Position Overview
This position leads the finance team for the School of Mathematics and its associated centers, including the Institute for Mathematics and Its Applications (IMA), Minnesota Center for Financial and Actuarial Mathematics (MCFAM), Mathematics Center for Educational Programs (MathCEP), and Simons Collaboration on Localization of Waves. Including its associated centers, the School has annual sponsored expenditures of $4.6 million and non-sponsored expenditures of $23.6 million. 

This position reports to the Administrator and oversees pre-award support, post-award accounting and compliance, budgeting, financial analysis, financial policy and procedure development, payroll and purchasing. It collaborates closely with faculty leadership and other senior staff responsible for the Schoolâ™s education, research, and service missions. 

Areas of Responsibility and Accountability

Team Management and Supervision (25%)
Hire, mentor, evaluate, and support the professional development of three direct reports
Organize work processes, determine priorities, and assign work
Review finance staff work, provide feedback, and arrange training opportunities when needed
Maintain consistent service levels through cross-training
Foster a collaborative environment and solicit input from staff to improve processes and policies

Finance and Grants Management and Oversight (45%)
Oversee the finances of the School; advise the department head and administrator on use of resources, including gifts and endowments and department-level financial policies, providing regular reports and analysis.
Prepare annual fiscal year budgets in EFS (Enterprise Financial System) including position budgeting and budget detail for non-sponsored chart strings following Dean's office guidelines
Provide directors with reports on their centersâ™ financial performance and suggest action items based on analysis
Support the undergraduate and graduate programs in managing scholarships, fellowships and the finances of student organizations
Manage pre-award services to reduce the administrative burden on faculty and facilitate timely, accurate submissions to Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA)
Oversee all aspects of post-award grants administration, including transaction approvals, cost sharing, rebudgeting, effort certification, no cost extensions, pre-award accounts, subcontract requests, project closeouts, internal and external sales, and routine monitoring of sponsored awards
Develop tracking systems, methodologies, and consistent schedules for processing school and center financial commitments (e.g. ICR return, Chair/Professorship discretionary payments, UMF withdrawals)
Maintain and provide oversight of the Schoolâ™s COA (CEMS System)
Regularly perform audits of school and center chartstrings and initiate corrective actions, tracking progress until resolved 
Develop a credit hour report and analysis â“ undergraduate and graduate â“ for the department head and administrator to aid in recruitment and curriculum decisions
Develop and maintain strong relationships with University partners including the CSE Deanâ™s Office, CSE Cluster, other CSE Academic departments, SPA, SFR, REO, the Controllerâ™s Office and the ESO/ISO.

Payroll Oversight (15%)
Oversee payroll and appointment entry so they are consistent with University policy, timely and accurate, with appropriate approvals and controls

Purchasing and Reimbursement Oversight (10%)
Oversee functions associated with purchasing, invoicing, and payment so they are consistent with University policy, timely, accurate and easy for users, with appropriate approvals and controls
Manage the reimbursement process for conference and workshop attendees

Other Duties as Assigned (5%)

Required Qualifications 
BA/BS with major in accounting, finance, business administration or related field and at least six years professional finance experience. 
Certified Approver (or must pass CA exam within 4-6 months after hire). 
Demonstrated experience managing and supervising people. 
Strong written and oral communications skills and the ability to effectively interface with all levels of a complex, diverse organization (students, staff, faculty, and central administration). 
Ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines both independently and as part of a team. Demonstrated effectiveness in problem identification and problem solving with complex and sensitive issues. 
Demonstrated willingness to learn and grow professionally as evidenced by previous professional development activities. 
Capable of accepting responsibility with a high level of independent initiative, proactivity, and creativity. 

Preferred Qualifications 
Experience maintaining compliance with the U of M policies and procedures. 
Experience with all components of post award grants management. 
Experience working in a higher education institution and an understanding of the academic culture, especially science or engineering. 
 

About University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The University of Minnesota, founded in the belief that all people are enriched by understanding, is dedicated to the advancement of learning and the search for truth; to the sharing of this knowledge through education for a diverse community; and to the application of this knowledge to benefit the people of the state, the nation, and the world.

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