Faculty Research Accounting Analyst

University of Chicago•Chicago, IL

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Provide comprehensive planning, budget preparation and monitoring, and accounting support to faculty for their research budgets. This includes serving more than 150 faculty members, many of whom have multiple research accounts, such as discretionary funds and internal awards. Responsibilities include acting as a budget consultant, monitoring budgets and expenses, optimizing the use of available cash, project maintenance, preparing reports, and processing transactions, including submitting invoices for payment and expense reports for approval, along with other general accounting duties. This position is not eligible for employer-sponsored employment authorization.

Requirements

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.
Demonstrated proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance.
Accounting and financial reporting experience.
CPA.
Outstanding verbal, written, and presentation skills, as well as organizational skills.
Excellent strategic planning, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
Handle multiple detailed tasks/projects simultaneously and meet strict deadlines with frequent interruptions.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively and diplomatically with colleagues and faculty in a multitude of communication methods, including in person, email, and phone.
Professional demeanor, including tact, discretion, and a customer service-oriented approach.

Responsibilities

Works as a consultant in managing, monitoring, and maintaining faculty research projects for discretionary and internal awards that includes projections more than one year.
Builds relationships with faculty by monitoring budget balances, expenses, and encumbrances on a monthly basis, and notifying them when their budgets are approaching a deficit.
Performs accounting duties that align with the complexity of Booth instruction and research activities that adjusts funding to maintain faculty project and award information, such as transaction review and analysis, funds transfers, and cost corrections.
Processes and submits invoices and reimbursement requests, as well as prepare expense reports for approval while monitoring the budget.
Assists with budgeting activities, including loading the fiscal year budget, rolling over balances, allocating Executive MBA budget and Course Coach budgets, and reconciling to the master budget report.
Maintains and updates faculty projects and awards in the Oracle ERP accounting system, including creating new projects and awards; increasing or decreasing funding; closing projects and awards; and updating other relevant information.
Works with supervisor to assist with ad-hoc reporting and analysis as requested from the Dean’s office.
Communicates and ensures faculty are compliant with both University and Booth financial policies.
Crosses collaboration with Booth’s procurement and payables team who manage contracts, purchasing, and invoice payments.
Works with staff across various Booth departments on matters related to faculty research projects, such as Human Resources, IT, Faculty Services, and Data Governance, etc.
Performs a variety of operating or cost accounting activities which require moderate knowledge of accounting theories and principles.
Has a moderate/high level of authority in drafting income and balance sheet statements, consolidated statements, and various other accounting statements and reports.
Performs other related work as needed.