Financial Specialist - Neuroscience and Anatomy, School of Medicine

Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity employer.

Unit: School Of Medicine MBU

Department: Neuroscience & Anatomy

Department Summary: In the Department of Neuroscience & Anatomy, research is one of our core tenets. With traditions anchored in the anatomical disciplines, our identity has evolved to reside in modern neuroscience, where our dedicated faculty and students engage in state-of-the-art research and scholarly activity with clinical translation potential in conditions ranging from anxiety to epilepsy to Alzheimer’s.

With labs and grant-funded projects led by our full-time department faculty and affiliate faculty in other academic units across VCU, we’re proud to contribute to the field by conducting innovative research the following focus areas: Central Nervous System Circuit Function, Central Nervous System Injury and Repair, Educational scholarship and Practice, Glial Cell Biology, and Molecular Mechanisms of Neuropsychiatric Disorders.

Duties & Responsibilities:

The School of Medicine is seeking a financial specialist to support financial and administrative operations in the Department of Neuroscience and Anatomy, a basic health science research department on VCU’s MCV campus in downtown Richmond, VA. Our office supports 17 cutting-edge neuroscience research laboratories along with several teaching faculty who primarily focus on anatomical teaching.

The successful candidate will have a background in fiscal processes, be proactive, and present a willingness to learn and grow in the role. This position will focus on financial analysis and reporting, transaction monitoring, and providing efficient fiscal and operational support in the department.

This fully on-campus position will offer opportunities for career growth in departmental finance and administration.

Core Responsibilities:

• Maintain technical knowledge of university systems used to manage purchasing, corporate card transactions, financial reporting, etc.
• Lead the monthly account reconciliation process for 100+ accounts across multiple ledger types
• Monitor monthly deficit reports and address fiscal issues promptly
• Analyze monthly financial data and certify monthly expense reports for all non-grant accounts
• Generate monthly projections for all non-grant accounts in coordination with faculty stakeholders
• Maintain a departmental Chart of Accounts for use by all business office staff
• Ensure salary and benefit charges are allocated appropriately and the correct documentation/tracking is maintained for all fund sources
• Review and approve purchase order requests and corporate card transactions, ensuring that all transactions adhere to VCU and sponsor policy, procedures, and guidelines
• Review corporate card transactions for departmental cardholders to ensure accurate allocation of expenses and key expense transfers as needed
• Keep detailed records of human body donors used for anatomical teaching, and lead the returns process after cremation
• Contribute to the annual departmental budget process in coordination with the Department Administrator
• Participate in annual Agency Risk Management certification process

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Prior work experience with fiscal processes in areas such as financial analysis, reporting, reconciliation, and purchasing
• Ability to work independently and use sound judgement to identify, define, analyze, and formulate alternative solutions to complex administrative, fiscal, and budget issues
• Ability to maintain confidentiality related to sensitive data and discussions
• Ability to effectively respond to and communicate with customers including excellent written and oral communications skills
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint), with advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel and ability to learn new system or software applications
• Initiative to pro-actively ask questions and seek guidance when needed
• Demonstrated ability to work in and foster an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from all backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU

Preferred Qualifications

• Preferred Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or public administration and/or 1-3 years of progressive experience in a position with fiscal responsibilities, or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Prior fiscal experience at an academic institution preferred
• Demonstrated working knowledge and ability to learn and utilize university specific financial management systems

Salary Range: $50,000 - $65,000 commensurate with experience

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: No

ORP Eligible: No

Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite

University Job Title: Financial Specialist 1-3 (18211-18213)

Contact Information:

Contact Email: SOMHR@vcuhealth.org