Sponsored Finance Assistant

What is the Division of Financial Affairs and Sponsored Financial Services?
Cornell University, unique among peers, is the federal land-grant institution of New York State, a private endowed university, and a member of the Ivy League. The Division of Financial Affairs provides central financial functions in support of the university's academic mission. The Division of Financial Affair's vision is, "To deliver world-class financial services to the university." Day in and day out the Division of Financial Affairs strives to adhere to this vision by promoting an environment where best practices are championed and our employees are empowered to do their best work in all areas of financial service.

The Sponsored Financial Services (SFS) unit provides post-award financial administration of approved sponsored grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements on behalf of Cornell University. We also provide strategy development to effectively and efficiently meet the financial requirements of sponsored organizations and supported units, and expertise in the administration of sponsored grants/contracts and advise to unit personnel and principal investigators in the financial management of their programs within the terms and conditions of the grant/contract federal regulations.

What you will do:
The Sponsored Finance Assistant has primary responsibility for ensuring the post-award project accounts that support financial administration of sponsored awards are correctly established, necessitating familiarity with standard operating procedures as related to the chart of accounts and general ledger application, Kuali. The position requires a high degree of familiarity with agreement language, including financial terms and conditions, as it pertains to sponsored projects. Educating units on appropriate account attributes and communicating project guidelines is an essential component of this position.

• Be expected to be the expert on creating sponsored accounts, particularly related to the accurate use of attributes that determine key financial relationships, including: employee benefit rates, indirect cost rate, etc., ensuring that stakeholder requirements are met.

• Provide instruction and guidance to campus staff on the establishment of new accounts and subaccounts, including specialized account types for cost sharing and fabrication.

• Conduct preliminary reviews of award details; communicate with the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) for clarification/correction as needed; update changes on existing awards as needed; and assist in recording both initial and amended budgets in the general ledger.

• Provide support for standard federal financial reports, assists in submission of ad-hoc invoices and reports, and assists in obtaining and collating supporting documentation as directed.

• Play a critical role in promoting professional working relationships with all stakeholders of sponsored awards.

Due to the nature of the work, individual may be expected to work outside of standard work hours as required to meet internal and external deadlines.

What we need:
We need a team player with financial experience and excellent communication skills who wants to provide exceptional customer service. Ideally, you will have spent time working in a finance or higher education environment where you dealt with sponsored funds, grants and contracts. Additionally, you will have:

• An Associate's degree in Accounting/Finance with two or more years of accounting or accounting-relevant experience or equivalent combination of education and experience required.

• Proficiency in PC systems and software specifically Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook) is required.

• Excellent communication skills, ability to resolve issues in a timely manner, excellent organizational skills and attention to detail will also be required.

• Must be able to work effectively within a team as well as independently with minimum supervision.

• Must be customer-service oriented. Must be able to prioritize and manage multiple tasks of varying complexity and urgency. Critical thinking skills are a must.

If you have all those things, great! We have a few more things that we would prefer you to have, but it's ok if you don't.

• Previous experience as a bookkeeper or accounting assistant in a large and/or complex organization, or experience managing sponsored funds, preferred.

• Knowledge of Kuali Financial System and Cornell specific Kuali Dashboards are a definite plus.

What we offer:

Great benefits that include educational benefits, access to a plethora of wellness programs, employee discounts with local and national retail brands, health care options to choose from, generous paid leave provisions: 3 weeks of vacation, 12 university paid holidays (including end of year winter break through New Year's Day) and superior retirement contributions.

An active and diverse community to work and thrive in! Cornell is situated in picturesque Ithaca, New York, the heart of the Finger Lakes. Ithaca is home to two academic institutions, state parks, waterfalls, gorges, and a wide range of art galleries, theaters, eateries, wineries, and breweries. Ithaca has something to suit all ages and interests!

Potential for Ongoing Remote

This position is located in Ithaca, New York. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the University's need to limit the number of on-campus employees, the successful applicant will be asked to perform this role remotely at a location of their choice in the United States. This position may be considered for ongoing remote-work status, even once the campus permits more employees to work on campus.

The New York Convenience of employer guidelines require New York State individual tax reporting and withholdings for this position. Additional individual state income tax filings may also be required if working temporarily outside New York State.

No Visa sponsorship available for this position.

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Employment Assistance:

If you require an accommodation for a disability in order to complete an employment application or to participate in the recruiting process, you are encouraged to contact Cornell University's Department of Inclusion and Workforce Diversity at voice (607) 255-3976, fax (607) 255-7481, or email at owdi@cornell.edu.

For general questions about the position or the application process, please contact the Recruiter listed in the job posting.

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EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations. Cornell University is an innovative Ivy League university and a great place to work. Our inclusive community of scholars, students, and staff impart an uncommon sense of larger purpose, and contribute creative ideas to further the university's mission of teaching, discovery, and engagement.