Financial Specialist Intermediate

How to Apply

A cover letter is required for consideration for this position and should be attached as the first page of your resume. The cover letter should address your specific interest in the position and outline skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Job Summary

The Life Sciences Institute (LSI) is looking for an experienced financial specialist to join the LSI Administration finance team. You will perform a range of financial activities with a focus on non-sponsored accounts, providing crucial oversight and management of accounts and assistance with the internal controls process.

Reporting to the Director of LSI Finance, you will manage non-sponsored accounts, including account reconciliation and monitoring of account performance. You will ensure that expenditures align with expectations and troubleshoot financial-related inquiries, offering accurate and thoughtful guidance regarding U-M and LSI financial policies and procedures.

You will solve resource issues, propose solutions to conflicts, take on tasks to improve operational efficiency, assist with internal controls monitoring, and present financial reports to internal groups, ensuring accurate reporting of financial status.

Mission Statement

The Life Sciences Institute explores biological processes, structures, and functions at the finest scale to create impact on a global scale. With a diverse community of inquisitive minds and exceptional tools, we are a catalyst for breakthrough discoveries.

Responsibilities*

Oversight Responsibilities

• Manage the annual internal controls process with members of the central Internal Controls Office and LSI Managing Director.
• Promote a internal controls compliance environment and help create processes to ensure controls are in place.
• Provide guidance with regular and ad-hoc revisions to associated with LSI administrative recharge rate(s), working with LSI unit directors and U-M Enterprise Financial Planning & Analysis.
• Provide direction regarding accounting responsibilities to LSI unit directors and the administrative team.
• Investigate questionable charges for confirmation or correction; monitor appropriateness and allowability; propose solutions to resolve issues.
• Help with special projects to improve reporting, account maintenance, analysis and internal processes to achieve productivity improvements, efficiency and enhanced customer service.
• Provide financial management and reporting on LSI's non-sponsored (administrative and gift) accounts, including fellowship and trainee programs.
  
  
  

Transactional Responsibilities

• Reconcile 110 assigned accounts including operational (general and designated funds), gifts, recharge, plant, tuition, and other fund types.
• Maintain a master listing of all LSI non-sponsored accounts and scheduled reports of designated fund accounts within business objects for active and inactive shortcodes.
• Request and open non-sponsored accounts including investigating proper designation of program or class codes.
• Create and process journal entries related to operational and unit-level commitments as instructed by the Managing Director or Finance Director.
• Ensure payment and receipt of internal funds related to unit-level MOUs for administrative and gift accounts, with follow-up to unit/department/office contacts for outstanding payments.
• Approve or prepare effort or shortcode changes for administrative accounts within the HR system.
• Examine and approve Emburse Enterprise and PCard transactions/reports on administrative and gift accounts.
• Complete regular and ad hoc reviews of all assigned non-sponsored financial reports.
• Assist on financial aspects and reporting for the annual unit internal controls process review.
• Monitor the administrative recharge rates to ensure account balances are within university guidelines; assist with recharge rate amendments/renewals as requested by the Finance Director.
  
  
  

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, finance, accounting or related field and/or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum three (3) years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, finance, financial analysis, forecasting, and reporting.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience using data and analytics to support decisions and respond to inquiries from higher levels of authority.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience to present complex information in a simple and concise manner to multiple audiences.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience working across multiple teams (finance, IT, HR, development, student support) and quickly developing domain knowledge from each area to support solutions.
• Proficiency in Excel and adaptability to evolving technology are necessary.
  
  
  

Desired Qualifications*

• Minimum two (2) years of experience in higher education and scientific research setting.
• Minimum two (2) years of experience in Business Objects, M-Pathways, PeopleSoft and Oracle.
• Knowledge of university policies, processes and requirements related to financial reporting, internal controls and recharge activities.
  
  
  

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Additional Information

The LSI operates as a hybrid workplace. You will be on-site at the Life Sciences Institute offices in Ann Arbor, with flexible scheduling and remote work opportunities as made available by LSI policies and as based on program and business needs.

Benefits At The University Of Michigan

In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, the University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

Generous time off

• A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
• Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
• Life insurance
• Vision, Dental and Legal Insurance
• Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
• Family leave options including maternity and parental leave
  
  
  

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO/AA Statement

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.