Finance Professional 2 - Waseca, MN

This position works within the Office of Finance and Budget in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS).

The primary responsibility will be to support units within the Research and Outreach Centers (ROCs), but may support units in other areas as needed. This position provides grants management and accounting support to the units served and is expected to demonstrate ethical and respectful behavior in all position responsibilities. Customer service is a key focus for the CFANS Finance and Budget Office as we work to support the academic and research mission of the college.

This position is a critical team member in the Finance Cluster in CFANS. This position will be located at the Southern Research and Outreach Center in Waseca. This position will report to the ROC Finance Manager.

Please note, this position is not eligible for H-1B or Green Card sponsorship. This position does not offer a STEM OPT training program. Work Schedule will be in-person 5 days in office at the Waseca location.

Responsibilities will include the following (does not include all possible tasks in this work and does not limit the assignment of related tasks):

Budget and Financial Management (40%)

• Work with the leadership at the assigned ROCs to ensure that the finance and accounting needs of the units are met appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Manage day to day finances for the center.
• Work with ROC Director on University fiscal year budget forecast and planning process.
• Annual budget planning, pre and entry completion into the financial system and internal budget tools.
• Analyze fiscal problems. Collect information required for planning and develop possible approaches to solve/ mitigate problems.
• Serve as approver for non sponsored accounts.
• Timely, complete, and accurate maintenance of departmental chart of accounts, in reporting systems and ad hoc.
• Ensures that non-sponsored accounts are appropriately managed within the assigned college units.
• Manages O&M, State Special, research and extension, sales & services, unrestricted, and UM Foundation accounts for the units served
• Prepare periodic reports for grants and non sponsored funds; analyze trends and make projections for future funding expenditures. Train unit staff to use UM reports when appropriate to meet their needs.
• Maintain records and provide periodic reports for tax reporting, commodity inventory, and research project expenses and billable labor.
• Manage purchasing/audit/invoicing processes for needs of the center, including spring crop production supplies and contracts for professional services.
• Work with ROC Finance Manager to create, manage, maintain, and produce reports for the ROC Financial Dashboard to ensure consistent reporting across the network.
• Develop and facilitate implementation of consistent financial practices where doing so adds value to the ROC Network. This may include some travel to other Research and Outreach Centers for data gathering and training purposes.
• Complete Effort Certification for the assigned unit(s).
• Facilitate the University audit process as appropriate for assigned unit(s).
• Process billable charges and reconcile financial transactions to Activity Log, ROC dashboard, and the University of Minnesota General Ledger
• Review internal service organization (ISO) and external sales (ESO) activities to ensure uniformity across the Network and compliance.
• Perform reconciliation of accounts, ensuring that any variances are explained and appropriately handled by working closely with the other units within the University as necessary to resolve issues
• Perform monthly eStatement review to ensure University internal services transactions are valid

PreAward and Grants Management (40%)

• Assist Faculty and Research Staff with grant proposals, budget development and MN-GEMS preparation/approval and routing for sponsored projects.
• Independently review sponsor guidelines, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance and provide expert advice to faculty. Develop in-depth knowledge of the pre-award process to ensure proposal document compliance
• Communicate deadlines, policies, and procedures to relevant research faculty.
• Communicate proposal information, required documents and internal deadlines to subawardees; receive and proof their documents to finalize budget and incorporate in proposal.
• Assist faculty with online sponsor application systems.
• Route proposal to required approvers in MN-GEMS and submit fully approved and final proposal documents and budget information to Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA).
• Work collaboratively with SPA and act as a liaison between SPA Grant and Contract Officer (GCO) and PI to facilitate any requested changes to the budget and proposal documents before SPA's submission to the sponsor.
• Work closely with SPA/SFR to set up grants and provide information to SPA to initiate outgoing subaward agreements, assist with no-cost extension requests, rebudget requests, and close out of grants.
• Establish the grant in the ROC System and provide advice to PIs on terms and conditions discovered in the proposal process
• Work closely with internal centers to create child accounts and manage projects across departments, involving providing expertise to other finance teams regarding reporting, policy, etc from the centers and prime sponsors
• Serve as backup for pre/ post award across the ROC team in time of absence, sponsor deadline, and overload

Accounting Services (15%)

• Use EFS for deposits approvals on behalf of the assigned unit(s)
• Use EFS/HRMS to analyze data from various modules
• Use TDX to request journals, retro, distribution changes on behalf of assigned unit(s)
• Use Emburse to review, validate, and approve reimbursements for assigned unit(s)
• Abstract review and payroll approval for assigned unit(s)
• Serve as a resource for financial policies and procedures and determination of next step(s)

Unit Administration (5%)

• Ensure compliance with University policies and procedures in all tasks
• Participate as a team member on assigned special projects
• Serve as backup for other team members and/or for unit-level staff in times of overload, absence or turnover
• Continue professional development through attendance of courses, workshops, and other meetings.

Required

• BA/BS degree plus two years of work experience
• Experience in managing finances for a multifaceted organization
• Experience with Excel, Word, Google Drive, and PeopleSoft Financials
• Experience in spreadsheet development.
• Numbers oriented
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks and work both independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service while maintaining compliance with University and federal policies and procedures.

Preferred

• Agricultural production and/or research experience.
• Excel spreadsheet development and maintenance skills
• PreAward and Grants management experience
• Professional accounting or finance experience
• Demonstrate excellent attention to detail in both written and verbal communications
• Ability to balance multiple work demands and to thrive in a changing environment
• Skilled in learning new software programs thoroughly and efficiently.
• Experience with MN GEMS and TDX

Pay Range: $66,040 - $71,011.20 ($31.75 - $34.14 per hour); depending on education/qualifications/experience

Time Appointment: 100% Appointment

Position Type: Civil-Service

Please visit the Office of Human Resources website for more information regarding benefit eligibility.

The University offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

• Competitive wages, paid holidays, and generous time off
• Continuous learning opportunities through professional training and degree-seeking programs supported by the Regents Tuition Benefit Program
• Low-cost medical, dental, and pharmacy plans
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• University HSA contributions
• Disability and employer-paid life insurance
• Employee wellbeing program
• Excellent retirement plans with employer contribution
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) opportunity
• Financial counseling services
• Employee Assistance Program with eight sessions of counseling at no cost
• Employee Transit Pass with free or reduced rates in the Twin Cities metro area

While our salary ranges provide a framework, it is important to note that most of the
time, the initial pay may not reach the maximum of the range. This approach ensures
that compensation reflects the value and unique contributions of each candidate while
maintaining equity within our organization. As part of our commitment to fair and
equitable compensation, please be aware that the salary offered to incoming candidates
will be based on their individual credentials and experience.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

Please include a resume for a complete application. A cover letter is also highly encouraged with your application.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail jobcentr@umn.edu.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

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