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 experience that directly relates to this position.
The Engaged Learning Financial Specialist will provide financial, research administration, and HR support to all the Vice Provost Engaged Learning (VPEL) units, under the direction of the Business Administrator Manager Sr. This position will act as a liaison between VPEL units and other UM's units reporting to the Vice Provost. This position reports directly to the Business Administrator Manager Sr.
The Engaged Learning Financial Specialist works closely with the Business Administrator Manager Sr. to coordinate, direct, and develop policy in areas of finance, facility operations, human resources, IT, and support services. The ideal candidate analyzes and monitors accounting and budget activity and recommends alternatives to solve financial problems; provides workflow coordination and direction to administrative staff within the provost's units reporting through the Vice Provost for Engaged Learning; interprets University-level and unit-level financial policies and procedures for VPEL colleagues.
The Engaged Learning Financial Specialist advises and supports unit Directors on preparing and submitting high-quality proposals for consideration by agencies and foundations, and provides coordination for a timely submission process, ensuring appropriate approvals. The individual in this role develops project timelines based upon proposal requirements; submits requests for no-cost extensions or other extensions as needed; manages the proposal submission and spending process, ensuring compliance/oversight by monitoring budgets and spending, approving capital equipment requisitions, and providing guidance and counsel for the stewardship of sponsored project funds.
The Engaged Learning Financial Specialist maintains appropriate communications with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, across units reporting to the Vice Provost, is responsible for interpreting regulations and guidelines of internal and external funding and for coordinating and independently managing the administrative research process, by assisting with the creation of complex proposals, including locating relevant materials, formatting, and editing, providing assistance with the preparation of multi-year budgets, preparing and assisting with budget justifications, coordinating with internal and external entities as appropriate, and ensuring timely routing of proposals through the institutional approval process.
Finally, the Engaged Learning Financial Specialist should possess strong communication skills, communicating and collaborating effectively with Directors and staff within VPEL and across U-M units and campuses. These skills will enable the ideal candidate to communicate financial and operational information in a meaningful way to non-expert stakeholders (e.g., use of data visualization tools, customized reports, etc.) including interpreting, to support relationships with key stakeholders in other units, and to build a positive work environment for members of the team.
Financial - 45%
- Review annual budgets and quarterly budget projections for the units within VPEL, including review of units forecasting.
- Monitor monthly reconciliation reports for discrepancies and budget variances. Attention to detail, with emphasis on accuracy is a critical aspect of this set of responsibilities.
- Submit annual budget and budget projections to the Office of Budget and Planning on behalf of the units within VPEL and of the Business Administrator Manager Sr.
- Analysis and review of internal controls for the VPEL units to ensure that implementation of financial processes and internal controls are being followed and ensure appropriate management of resources.
- Monitoring of financial activity on gift funds, contracts, grants, and general funds to ensure appropriate stewardship.
Research Administration - 30%
- Pre-award and post-award support to proposing teams. In the pre-award phase, responsibilities include preparing budgets for proposal submissions, assisting Directors with grant applications, and unfunded agreements; ensuring agency and university guidelines and timelines are met.
- Provide support to the Directors and their research collaborators across campus and other partner institutions, interpreting regulations and sponsor's guidelines of funding.
- After grants are established, post-award responsibilities include financial reporting, processing and tracking subcontracts, tracking cost-share obligations, account review, Uniform Guidelines reports, spend-down plans, Financial Status reports.
- Reconcile assigned accounts, including general, designated, gift, and sponsored fund types monthly and ensuring compliance with Provost Office, University of Michigan, and sponsor guidelines, investigating and resolving issues.
Unit Liaison - 15%
- Serve as liaison in collaboration with the Shared Service Center (SSC) to initiate and process journal entries and human resources transactions.
- Processing of related incentive payments and discretionary funding transfers.
- Assist administrative staff within the units for expense classification, and internal and external fund transfers (including international).
- Work collaboratively with financial and HR specialists in VPEL units to establish a successful and positive business environment and a network of best practices to be adopted across units.
Human Resources - 10%
- Assist with implementing development plans, training plans, an
