• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $69,000 - $75,000

Position Summary

The Business and Finance Clinic Administrator plays a critical role in ensuring the efficient and effective operation of the Law School?s clinical programs. Reporting to the Associate Director of Clinical Programs and the Managing Attorney, this position requires a proactive individual with strong systems thinking abilities, financial acumen, and a commitment to supporting the Clinic?s mission of providing high-quality legal services to clients while offering invaluable experiential learning opportunities for law students. The incumbent will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including strategic planning support, financial management, and oversight of operational functions.

Responsibilities

Financial Management:

• Primary responsibility for the financial operations of the Law School Clinics, including budget development, monitoring, and reporting, in consultation with the Associate Director and Managing Attorney.
• Process reimbursements for clinic-related expenses for clinical faculty, students, staff and clients, ensuring accuracy and adherence to university policies.
• Prepare and reconcile expense reports.
• Plan travel itineraries and utilize Concur or other relevant software for travel and expense management.
• Liaise with the Law School Business Office to onboard vendors required for clinic operations and process payments to vendors and other external parties, including facilitating payment for expert witnesses, guest speakers, and clinic partner organizations.
• Maintain accurate financial records and ensure compliance with all applicable regulations and guidelines, including those related to client trust accounts (IOLTA).

Compliance and Reporting: 

• Liaise with the Business Office to prepare annual tax filing for the Law School Clinics.
• Ensure that the clinics operate in compliance with all relevant ethical rules, professional standards, and university policies.
• Prepare reports for internal and external stakeholders, including the Law School administration, funding agencies, and accrediting bodies.
• Monitor and track clinic data and performance metrics.

Faculty Support: 

• Serve as a primary point of contact for faculty related to reimbursements and financial matters connected to clinic management.
• Perform other administrative tasks identified by the Associate Director of the Law Clinic as needed, including programmatic assistance for faculty related to their nonclinical responsibilities as members of the law faculty.

Performs other duties as assigned: 

• Assist with the daily operational needs of the Clinic.  This includes, but is not limited to, providing high-level administrative support to faculty, students, and senior administrators as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor?s degree, plus 2-4 years of relevant experience, or a combination of education and experience.  
• Prior experience in an administrative or management role, preferably in a legal, academic, or non-profit setting, is a plus.
• Strong understanding of financial management principles and practices, including budgeting, accounting, and financial reporting.
• Proficiency in using financial software (e.g., Concur) and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Excellent systems thinking skills, with the ability to analyze complex processes, identify areas for improvement, and develop effective solutions.
• Strong organizational, time-management, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Willingness to pitch in where needed to support other clinical operations.
• Must be able to work with diverse constituencies and support an inclusive work environment.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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