Financial Coordinator (Hybrid work schedule)

Department: Alumni Relations & Development
Salary/Grade: EXS/5

Please note: The target budgeted salary for this position is $51,500 - $59,000. Offers will be based on candidate experience and education, as well as equity within Northwestern University.

About Alumni Relations and Development

Alumni Relations and Development appreciates that the collective sum of our individual differences, experiences, knowledge, and self-expression is crucial for our success. We strongly invite candidates of all backgrounds to apply and to participate fully and authentically in our workplace.

We encourage you to apply even if you do not believe you meet 100% of the preferred qualifications.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Alumni Relations and Development is committed to genuine inclusion. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact Elizabeth Frisch at efrisch@northwestern.edu. Consistent with its obligations under the law, Northwestern will provide reasonable accommodation to any employee with a disability who requires accommodation to perform the essential job responsibilities.

Job Summary:

The Financial Coordinator supports Alumni Relations and Development's financial operations, helping to ensure compliance, troubleshooting logistical issues, monitoring budget activity, and managing various projects and initiatives for ARD's Finance and Administration team, including onboarding and offboarding. Regular responsibilities include financial transaction review, training and customer service for coworkers using financial systems, and various financial reporting. The Financial Coordinator collaborates with other members of the Finance and Administration team, along with client team members, to ensure financial activities are completed in a timely, accurate, and compliant manner, while maintaining a high level of customer service for Alumni Relations and Development staff.

• 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 and/or guides business area on internal and/or external financial affairs by exchanging information.
• Accounting policy and procedure
• Accounts payable
• Accounts receivable
• Additional/special pay
• Analysis
• Audit
• Balancing
• Bank and balance sheet acct
• Bank deposits
• Benefits accounting
• Budget
• Business continuity planning
• Cash receipt
• Chart and/or account coding
• Cost accounting
• Creating new accounts
• Endowment and gift accounting
• Expense reimbursement
• Financial Statements
• Forecasting
• Grants and/or awards
• Inventory
• Journal and/or ledger
• Payroll
• Petty cash
• Procurement card program
• Purchase orders
• Recharge
• Reconciliation
• Risk accounting
• Reporting
• Salary administration
• Transfer charges
• Treasury
• Wire transfers
• Please note: Supervisor provides objectives and deadlines. Work is reviewed for fulfillment of objective and deadlines and overall compliance with policy and procedures. EE completes some activities without direction, informing supervisor only of potentially controversial matters, and/or far-reaching implications.

Specific Responsibilities:

Budget:

• Prepares materials for annual budget planning such as analysis, budget performance reports and year-end close data.
• Provides updated budget estimates and account research.
• Guides units of responsibility through university budgeting and forecasting processes, reviews budget and forecasting submissions.
• 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.
• Analysis, Statements and Reporting:
• Creates daily, monthly and/or annual analysis and reports regarding area/unit, grants and/or awards, accounts, funds, payroll, expense and/or revenue allocation, etc.
• Assists with monthly/quarterly/annual journal entries, reports and statements
• Provides support for annual audit work papers
• Maintains, and updates financial models and analysis.

Transactions:

• Provides review and oversight of all types of financial transactions some of which may be complex in regard to size or duration of account.
• Enters individual and/or summary of transactions into journals and/or general ledger or other NU enterprise system.
• Reviews; ensures approval based on alternatives regarding practice and policy; analyzes and classifies transactions in accordance with established chart or coding of accounts; creates new accounts; prepares, processes, reconciles and provides receipts (as appropriate) for transactions.
• Processes transfer and/or appropriation charges and may balance and/or close accounts.
• Troubleshoots problems; performs vendor/account research as needed; obtains additional information from or provides instruction and guidance for customers/vendors; corrects or escalates.
• Maintains Chart of Account lists.
• Prepares and delivers bank deposits.
• Accesses multiple banking systems to process transactions, retrieve information, and/or initiate wire transfers.
• Provides financial policy interpretation to determine the validity of customer requests and ensure compliance.
• Contacts outside agencies, banks and/or banking systems to obtain clarification of rules and/or regulations.
• Controls account availability for all chart strings.
• Provides support for internal audit requests.

Administration:

• Processes and presents data and information through the application of database, graphic and 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):
• Performs general office support activities.

Training:

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

Supervision:

• Supervises temporary, part-time or work study students
• Provides work direction to others
• Assists with hiring employees

Miscellaneous

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 and/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 spreadsheet, database and word processing software.
• Familiarity with financial reporting.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience from which comparable knowledge and abilities can be acquired. Business Administration and/or Financial experience a plus.
• Familiarity with NUFinancials a plus

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Working knowledge of accounting and business principles, methods, and techniques; strong analytical and mathematical skills; critical thinking and problem solving skills
• Ability to prioritize work for self; strong organizational and interpersonal skills; adeptness at handling detail; ability to multitask and resourcefulness is key
• Excellent communication and customer service skills, the ability to write clearly and concisely for various mediums is desirable, ability to maintain composure during high stress situations, and ability to work with varying personalities and staff requirements
• Ability to maintain highly confidential information on a variety of sensitive subjects

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 strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.

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.