Finance Associate

Research Foundation of The City University of New York•New York, NY

About The Position

The Finance Associate provides day-to-day financial and administrative support to the Institute for Justice and Opportunity, primarily by monitoring grant expenditures, processing invoices, maintaining financial records, and preparing reports related to Other Than Personal Services (OTPS) expenditures. Reporting to the Director of Finance and Operations, the role works with program staff and institutional partners to support accurate financial tracking, timely transactions, and compliance with financial procedures and grant requirements. The position calls for strong attention to detail, organization, analytical skills, and the ability to manage multiple responsibilities in a collaborative, mission-driven environment.

Requirements

Associate degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field.
At least one year of relevant experience in financial administration, accounting support, budget tracking, or grants management; an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience may be considered, subject to RF CUNY requirements.
Strong organizational skills and excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, data management, and financial tracking.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to identify financial discrepancies.
Ability to prepare, review, and interpret financial reports.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, accounts, and deadlines.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to collaborate with colleagues, program staff, and external institutional partners.
Ability to maintain confidentiality and handle sensitive financial information appropriately.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook and Word.
Ability to lift a ream of paper.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in a related field.
Familiarity with nonprofit financial management and grant-funded programs.
Experience working in a nonprofit, higher education, or grant-funded environment.

Responsibilities

Monitor and track OTPS spending across accounts in the assigned grant portfolio.
Maintain and update internal grant expenditure tracking systems.
Review, track, and submit invoices for assigned programs and grants.
Prepare and distribute monthly OTPS budget-versus-actual expenditure reports.
Review financial transactions and supporting documentation to identify discrepancies.
Meet regularly with departments to identify spending issues and opportunities relative to budgets.
Manage electronic and paper filing systems.
Assist with training staff on established financial procedures and systems.
Assist with preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for reconciliations and account closures.
Coordinate with designated finance and administrative contacts at John Jay College, RF CUNY, and CUNY.
Attend Institute events as required.
Review expense documentation for completeness, accuracy, and alignment with approved grant budgets.
Maintain records supporting financial reviews, funder reporting, and audits.
Identify potentially unallowable expenses and refer concerns to the Director of Finance and Operations.
Track spending deadlines and assist with financial grant closeout activities.
Perform other duties as assigned.