Financial Professional 3 - Finance Generalist

This is a civil service position governed by the Civil Service Rules at the University of Minnesota. Responsible for providing senior-level professional financial support. Requires in-depth knowledge and experience with sponsored and non-sponsored accounting. Assist in the development of accounting practices and procedures to increase capacity, efficiency, and competency to manage sponsored project and non-sponsored funding. Serve as liaison to Principal Investigators and provide accounting support to them on sponsored projects from pre-award through post-award and closeout. Identifies complex problems and proactively finds solutions. Works independently with minimal guidance. Acts as a resource for colleagues.

Job Duties

Accounting Support and Analysis (65%)

• Responsible for a portfolio of faculty members’ sponsored and non-sponsored accounts. This includes post-award, accounting, reconciliations, auditing, and approving or denying expenditures based on existing administrative requirements.
• Regularly meet with faculty to review status of accounts and develop individualized financial plans, including providing financial management and oversight to faculty accounts.
• Work with SFR (Sponsored Financial Reporting) to prepare and analyze detailed reports provided to sponsors for accuracy.
• Work with SPA (Sponsored Projects Administration) to ensure sponsored requirements are met and ensure grants are closed out properly.
• Serve as effort coordinator for assigned faculty portfolio.
   

Budget Management and Financial Planning (25%)

• Work with the Department Administrator on overall departmental budget preparation and financial management.
• Prepare annual fiscal year budgets in EFS (Enterprise Financial System) including position budgeting and budget detail for non-sponsored chart strings following Dean's office guidelines, and meeting deadlines for entering into University budget system.
• Work with the Department Administrator to identify, develop, and roll out faculty financial reports.
• In collaboration with other staff, identify and implement process improvements related to sponsored and non-sponsored accounting and faculty reporting.
• Manage the department’s indirect cost recovery process and allocations.

Departmental Financial Resource (10%)

• Serve as a certified approver for the department.
• Serve as a backup approver for all qualified transactions.
• Attend appropriate trainings and meetings to stay current on University, state, and federal regulations and systems.