Finance Specialist I

University of South Florida•Tampa, FL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Finance Specialist I serves as an entry-level professional and trusted financial services partner within the Business and Finance Shared Services (BFSS) department. Dedicated to mastering university financial operations, this role functions as a subject-matter expert in-training, leveraging a structured Canvas-based curriculum and hands-on experience to ensure all transactions are processed with the highest standards of efficiency, accuracy, and policy compliance. Under the guidance of a supervisor, the incumbent performs professional-level exploratory work to facilitate a "smooth journey" for financial requests through the university’s complex approval channels. As a key link in the university’s separation of duties framework, the Finance Specialist I reviews request packages for completeness, ensures alignment with funding source intent, and prepares documentation for official university and Foundation oversight. Operating under the "easy button" philosophy, the Specialist is responsible for becoming a process expert in 1–2 primary focus areas while proactively supporting USF’s mission of student success and research excellence through innovation, collaboration, and a steadfast commitment to continuous improvement.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in finance, Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field; OR A high school diploma and four (4) years of directly related professional experience in financial services, business administration, or a similar field.
0–2 years of professional experience, with a demonstrated ability to navigate complex digital platforms and interpret organizational policies.
Proficient in navigating formalized training environments (such as Canvas) and demonstrating a self-motivated commitment to mastering new systems, policies, and financial workflows.
Ability to interpret complex university policies and translate them into clear, actionable guidance for faculty, staff, and students.
Demonstrated aptitude for achieving subject-matter expertise within 1–2 primary focus areas and the agility to develop at least one tertiary focus.
Willingness to work across various business processes to identify organizational fit and operational improvements while maintaining a career-oriented growth mindset.
A strong orientation toward building trust and providing prompt, respectful, and professional service to simplify the financial journey for all university stakeholders.
Detail-oriented with the ability to analyze financial data for accuracy and ensure the responsible stewardship of university and Foundation funds.
Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to foster solid relationships across diverse university departments and work effectively within a team structure.

Nice To Haves

Individuals seeking to transition from entry-level roles into a formalized professional career path in higher education administration.
Prior experience in teaching, retail, or high-volume customer service where the ability to translate and explain complex information was a primary responsibility.
A self-motivated desire to master new systems and processes, specifically through a commitment to completing the BFSS training curriculum.
A proven track record of working effectively within a team to achieve shared goals and building trust with stakeholders.
Recent graduates or professionals who demonstrate a strong interest in the "why" behind financial policies and a desire for continuous process improvement.

Responsibilities

Facilitate the end-to-end processing of financial requests, ensuring all submissions include a clear business purpose, correct funding sources, and appropriate supporting documentation.
Interpret and apply complex university and state policies to verify that requests for travel, purchasing, and PCard transactions are in full compliance before moving to the next approval stage.
Execute specialized financial tasks within 1–2 primary focus areas (e.g., Travel, Purchasing, or PCard) while maintaining proficiency in tertiary areas as defined by the BFSS career ladder.
Review request packages for completeness and accuracy, acting as the initial check for policy alignment to protect university and Foundation assets.
Coordinate travel logistics and expense report preparation, leveraging expertise to ensure a "smooth journey" through the university's approval channels.
Compile and organize data for transactional reporting, including transaction counts and spend metrics, to support the department's data-driven decision-making.
Analyze departmental financial transactions to ensure accurate record-keeping and alignment with the University's fiscal responsibility goals.
Assist in the preparation of ad hoc reports and spreadsheets used by management to track Service Level Agreement (SLA) performance.
Engage in proactive daily interaction with faculty, staff, and students, serving as a responsive and respectful point of contact for financial inquiries.
Collaborate with BFSS team members and university agencies (e.g., Travel, Purchasing, USF Foundation) to resolve issues and streamline the approval workflow.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives by identifying process bottlenecks and recommending enhancements to optimize enterprise efficiency.
Perform other duties as assigned.