Accountant

This position provides accounting services for the Office of Academic Clinical Affairs (OACA) Finance group. The OACA Finance team provides leadership in financial management and budget development, financial data analyses, and decision support and reporting systems. We also provide grants management, transaction processing, and support for the shared service and administrative units of the health sciences.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Research/Contract Accounting Support and Analysis (20%)

• Financial partner over life of grant or contract.
• Prepare proposal, develop budget and establish accounts.
• Analyze spending and burn rates on sponsored projects, analyze impact on overall department budgets.
• Analyze labor distribution and adjust as needed.
• Forecast future spending.
• Close grants.
• Review and approve expenses over $1000 on sponsored research projects.
• Coordinate semester effort certification for supported faculty.
• Resolve issues with SPA and SFR.
• Serve as backup for other AHC Finance research support personnel.

Budgeting (15%)

• Lead budget process for assigned centers.
• Analyze historical trends, current operations, operational changes, and revenue streams to prepare preliminary budget for directors.
• Make recommendations regarding personnel, operations and capital items in budget.
• Support center directors at budget meetings with Office of the VP for Health Science.
• Ensure accounting structure will measure budget performance, input budgets into financial system.
• Administer and monitor budget; recommend allocation/reallocation of resources as needed.

Financial Reporting and Reconciliation (40)%

• Create periodic financial reports for management and other budget status reports, complex reports on current budget status, budget projections, analysis of historical trends, and month-to-month comparison reporting for assigned center.
• Provide comprehensive, global financial reports and projections for centers and PI's on sponsored and non-sponsored funds.
• Monitor center financial performance.
• ISO/ESO management, including rate development and reconciliation to policy.
• Analyze trends in revenues and expenses; provide tuition revenue analysis and projections.
• Determine cost/benefit of various operational decisions and options.
• Distribute reports to Unit Directors and answer any questions that may arise.
• Reconcile resources and expenses to the ledger, audit for errors, investigate discrepancies, and prepare correcting journal entries.
• Monitor transactions for compliance and correct use of account string.
• Ensure university policies and procedures are followed for all transactions and stay up-to-date on policy changes.

Transactional Activity (20%)

• Includes preparing entry requests sent to cluster for: journal entries for year-end adjustments, transfer in/transfer out entries, budget journals, prepare ISO uploads, etc. and acting as a resource for interpretation and policy related to transactions.

Other duties as assigned (5%)

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications

All required qualifications must be documented on application materials.

Required Education/Training/Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field plus at least four (4) years work experience in accounting, which should include journal entry preparation and expense reconciliation or a combination of related education and professional work experience to total eight (8) years.
• One year payroll experience.
• Intermediate level Excel, which should include using formulas, pivot tables, graphs, tables and formatting experience.
• Ability to work semi-independently to handle many tasks and prioritize appropriately.

Preferred Qualifications/Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• PeopleSoft experience.
• Experience with budgeting, reporting and financial analysis.
• Detail oriented and able to follow specific procedures.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• A customer-oriented service mindset.
• Perform work activities requiring negotiating, instructing, supervising, persuading or speaking with others.

About the Department

OACA Finance

Our team provides leadership in financial management and budget development, financial data analyses, and decision support and reporting systems. We also provide grants management, transaction processing, and support for the shared service and administrative units of the health sciences. We work in collaboration with the University's Office of Budget and Finance.

Benefits

Working at the University

At the University of Minnesota, you'll find a flexible work environment and supportive colleagues who are interested in lifelong learning. We prioritize work-life balance, allowing you to invest in the future of your career and in your life outside of work.

The University also 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

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

How To Apply

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.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

Diversity

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

Employment Requirements

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.

About the U of M

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.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by the Star Tribune as a Top Workplace for 2021, as well as by Forbes as Best Employers for Women and one of America’s Best Employers (2015, 2018, 2019, 2023), Best Employer for Diversity (2019, 2020), Best Employer for New Grads (2018, 2019), and Best Employer by State (2019, 2022).