Financial Specialist
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, VA
Full-time
Finance
Posted on May 3, 2024
Summary
The VCU L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs invites applications for a Financial Specialist. Reporting to the Director Finance, this position will perform professional work requiring an in-depth knowledge of finance, accounting, procurement, and budgeting, providing professional-level finance analytics in support of business operations. Working independently and under general supervision, work will involve initiating and maintaining accounting records and files pertinent to the receipt and disbursement of authorized funds; supplying accounting information and reports to the Finance Director, providing monthly reports and information for all accounts concerning allowed expenditures, commitments and balances; preparing and/or reviewing procurement, travel, petty cash, deposits, and other fiscal documents; monitoring budgets to determine trends or needs for adjustment; and assisting faculty in the development and preparation of budgets for funding proposals.
The Wilder School's mission is to:
· Engage, teach, and inspire students and leaders to understand and solve challenges in our world.
· Advance research that informs public policy and decision-making to improve our communities.
· Collaborate with communities through innovative partnerships to enhance the quality of life.
The Wilder School's vision is to be the premier resource for public policy expertise and social equity in public safety, governance, and economic and community development. The 2024 U.S. News and World Report rankings confirm the Wilder School among the top 15% of graduate schools of public affairs at No. 39 and tied for No.1 in Virginia. The School is also ranked No. 19 in Social Policy, No. 28 in Urban Policy, and No. 33 in Public Management and Leadership. The Wilder School has over 1,500 students and more than 11,000 alumni, with an established environment where diverse perspectives thrive and where a common interest in public service and the betterment of society unites these perspectives together. Our academic excellence attracts the highest quality faculty, staff, and students, and our graduates are leaders in their professions.
Our location in Richmond, the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, combined with our proximity to Washington, DC, provides numerous opportunities for engaged scholarship, teaching and community engagement activities. A creative, interdisciplinary School with both academic programs and training/research centers in the social sciences and professional arenas, we reflect the diversity of the communities we serve, providing students and faculty with the knowledge, skills, opportunities, and experience necessary for success.
For additional information about the Wilder School, please visit our website at https://wilder.vcu.edu/.
Typical Duties
- Execute all fiscal transactions and maintain a high-level knowledge in areas related to procurement, travel, reimbursements, Banner finance, and other fiscal areas.
- Perform monthly reconciliations for all Banner indexes, including payroll, and review with appropriate Directors for approval; reconcile revenue from tuition as needed.
- Determine and execute appropriate budget entries to appropriately fund operations.
- Serve as the primary point of contact for faculty and staff for questions on fiscal transactions and provide a high level of proactive customer service related to fiscal coordination.
- Prepare and deliver both regular and ad hoc reports on expenditures compared to budget, analysis of expenditure type, and projections of future expenditure needs.
- Assist with the budget development process, including revenue projection and expense allocations.
- Demonstrate a commitment to risk assessment (considering cost, benefit, and impact) and risk management.
- Ensure accurate and timely approval of financial transactions, and provide oversight of procurement activities
- Serve as the point of contact for VCU Foundation funds and initiate transfers to appropriate Banner indexes to cover expenses, including processing scholarships.
- Serve as fixed asset custodian and conduct annual fixed asset inventory.
• Degree from an accredited institution in finance, accounting, business administration or related field; or a combination of education and equivalent work experience at a level that equates to a degree.
• Budgetary/accounting experience with multiple fund sources.
• Practical knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively in a large complex organization with the ability to work both independently and as a contributing member of a team.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; excellent organizational skills and high attention to detail.
• Ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individuals at varying administrative levels within the university.
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.
• Ability to set priorities, handle multiple tasks simultaneously and work independently with little supervision.
• Experience in expense forecasting and financial reconciliation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel in the creation, design, and editing of financial spreadsheets.
Preferred Hiring Standards
• Strong financial experience in a university or comparable setting.
• Experience working with VCU business systems including Banner, SAS, ChromeRiver and Realsource and familiarity with university policies.
Core Duties and Responsibilities
• Risk Management - demonstrate a commitment to risk assessment (considering cost, benefit, and impact). Utilize identified internal control mechanism; practices routine verification of the accuracy of data.
• Reconcile all assigned indexes in the finance dashboard, and maintain documentation of corrective actions.
• Maintain records of amounts spent against established budgetary pools and provide monthly and as requested reports to the Director.
• Complete journal vouchers as needed to transfer funds and move charges within the school and to other schools and departments.
• Prepare and/or review and approve procurement, travel, petty cash, deposits and other financial transactions.
• Keep up to date on all university systems, policies and procedures related to job functions.
• Serve as the fixed asset custodian for the Wilder School to ensure compliance with the University's fixed asset policies and procedures to include identifying, tagging and maintaining an inventory of all fixed assets in the school, and conducting an annual inventory.
• Keep current on applicable University and school policies and procedures; Take advantage of available training opportunities where needed/appropriate; Review and follow updated policies and procedures as they occur.
• Serve as point of contact for VCU Foundation funds and transfers to Banner; process appropriate scholarship payments.
• Management / Supervision: Ensure that expectations are clear, well communicated, and relate to finance office goals and objectives; Provide frequent, constructive feedback; Ensure that the requirements of the performance management system are met and evaluation(s) are completed by established deadlines with proper documentation.
Typical Physical and Cognitive Requirements
Physical Demands and Activities (Essential):
Light lifting (<20 lbs.)
Pushing/pulling
Standing
Sitting
Emotional Demands (Essential):
Fast pace/Average pace
Multiple stimuli
Frequent change
Intense customer interaction
Mental/Sensory Demands (Essential):
Memory
Reading
Reasoning
Hearing
Logic
Analyzing
Verbal communication
Written Communication
University Benefits
All full-time university staff are eligible for our generous benefits package that includes choices for health, vision, and dental coverage, life-insurance, short and long-term disability coverage, retirement planning, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, flexible spending accounts, tuition benefits, significant paid-time off, 12 paid holidays, and more. Explore our benefits further here.
Application Submission/Other Information
All applications should include a cover letter and a detailed resume with the names and contact information of three professional references.
“Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability”.
Salary Range: $58,000 - $68,000
Position Details:
Department: L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs
Employment Type: UF - University Employee FT
Restricted Status: No
FTE: 1
Exemption Status: Non-Exempt
University Job Title: Financial Specialist 1 (18211)
University Job Family: Financial Services
Contact Information:
Contact Name: Luke Parker (Search Chair)
Contact Email: wlparker@vcu.edu
Contact Phone: 804-828-0683
