Finance Specialist

Rice University•Houston, TX

4d•$56,000 - $60,813•Hybrid

About The Position

The Department of Physics and Astronomy at Rice University is seeking a Finance Specialist to support the department’s financial and administrative operations. This position is responsible for managing departmental and faculty discretionary funds, preparing financial transactions, reconciling accounts, and developing financial reports. The role works closely with the Senior Department Administrator and the Dean’s Office Finance Team to ensure budgets, labor distributions, and financial processes are completed accurately and in compliance with university policies. This position also supports key departmental financial activities, including budget monitoring; preparation of financial documentation such as faculty summer salary, cost share, and budget transfers; and processing student-related payments. The role requires the ability to analyze financial data, track commitments, and identify trends to help ensure sound stewardship of faculty funds and departmental resources.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted
2+ years of related experience
In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted
Skills
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, for financial analysis and reporting
Demonstrated experience working with financial or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems
Knowledge of financial policies, procedures, and internal controls within a complex organization (higher education experience preferred)
Strong communication skills, including the ability to prepare reports and clearly present financial information to faculty, administrators, and other stakeholders
Strong organizational and analytical skills, with the ability to reconcile accounts, analyze financial data, and manage multiple priorities with attention to detail

Responsibilities

Manage faculty discretionary funds, including tracking commitments, performing account reconciliations, and processing budget updates and reallocations as needed
Analyze financial data and perform ad hoc analyses to support departmental decision-making related to departmental budgets, discretionary funds, and resource allocation
Develop reports and presentations of financial data, metrics, and trends for faculty, departmental leadership, and other stakeholders
Prepare and process non-labor cost transfers and budget transfers in accordance with the university’s financial policies and internal controls
Assist with the preparation of faculty summer salary documentation in coordination with the Senior Department Administrator
Assist with the preparation of faculty Academic Year Time (AYT) and cost share documentation in coordination with the Senior Department Administrator
Support the annual budgeting process by compiling and analyzing financial data to inform departmental planning and resource allocation
Work closely with the Senior Department Administrator and the Dean’s Office Finance Team to ensure labor distributions are processed accurately and in a timely manner, and that departmental budgets are regularly reconciled
Monitor and review student pay reports and process payments for student awards and student travel awards
Deposit checks and ensure transactions are properly recorded and reconciled
Execute established internal control procedures and assist in ensuring compliance with applicable financial policies, regulations, and university guidelines
Develop and maintain desktop procedures and process documentation related to financial and administrative responsibilities
Identify and resolve financial or administrative issues within the area of responsibility and escalate complex matters as appropriate
Serve as backup to the Senior Department Administrator as needed
Perform other duties as assigned