Project Planner II

Duke Careers • Durham, NC

3d

About The Position

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Be You.

At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives that each member of our community brings. As the Project Planner II, you’ll be a vital part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team supporting the Office of the Provost – Finance and Administration in advancing financial, accounting, and operational excellence across the university.

Be Bold.

What You’ll Do:

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business Administration, or related field.
• Four years of progressively responsible experience in project planning, analysis, or coordination involving complex initiatives.
• Experience in financial operations, accounting, reporting, audit coordination, or related analytical work.
• Knowledge of project planning principles and tools.
• Knowledge of accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls.
• Ability to analyze accounting structures and system integrations.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to build effective working relationships.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel; SAP and reporting tools preferred.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supporting outsourced or third‑party financial or operational models.
• Experience in higher education or similarly complex environments.
• Familiarity with Duke University financial systems, policies, and procedures.
• Formal training or certification in project management.
• CPA, MBA, or related advanced credential.

Responsibilities

• Plan and manage a multi‑phase diagnostic and planning initiative involving auxiliary leadership, central finance, IT, and external vendors.
• Develop project plans, timelines, milestones, and deliverables focused on stabilization and long‑term improvements.
• Coordinate efforts across teams, vendors, consultants, and auditors.
• Apply project management methodologies including scope, schedule, dependencies, and risk management.
• Track progress, identify issues, and recommend corrective actions.
• Prepare status reports, briefings, and executive summaries.
• Serve as the main point of contact and facilitate communication among stakeholders.
• Identify needs for supplemental consulting support and oversee deliverables.
• Review accounting structures, mappings, and reporting processes related to outsourced production, distribution, and warehousing.
• Identify misalignments between vendor statements, SAP general ledger activity, and operational systems.
• Document reconciliation processes ensuring consistent alignment across systems.
• Recommend accounting procedures to support timely and accurate reporting.
• Analyze revenue/expense processing, journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, inventory, and revenue recognition.
• Perform root‑cause analysis on recurring accounting errors and reporting discrepancies.
• Assist in resolving historical accounting issues and establishing documentation standards.
• Translate complex findings into clear recommendations for non-technical audiences.
• Review accounting frameworks and recommend current‑state and future‑state models.
• Coordinate a technical assessment of financial and operational systems integrating third‑party vendor data.
• Assess staffing models and resource needs to support sustainable operations.
• Support planning and coordination of an external financial audit.
• Recommend standardized accounting procedures, controls, and governance practices.
• Establish monitoring and reconciliation controls to prevent future issues.
• Evaluate reporting structures and recommend improvements for transparency and alignment.
• Develop dashboards and planning tools supporting leadership oversight.
• Prepare a long‑term stabilization and modernization plan with priorities and resource requirements.

Benefits

• Duke provides comprehensive and competitive medical and dental care programs, generous retirement benefits, and a wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs to eligible team members.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level