures, systems, and standards for the efficient operation of PSUP.

This position is initially intended to support financial operations within University Libraries/ PSUP. Support of PSUP includes interfacing with the Press Managers and Supervisors on budgetary issues related to their areas; entering of author contracts into a royalties system; receiving, analyzing, and processing sales reports from vendors; preparing royalty payment calculations; and advising the Press Director on publishing industry-specific business arrangements and contracts. This position will be the first point of contact to assist in the research and resolution related to complex financial/process questions.

Key Responsibilities and Areas of Oversight

• Oversee the Press Accounts Payable processing, which includes approval of Purchase Orders, Invoices, P-Card purchases, and Travel expenditures
• Review business transactions for proper accounting treatment and ensure compliance with PSU policies
• Oversee the processing and payment of royalties to authors, editors, and rightsholders on behalf of the Press
• Enter author contracts in InOrder and perform contract audit for compliance with royalty calculations
• Prepare monthly financial summary reports and other reports as needed
• Reconciliation and management of operating budget; make adjustments as needed and resolve problems
• Compile and maintain data for analysis and forecasting purposes; run reports as needed
• Approve routine journal entries and prepare complex correcting entries
• Assist with annual processes, including inventory valuation, accounts receivable analysis and operating budget preparation

Qualifications

This position will be filled at a Senior Supervisor level and minimally requires a bachelor's degree and 6 years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience. Previous work in publishing finances is preferred but not mandatory. Strong written and verbal communication skills are required, as is proficiency working inside of the Microsoft Office suite, particularly Microsoft Excel.

Additional Details

This position offers a flexible work arrangement that combines remote and on-campus work. Questions related to flexible work should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.

Penn State is embarking on a project to restructure the University's financial functions to move towards a centralized, service hub-based structure. This position is intended to initially support the unit(s) and functions listed in this posting, however it is expected to evolve over time relative to the overall restructuring. Questions about this project should be directed to the hiring manager during the interview process.

Due to the financial and fiduciary responsibilities of this position, successful completion of a credit history check will be required in addition to standard background checks.

The Pennsylvania State University is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging in all its forms. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports both broad and specific equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission.

Join Our Team

Join us in the vigorous pursuit of excellence in publishing. Apply now to become a part of our innovative team!

The salary range for this position, including all possible grades is:

Salary Structure - additional information on Penn State's job and salary structure.

CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS: