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 experience that directly relates to this position.
Job Summary
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.
Why Work at 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
- Long-term disability coverage
- Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
- Maternity and Parental Leave
Responsibilities*
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, and helping with administrative staff.
- Identify key performance indicators to help unit leaders achieve their business objectives and priorities. Oversight of staff onboarding programs for all new hires and facilitation of new employee onboarding sessions.
- Recommend new approaches to improve the efficiency of the department and of the services performed.
Required Qualifications*
- Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, finance, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
- A minimum of 3 years of total accounting/finance work experience. Pre- and post-award research administration experience is required, including experience managing multiple projects from various sponsors.
- Clear understanding of research administration and policies, including Uniform Guidance restrictions; experience ensuring compliance with expenditures on research projects.
- Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment, along with attention to detail and dependability are essential.
- Excellent communication skills, both oral and written. Excellent customer service skills. Ability to support and promote a collaborative environment across staff with similar responsibilities across separate units.
- Advanced data management skills, including strong skills in creating and maintaining complex spreadsheets.
- Experience tracking effort and requesting effort changes on research projects.
Desired Qualifications*
- 5 years of progressively responsible grant management experience.
- 5 years of experience performing financial analysis in a project-based environment.
- 5 years of experience with database design and query writing.
- 5 years of detailed knowledge of university financial processes.
- 5 years of detailed knowledge of university financial data warehouse or large-scale financial data sets.
Work Locations
As part of the Office of the Provost, the Vice Provost for Engaged Learning supports the development of scholarship and engaged education at the University, cutting across schools, colleges and campuses, and facilitating the creation and coordination of shared infrastructure and policies to support this work. The portfolio spans a wide range of engagements by geography and disciplinary area, which may be centered on research, education, collaborative community projects and more.
This position is eligible for hybrid work opportunities. Please note that on-site presence will be required for selected meetings. Flexible work agreements are reviewed annually and are subject to change based on our needs, throughout employmentModes 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.
Underfill Statement
This position may be underfilled at the intermediate level depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.
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.