Staff Accountant

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field with a strong analytical component and 2 years of related experience OR equivalent combination of education and experience to total six years.
• Experience with Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Functional knowledge and experience with principles, practices and techniques in fiscal documents in two or more of the following:
  • compiling information for financial reports;
  • approving financial transactions;
  • preparing processing and maintaining payroll documents;
  • completing complex financial documents (orders, receipts, invoices) and reconciling for accuracy;
  • performing accounts receivable and/or accounts payable functions.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience performing successfully in a position that requires strong attention to detail and the ability to handle high volume transactions.
• Experience with University financial systems, HRMS (PeopleSoft), EFS (Enterprise Financial Systems), EGMS (Electronic Grants Management System) and ECRT (effort certification system).
• Experience organizing multiple projects and interrelated Financial activities.
• Experience interpreting, presenting and analyzing information and ideas clearly and accurately in writing, verbally and by preparation of reports and other materials to faculty, staff and students.
• Experience making educated, independent decisions during the course of assigned work duties.
• Experience as a contributing member of a team.
• Experience consistently meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment. Customer service experience.
• Knowledge of terms and conditions for sponsored projects.
• Knowledge of financial issues related to clinical services.

Overview:

This position supports the faculty, department chairs and the Center leadership in pursuit of their academic mission. Under the direction of the Finance Manager, the individual hired will partner with assigned accounting staff members to deliver services to departments within the Clinical Neuroscience Administrative Center.

Work Schedule/Hours: Hybrid, Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

45% - Sponsored Project Accounting:

• Perform post-award sponsored project activities, which include rebudgeting requests and no-cost extensions.
• Monitor spending over the life of the grant; review and approve expenditures; perform budget control and effort reporting.
• Determine appropriate payroll percentages for labor charging and effort certification, and make changes to faculty distribution allocations, when needed.
• Prepare monthly reports in ART (an AHC application) and review with Accountant II monthly as well as prepare income/expense forecasts and trend analysis.
• Meet on a regular basis with supervisors, administrators, principal investigators, and other staff to review financial status and to resolve accounting issues.
• Monitor accounts receivable.
• Close grant years, fiscal years, and projects and resolve issues with SPA (Sponsored Projects Administration).
• Provide departmental staff information on expenditure requirements and policy.
• Assist with quarterly effort certification process.
• Work with faculty to resolve discrepancies and ensure timeliness of reporting.
• Audit and approve financial purchasing and adjusting transactions on assigned sponsored projects.

45% - Non-Sponsored/Departmental Operations Accounting, Analysis & Reporting:

• Forecasting and analysis of areas of business in the department.
• Work with faculty/management to develop financial plans.
• Generate standard reports incorporating accruals and projections.
• Coordinate Chart of Accounts for review requests for adherence to University policy and Center standards, activate revenue/expense on chart strings, set up combo codes for payroll, and establish new optional chart fields.
• Track compliance and resolve issues between unit, college and central administration.
• Assist with assigned departments' development of the annual budget preparation and entry.
• Audit and approve financial purchasing and adjusting transactions for assigned departmental chartstrings.

10% - Actively participate in professional development activities including:

• Serve as Center expert on assigned policies.
• Serve on Center-wide or University-wide projects.
• Identify and help make improvements to local business processes.
• Actively participate in work team.
• Attend University financial training or conferences.

*Please note that the University's financial systems require training and demonstrated proficiency before access will be granted to those systems.*

The Clinical Neuroscience Administrative Center collectively supports the departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, Rehabilitation Medicine, and Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

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