Position Overview

Openings exist for Accountants / Finance Professionals at both the 2 and 3 levels, depending on qualifications and assigned portfolio.

The University of Minnesota encourages a healthy work life balance for employees. CEHD is committed to an excellent employee experience, offering a flexible work environment that meets the needs of students, staff, faculty, and the communities we serve. Flexible work arrangements may include flexibility in schedule and/or work location. Please note that 100% remote work requires approval prior to offer. 

The accountant / finance professional positions allow for fully remote, hybrid, and/or a private on campus office. Employees will be expected to attend up to four in-person events annually, located in Minneapolis, MN. Employees will be responsible for covering any travel costs that may be incurred when attending in-person events.

The Financial Services Office (FSO) is a centralized administrative support unit within the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD), which consists of seven academic departments, three college-wide research centers, and 25 administrative and student support units. The CEHD finance staff work within policies and procedures in the areas of fund accounting, budget and forecasting, post-award grant management, fiscal oversight, compliance and audit, reporting and reconciliation. The team of 15 CEHD accountants / finance professionals work closely with unit leadership, faculty, staff, and researchers to inform, plan, and solve complex problems that affect entire departments and centers.

Salary Range (annual): 

• Accountant / Finance Professional 2: $65,000-75,000 (DOQ) 
• Lead Accountant / Finance Professional 3: $75,000-85,000 (DOQ) 

Job Responsibilities

The following responsibilities represent both the finance professional 2 and the lead finance professional 3 positions, generally. Level 2 and 3 unit/department assignments are determined based on portfolio size, scope, and complexity.

Accounting, Budget, Financial and Post-Award Grant Management (60%-70%)

• Maintain assigned unitâ™s chart of accounts in accordance with University and College policy.
• Approve financial transactions and reconcile financial activity for all funding sources to ensure appropriate fund usage and revenue/expense allocation; initiate and process journal entry corrections.
• Ensure accurate, compliant, and appropriate costing of personnel expenditures through payroll accounting, verification, and effort certification; identify and process corrections; approve effort statements.
• Forecast, monitor, and report on various activities such as scholarships, endowments, and course fees.
• Coordinate the fiscal management, reporting, and monitoring of grants associated with multiple Principal Investigators (PIs), including regular meetings throughout the lifecycle of the grants.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of pertinent federal, state, business, and non-profit sponsors to provide guidance and interpretation of governing legislation, rules and conditions. 
• Prepare budgets for assigned departments, centers, programs, and grants.
• Coordinate the development of an all-funds annual budget and enter budget in the enterprise financial system (EFS); identify gaps in revenue and/or expense.
• Ensure accurate and timely fiscal year end close and reporting for assigned portfolios.

Fiscal Reporting and Analysis (20%)

• Prepare comprehensive, customized, routine, and ad hoc reporting from a variety of sources for University, college, and unit leadership, and PIs, as needed.  Consult with stakeholders to interpret data and to make recommendations and observations.
• Perform budget-to-actual analysis of assigned sponsored and non-sponsored accounts.  Analyze financial data for anomalies, identify gaps in revenue and/or expenses, investigate and recommend solutions.
• Develop and present projections and trending to inform and advise stakeholders.

Service Delivery and Professional Development (10%)

• Ensure optimal service levels for assigned units through the FSO Service Level Agreement.
• Remain current and participate in continuing education and training opportunities related to University policy and best practices.
• Participate in department, college, and University events, meetings, projects and initiatives.

In addition to the responsibilities outlined above the lead accountant / finance professional 3 position includes responsibility related to a college-wide process, training, mentoring, and non-PELRA supervisory responsibilities. 

Lead Finance Professional (10% - finance professional level 3):

• Provide oversight, monitoring, and training of college-wide business processes (i.e., scholarships, internal/external sales, effort certification, payroll accounting, sponsored projects/grants/projects, certified approver, reporting and data analytics).
• Assigned to specific college-wide business processes as a subject matter expert; partner with management to ensure coordination and dissemination of new and changing policy and procedure.
• Conduct training for accountants / finance professionals, department administrators, and finance liaisons (financial transaction initiators/preparers) across the college.
• Serve as a first point-of-contact resource for process-related policies and procedures interpretation.
• Participate in process improvement initiatives that have an overall impact on the college or individual units.
• Train and mentor new staff during the onboarding process.
• Serve on and/or lead department, college-wide, and university-wide committees, implementation projects, task force initiatives, and standing University-level defined roles and content expert groups.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree plus two years of professional experience or a combination of related education and professional experience totaling six years.
• To be considered for a Lead Accountant / Finance Professional 3 (8223FG), required qualification of BA/BS plus at least four years of professional work experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal eight years.
• Demonstrated experience in accounting/fund accounting, budget development, and/or other financial management.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with people from a variety of communities, backgrounds, and identities.

Preferred Qualifications

• BA/BS degree in accounting, finance, business, economics, public administration, or a related field.
• Experience in a higher education setting and/or sponsored research, grant organization/agency.
• Experience in analyzing financial data, grant management, and monitoring complex budgets and contracts, forecasting/projecting, and auditing.
• Advanced computer skills including spreadsheet development and maintenance using Excel and web database reporting.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage priorities, coordinate multiple assignments simultaneously, and meet deadlines.
• Experience delivering high level customer service, including proactive communication and ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues.
• Experience managing and prioritizing multiple tasks and work both independently and as part of a team.
• Certified Approver (University of Minnesota specific credential, specific training/education offered once in the position).

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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