Finance Specialist

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $68,000 - $72,000

Position Summary

University Life is a central division that works with Columbia's 17 schools and colleges and serves as a student life hub. We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive campus culture where students can thrive in all dimensions of their lives. We focus on connecting students to each other, to the broader University and surrounding community, and to opportunities beyond their schools.

University Life was created to develop and enhance the student experience at Columbia University. Working in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff, University Life focuses on enhancing the student experience by strengthening resources, policies, and conversations, and building community outside of the classroom. Our efforts all connect to core values for the Columbia community:

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  Inclusion and belonging

  
  
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  Health and well-being

  
  
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  Sexual respect

  
  
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  Community citizenship

  
  

Reporting to the Executive Director, Administration and Operations (ED), the Finance Specialist will be charged with processing and reconciling financial transactions, and providing periodical financial reports. They will be responsible for ensuring that financial information has been recorded accurately and in a timely manner.

Responsibilities

• Maintain high-quality customer service for diverse audiences, students, faculty, and staff; foster a collegial and inviting environment that supports the Inter-School Governing Board (IGB) on financial-related inquiries.
• Manage all aspects of financial reporting, budget management, and reconciles all student group accounts. Address account discrepancies in a timely manner.
• In close collaboration with advisors, support and process annual allocations and reclamations for IGB and IGB student groups.
• Process invoices, reimbursements, deposits (check and cash) and all other financial transactions accurately and in a timely manner for all student groups under IGB. Review, reconcile (and sometimes approve) p-card, corporate card, concur, voucher and requisition transactions for all IGB groups.
• Work with the ED to process contracts, agreements, grants, sponsorships, in line with University guidelines; ensures fiscal compliance across divisional processes, policies and guidelines for IGB.
• Serve as the travel administrator for IGB student groups and manages all aspects of student group travel both domestically and internationally, including processing trip reservations and reconciliations, in accordance with University policies and guidelines.
• Stay abreast of all travel policies and inform students, advisors and UL Finance of any policy changes/updates as necessary.
• Manage finance ticket inquiries on behalf of IGB student groups via ServiceNow platform. Escalate inquiries as needed to the Executive Director and Associate Vice President (SBOs).
• Provide support to the Finance leadership team on ad-hoc projects
• Prepare and present reports to track IGB and its student groups' various revenue streams and expenditures and to review budget versus actual results as necessary.
• Work with the ED to perform and present trend analysis and forecasting of revenue and expense areas to allow for more efficient and effective financial and programmatic decision-making, including identifying potential shortfalls on behalf of IGB and IGB student groups.
• In close collaboration with the ED, create and administer finance training to student leaders and advisors. Provide refreshers to existing staff as needed and advises on policy and processing changes, including vendor management support.
• Manage and review all financial transactions for student group programs and initiatives, including but not limited to, broader university initiatives related to student life, student engagement and student well-being.
• Work closely with the ED on annual fiscal closing for IGB exec board and IGB student groups.
• Manage all finance functions in CampusGroups (CG); serves as the finance administrator in CG.
• Oversee administrative tasks, including filing, scanning, shredding, etc., for student groups.
• Manage the Visual Compliance (VC) check process for student group sponsors and donors.
• Other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance or a related field, or equivalent experience required.
• 2-4 years related experience.
• Impeccable attention to detail
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, and expense analysis.
• Experience with Oracle/PeopleSoft or comparable financial systems.
• Experience working in higher education or non-profit organizations.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment and work independently.
• Advanced skills with Microsoft Excel, including working with formulas, scripts, and pivot tables.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Javascript and/or ServiceNow or other ticketing systems is a plus.
• The right candidate is patient, solutions-oriented, and enjoys working with others to build community.
• Exercises sound judgment and maintains a sense of humor and enjoys working in a dynamic environment.
• Highly skilled in building and maintaining relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders.
• Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, conflict management, leadership, and team-building skills, including proactive problem-solving skills.
• A culturally responsive professional who demonstrates the ability to communicate across differences and interpersonally with a wide range of stakeholders and can grasp differing viewpoints with humility.
• A desire to contribute to an organizational process of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Interest and experience in designing and implementing high-quality activities, programs, and services for students.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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