What are the responsibilities and job description for the Financial Analyst position at The University of Kansas?
Position Overview
Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) are essential to the quality of life for all humans. HVACR systems are widespread throughout society, enabling transportation and preservation of fresh foods, storage of medicines, and cooling of buildings. However, most refrigerants used today are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which have high global-warming potential (GWP), with 2000-4000 times the impact of CO2. Combined with high leak rates (direct effect — 50-90% of refrigerants leak into the atmosphere) and high energy consumption (indirect effect — 20-40% of U.S. residential and commercial building electricity usage comes from HVACR), HFCs account for 7.8% of total greenhouse-gas emissions.
To address this challenge, a new NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC): Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH) will create a “sustainable refrigerant lifecycle” to address technical, environmental, and societal challenges facing the HVACR industry. EARTH is a multi-institution, multi-disciplinary team from the University of Kansas, University of Notre Dame, University of Hawai'i, University of Maryland, University of South Dakota, and Lehigh University.
This is a 75% to full-time, twelve-month, benefits-eligible, regular appointment that reports directly to the ERC EARTH Administrative Director. Currently, the position is designated as on-campus. Alternative and flexible work schedules will be evaluated as per ERC EARTH policy and center guidelines. A reduced FTE (down to 0.75) may be considered, if preferred by a very strong candidate. The position will assist with financial analysis, budget tracking, financial reporting and personnel management and providing leadership to faculty and staff across the center. Duties will include administering base and non-base allocations and assisting with associated budget transfers. The incumbent will assist with balancing annual budgets through tracking expenses including payroll and creating financial projections to optimize the center’s financial resources. A thorough knowledge of the policies, regulations, guidelines, and administrative practices of the center are vital to the functioning of this position. In addition, a thorough understanding of the center’s budget, financial, purchasing and payroll systems is imperative.
Job Description
80% Financial Management and Reporting
This position works primarily on-site but limited remote work may be considered per mutual agreement between the EARTH Director and selected candidate.
Due to complex state employment laws, the University of Kansas may be unable to hire fully remote workers for this position outside of Kansas. Specifically, we cannot currently offer employment to candidates residing in the following states: California and Delaware. We appreciate your understanding and invite interested individuals from eligible states to apply.
Required Qualifications
Only complete application packages submitted online will be considered. A complete application includes online application form, resume, cover letter, names and contact information for three professional references.
Application review begins Tuesday, January 21. To ensure consideration, please apply prior to this date.
Contact Information to Applicants
Heather Abernathy, habernathy@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$60,000 - $70,000
Work Schedule
M-F 8-5
Application Review Begins
Tuesday January 21, 2025
Anticipated Start Date
Monday February 17, 2025
Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) are essential to the quality of life for all humans. HVACR systems are widespread throughout society, enabling transportation and preservation of fresh foods, storage of medicines, and cooling of buildings. However, most refrigerants used today are hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which have high global-warming potential (GWP), with 2000-4000 times the impact of CO2. Combined with high leak rates (direct effect — 50-90% of refrigerants leak into the atmosphere) and high energy consumption (indirect effect — 20-40% of U.S. residential and commercial building electricity usage comes from HVACR), HFCs account for 7.8% of total greenhouse-gas emissions.
To address this challenge, a new NSF Engineering Research Center (ERC): Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH) will create a “sustainable refrigerant lifecycle” to address technical, environmental, and societal challenges facing the HVACR industry. EARTH is a multi-institution, multi-disciplinary team from the University of Kansas, University of Notre Dame, University of Hawai'i, University of Maryland, University of South Dakota, and Lehigh University.
This is a 75% to full-time, twelve-month, benefits-eligible, regular appointment that reports directly to the ERC EARTH Administrative Director. Currently, the position is designated as on-campus. Alternative and flexible work schedules will be evaluated as per ERC EARTH policy and center guidelines. A reduced FTE (down to 0.75) may be considered, if preferred by a very strong candidate. The position will assist with financial analysis, budget tracking, financial reporting and personnel management and providing leadership to faculty and staff across the center. Duties will include administering base and non-base allocations and assisting with associated budget transfers. The incumbent will assist with balancing annual budgets through tracking expenses including payroll and creating financial projections to optimize the center’s financial resources. A thorough knowledge of the policies, regulations, guidelines, and administrative practices of the center are vital to the functioning of this position. In addition, a thorough understanding of the center’s budget, financial, purchasing and payroll systems is imperative.
Job Description
80% Financial Management and Reporting
- Utilize a financial reporting system to monitor, track, and analyze center accounts to ensure that financial resources are being effectively utilized.
- Assist in analyzing faculty and staff salary shrinkage.
- Utilize financial reporting systems to extract and analyze data, run reports, reconcile and verify information, and provide input for financial reporting.
- Assist Director with management of budgets by analyzing financial data for center reports, NSF site visits, and provide financial reporting.
- Provide monthly reports to ERC EARTH Director, Administrative Director, Deputy Director, and Thrust and Project Leads.
- Assist to track new faculty start-up commitments.
- Provide financial analysis, advice, and assistance on special projects as requested.
- Assist partner universities finance staff with consistent development of reports for year-end projections utilizing reporting systems.
- Play a key role in assisting Director with developing financial policies and procedures to enhance existing financial business operations and efficiencies for the center.
- Provide both formal and informal training to ensure center policies, procedures, and guidelines are followed.
- Research and analyze business trends and prepare financial forecasts.
- Other duties as assigned by ERC EARTH Directors and Administrative Director.
This position works primarily on-site but limited remote work may be considered per mutual agreement between the EARTH Director and selected candidate.
Due to complex state employment laws, the University of Kansas may be unable to hire fully remote workers for this position outside of Kansas. Specifically, we cannot currently offer employment to candidates residing in the following states: California and Delaware. We appreciate your understanding and invite interested individuals from eligible states to apply.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree and at least one-year related experience or high school degree and at least five years of related financial analysis experience.
- Experience through education and/or work history of advanced accounting skills that might include but are not limited to financial analysis, accounting principles, compliance, and projections, as evidenced by application materials.
- Demonstrated experience with computer applications for fiscal operations, including proficiency in computer applications for financial analysis, as evidenced by application materials.
- Advanced education and/or work experience requiring data analysis and problem-solving skills, as evidenced by application materials.
- Higher Education experience in auditing payroll or financial transactions, as evidenced by application materials.
- Working knowledge of Engineering Research Centers and NSF rules/regulations regarding fiscal, payroll and personnel procedures, as evidenced by application materials.
- Experience with payroll, financial and budgeting systems, as evidenced by application materials.
- Advanced level experience using accounting spreadsheets, Excel preferred, as evidenced by application materials.
- Ability to accurately analyze and interpret financial information, and clearly and concisely express information in written form, as evidenced by application materials.
- Ability to prioritize tasks and to meet deadlines under conflicting timelines, as evidenced by application materials.
- Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively with a wide range of students, staff, faculty administrators and other center contacts, as evidenced by application materials.
Only complete application packages submitted online will be considered. A complete application includes online application form, resume, cover letter, names and contact information for three professional references.
Application review begins Tuesday, January 21. To ensure consideration, please apply prior to this date.
Contact Information to Applicants
Heather Abernathy, habernathy@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$60,000 - $70,000
Work Schedule
M-F 8-5
Application Review Begins
Tuesday January 21, 2025
Anticipated Start Date
Monday February 17, 2025
Salary : $60,000 - $70,000
