Temporary Financial Specialist - Facilities Services - UTK

University of Tennessee•Knoxville, TN

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Temporary Financial Specialist reports to the department's Manager of Budget and Accounting and performs and presents financial analysis to inform management actions and initiatives. The role supports the Facilities Services department's budgeting process by developing and improving financial reporting and analysis, assisting with the annual position and operating expense budget, working with department Directors to understand factors affecting financial results, and completing assigned research, analysis, and reporting tasks. The position develops and maintains analytical models and reporting packages, researches General Ledger transactions, analyzes budget-to-actual variances and operational and financial trends, and prepares routine and ad hoc reports. It supports the University's annual budget process by gathering inputs, analyzing cost-center trends, tracking budget versions, preparing budget adjustments and transfers, and maintaining budgets in the EPM system. As a finance business partner, the specialist helps Directors understand financial results and manage budgets effectively. The role also supports accurate financial accounting, improved controls, and financial risk reduction. This is an on-site position at the University of Tennessee's Knoxville campus. Facilities Services oversees more than 300 facilities and utility systems and provides services including maintenance, custodial work, landscaping, utilities, construction, planning, environmental initiatives, pest control, campus events, and administration. Its staff provides around-the-clock coverage for the campus community.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in business, finance, analytics, accounting, or a related field.
Four years of relevant, progressively responsible work experience, including two years involving financial analysis, budgeting, or modeling.
Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
Experience with large enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, such as Oracle Fusion Cloud.
Strong understanding of foundational accounting principles.
Intermediate knowledge of higher-education budgeting, planning, and reporting.
Comprehensive computer skills, including researching General Ledger transactions, generating financial reports, analyzing data, and converting data into useful information for executive decision-making.
Ability to research and understand operational drivers that influence financial results.
Comfort with ambiguity and ability to develop research and analysis approaches to meet analytical and business objectives.
Ability to interpret model-generated data, develop options for action, and make recommendations based on the interpretation.
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other data reporting, analysis, and transformation tools.
Effective oral and written communication skills.
Ability to manage projects and facilitate successful, timely completion.
Self-motivated, self-directed, detail-oriented, thorough, collaborative, and able to work in a team environment.
Valid driver's license.
Legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without current or future need for employment-based visa sponsorship.

Responsibilities

Conceive and scope financial analyses, develop analytical models, and maintain, validate, and document models and templates.
Research cost-center General Ledger entries to understand expenses and recoveries.
Develop performance indicators of operational and financial effectiveness and assess trends, root causes, and drivers.
Conduct budget-to-actual variance analyses, determine causes and potential future impacts, and identify alternative actions when appropriate.
Research industry and external resources for best-practice methods to improve departmental analytics.
Design, implement, document, and maintain financial reporting packages for Facilities Services and its cost centers.
Extract and combine financial data from the General Ledger, ERP components, and other sources for routine and ad hoc reporting.
Communicate financial information in a timely, proactive, and quality-driven manner.
Gather data for routine annual reports requested by the University and government agencies.
Gather inputs for the annual budget process in accordance with University RCM guidelines and timelines.
Analyze cost-center staffing, spending, and recoveries to validate budget development; track working budget versions and document variances between versions.
Collect, prepare, analyze, and review budget adjustments and funds transfers; enter and maintain budgets in the EPM budgeting system.
Present variance reports and financial analyses to Directors and explain how their activities and decisions affect spending and recoveries.
Work with Directors to understand operational drivers, improve financial awareness, identify ways to manage budgets efficiently, and develop position plans and annual budgets.
Review General Ledger entries for correct accounts and cost centers and coordinate reclassification with Accounting when needed.
Assist with researching, documenting, and reviewing financial processes and recommending updates to improve accuracy and visibility of expenses and recoveries.
Assist with justifications and proposals for financial standard operating procedures that improve controls and reduce financial risk.
Manage projects and facilitate their successful and timely completion.