Senior Finance Administrator

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $80,000 - $86,000

Position Summary

University Life is a central division dedicated to supporting all Columbia students by cultivating an inclusive, connected campus community. Partnering closely with Columbia's 17 schools and colleges, we serve as a hub for student engagement, collaboration, and University-wide support. Our work is rooted in building meaningful relationships across the University to help students grow, connect, and thrive.

We focus on strengthening the student experience beyond the classroom by enhancing resources, policies, and programs; promoting opportunities for connection and belonging; and creating spaces for open dialogue across diverse perspectives. Guided by our values of connection, integrity, respect, service, and continuous learning, we work to ensure every student feels welcomed, supported, and empowered to make a meaningful impact at Columbia.

Through partnerships with students, faculty, and staff, University Life champions a campus culture grounded in well-being, inclusion, community citizenship, and personal development. Our work is guided by a vision of a Columbia where every student feels a deep sense of belonging and is empowered to make meaningful contributions through their relationships, engagement, and participation in the community.

Reporting to the Executive Director, Administration & Operations (ED), the Senior Finance Administrator leads Student Group Administration (SGA) for the division. This entails a wide range of administrative, operations, and financial support to the Inter-School Governing Board (IGB) and the Community Impact Governing Board (CIGB). The Senior Finance Administrator also supports and ensures the smooth execution of day-to-day operations related to finance within Administration and Operations, acting as a key liaison between the Rules Administration and the University Life teams. The Senior Finance Administrator is charged with processing, reconciling, and approving financial transactions, and providing periodical financial reports for the Rules office, IGB, CIGB, and the advisors. Primary responsibilities include a wide range of financial process management, including initiating, reviewing, approving, and tracking financial transactions and managing the budget for both IGB and CIGB student groups, Rules Administration, and University Delegate appointments and payments. Their comprehensive oversight of both HR (additional compensation) and financial processes ensures the department functions efficiently and in compliance with university policy and standards. This position also has oversight of grants-related processes and protocols for the division.

A strong internal candidate has been identified for this position, however, we are still accepting applications from other qualified candidates.

Responsibilities

Student Group Administration

• Maintain high-quality customer service for diverse audiences, students, faculty, and staff; foster a collegial and inviting environment that supports the Inter-School Governing Board (IGB) and Community Impact Governing Board (CIGB) on all relevant inquiries.
• Manage all aspects of financial reporting, budget management, and reconcile all student group accounts. Address account discrepancies in a timely manner.
• In close collaboration with advisors, support and process annual allocations and reclamations for both IGB and CIGB student groups.
• Create and administer finance training to student leaders and advisors. Provide refreshers to existing staff as needed and advises on policy and processing changes, including vendor management support.
• Oversee student group travel in close collaboration with the Advising team.
• Work closely with the ED on annual fiscal closing for Student Group Administration.
• Manage all finance functions in CampusGroups (CG), Bedework and SecurePay; serves as the finance administrator in all of these platforms.
• Oversee administrative tasks and address ServiceNow tickets for student groups.
• Manage the Visual Compliance (VC) process for student group sponsors and donors.

Rules Administration

• Monitor, report, and explain departmental expenditures and variances to the approved budget and present alternatives for achieving the goals.
• Maintain financial management, reporting, and control systems and oversee compliance with the policies, procedures, and regulations of the University.
• Oversee and manage departmental budgets, including tracking expenditures, reconciling accounts, and preparing financial reports.
• Develop and maintain accurate forecasting tools to ensure fiscal responsibility and adherence to budgetary constraints.
• Process purchase orders, invoices, reimbursements, and other financial transactions using the university's financial systems.
• Oversees the payment process (additional compensation) for University Delegates.
• Liaise with internal and external stakeholders regarding departmental policies and procedures.
• Partner with University Life to align administrative and financial practices with departmental and central policies.
• Assist in the rollout and administration of online systems or platforms.

Grants Administration

• Oversee grants processing for the division, including submissions in Rascal
• Liaise with Sponsored Projects Administration and Sponsored Projects Finance

Special Projects

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  Other related duties as assigned.

  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 4-6 years of related experience.
• Advanced degree preferred
• Strong interpersonal skills, with attention to detail and the ability to handle confidential information with excellent judgment and discretion are required.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Must have working knowledge and experience using Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as well as experience working in a database, are required.
• Demonstrated success in managing competing priorities with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, conflict management, leadership, and team-building skills, including proactive problem-solving skills.
• A culturally responsive professional who demonstrates the ability to communicate across differences and interpersonally with a wide range of stakeholders and can grasp differing viewpoints with humility.
• A desire to contribute to an organizational process of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Interest and experience in designing and implementing high-quality activities, programs, and services for students

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.