Financial Coordinator

Department: MED-NU-CATS Institute
Salary/Grade: EXS/5

The target hiring range for this position will be between $51,346 to $64,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Job Summary:

Supports a university accounting-related area or program under supervision of the area manager. Supports a school/department's financial operations. Reviews a portfolio of multiple schools/department' financial operations comprised primarily of standard and routine work. Provides transactional oversight. Applies industry and professional standards, university policy and procedure, federal and state laws and other regulations (as applicable). Represents &/or guides business area on internal &/or external financial affairs by exchanging information.

Specifically within the NUCATS Institute's Center for Clinical Research (CCR), this position is part of a team of financial coordinators in the Finance Unit, which is responsible for recharge activities that support studies and contracts. This position will work with the management of the CCR to improve efficiency and effectiveness in the financial activities within clinical research enterprise; develop, implement, and evaluate financial processes within clinical research (from pre-award to closeout). This role supports financial operations and/or analysis in support of area/unit's mission and in coordination with FSM, OSR, ASRSP, NMHC, NMG, etc. Provides budget support for a portfolio of multiple schools/departments' financial operations comprised of work that involves some basic problems and/or decisions. Develops, implements, evaluates policies and ensures the effective, compliant, and efficient completion of daily financial activities. Assists in development of standards & templates to ensure consistency in clinical trial budgeting and billing across all FSM departments conducting clinical research.

This individual applies industry and professional standards, interprets university policy and procedure, federal and state laws, granting agency guidelines, and other regulations (as applicable). Represents and/or guides business area on internal and/or external financial affairs by exchanging information. Assist in the development and implementation of a Clinical Trials Management System to support all FSM clinical research. Interprets and applies rules and regulations (NU, local, state, federal, industry, sponsor, etc.) and recommends and guides principal investigators (PIs) and research staff in the creation, submission, documenting, reporting, etc. of clinical trials financial activities ensuring appropriate compliance. Provides administrative assistance and routine problem solving in support of unit's research programs and mission. Assistance may include the preparation &/or submission of routine research proposals &/or contracts according to standard practice &/or general instruction. May assist with &/or complete proposal submissions, prepare information used in grant budgets, process and project financial transactions, &/or effort reporting activities.

Specific Responsibilities:

Budget:

• Prepares materials for annual budget planning such as analysis, budget performance reports & year-end close data.
• Provides updated budget estimates & account research.

Analysis, Statements & Reporting:

• Creates daily, monthly &/or annual analysis & reports regarding area/unit, grants &/or awards, accounts, funds, payroll, expense &/or revenue allocation, etc.
• Assists with monthly/quarterly/annual journal entries, reports and statements
• Provides support for annual audit work papers
• Maintains, and updates financial models and analysis.
• Interprets and applies rules and regulations (NU, local, state, federal, industry, sponsor, etc.) and recommends and guides principal investigators (PIs) and research staff in the creation, submission, documenting, reporting, etc. of clinical trials financial activities ensuring appropriate compliance.

Transactions:

• Enters individual &/or summary of transactions into journals &/or general ledger or other NU enterprise system.
• Troubleshoots problems; performs vendor/account research as needed; obtains additional information from or provides instruction & guidance for customers/vendors; corrects or escalates.
• Provides financial policy interpretation to determine the validity of customer requests & ensure compliance.
• Provides support for internal audit requests.

Grants &/or Awards:

• Processes subcontract payments according to rules & regulations of granting agencies.
• Reconciles subcontract payments.
• Corrects charges to various accounts.
• Provides administrative assistance and routine problem solving in support of unit's research programs and mission. Assistance may include the preparation &/or submission of routine research proposals &/or contracts according to standard practice &/or general instruction. May assist with &/or complete proposal submissions, prepare information used in grant budgets, process and project financial transactions, &/or effort reporting activities.

Administration:

• Processes & presents data & information through the application of database, graphic & spreadsheet software.
• Obtains data by downloading from enterprise system; develops and runs queries.
• Completes special financial projects such as: (enter in explanation of special projects):
• Performs general office support activities.

Training:

• Assists with training of new staff members.
• Creates & provides financial training on practice, procedure, policy &/or laws & regulations to customers.

Supervision:

• Provides work direction to others.
• Acts as a mentor in regard to education of junior coordinators/financial assistants.

Miscellaneous

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance or related field; OR 2 years financial administration work experience; OR equivalent combination education and experience where similar knowledge, skills, and abilities may be acquired.
• 1 year financial, budgeting &/or preparing account reconciliations or financial statements along with financial analysis experience.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Excellent computer skills including proficiency in the use of spreadsheet, database and word processing software.
• Familiarity with financial reporting.
• Demonstrated consistency and reliability in level of output with focus on accuracy and thoroughness.

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Experience with Cerner, Power chart, Epic, Primes, and NU Financial systems.
• Lean/Six Sigma trained.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• High level of customer service orientation and attention to detail.

Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

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