Sr. Financial Specialist, SOM, Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease

Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education. All full-time university staff are eligible for our generous benefits package that includes choices for health, vision, and dental coverage, life-insurance, short and long-term disability coverage, retirement planning, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, flexible spending accounts, tuition benefits, significant paid-time off, 12 paid holidays, and more. Explore our benefits further here: https://hr.vcu.edu/current-employees/benefits/university-and-academic-professional-benefits/

Position Summary:

The Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health (SSLI) is searching for an experienced finance professional for the position of Senior Financial Specialist. The position will provide fiscal and budgetary support and perform fiscal duties including procurement, financial management and analysis, purchase card and petty cash management, fixed asset custodian, reconciliations and reporting.

Core Responsibilities:

Financial Management & Budget Development (30%)

-Conduct financial analyses and assessments to support decision-making regarding resource allocation
-Participate in the annual budget development process and make recommendations for upcoming budget cycle
-Work with COO to realign budgets, assist research administration team with monitoring research accounts
-Provide guidance and training to researchers/staff and project staff on RealSource and RealTime policies, procedures, and systems, promoting financial literacy and responsible stewardship of funds

Accounting & Fiscal Functions (35%):

-Promptly and accurately process all financial transactions. Monitor appropriate spending of Institute funds, maintain awareness of programmatic issues and escalate any potential problem areas
-Reconcile assigned indexes on a monthly basis using reports from VCU and MCV Foundation. Practices routine verification of the accuracy of data per university policy. Verify all indexes and account codes are accurate and complete journal vouchers as needed.
-Track spending on research awards/pilot funds.
-Maintains current knowledge of state, University and School policies, and applies these policies accurately to all fiscal transactions, maintaining proper documentation for audit trail
-Work with COO and SOM to accurately process journal vouchers and budget entries
-Produce accurate and timely reports for leadership
Serve as the fixed asset custodian and maintain records for Department.

Procurement Services (30%):

-Processes purchase requests adhering to University Procurement Services’ policies and procedures
-Support complex procurement and contract processing
-Follow up as needed to ensure timely requisition receiving and payment of all university invoices according to established policies and procedures
-Responsible for timely review and approval of PCard reports/transactions for cardholders using the Bank of America Works website
-Responsible for timely sign-off of transactions and submission of Pcard reports to supervisor, as a card holder in the Department
-Provide oversight on research study patient payments
-Create travel and personal reimbursement requests in Chrome River within established state, university and institute travel policies and procedures from pre-authorizations to reimbursements
-Provide training to faculty and staff with travel guidelines and funding for travel
-Maintain current knowledge of state, University and Department policies and procedures and apply these accurately to all transactions
-Train department personnel, travelers and timekeepers in VCU financial systems
-Support purchasing or timekeeping duties during other staff members’ extended leaves of absence or vacancy

Other duties as assigned (5%)

Assist with or manage special projects at the direction of Institute leadership.

Minimum Hiring Standards:

-Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business preferred and 1 to 3 years in a financial administrative role.
-Demonstrated analytical skills; ability to analyze financial transactions for trends and variances; ability to create reports, tracking tools, and professional documents
-Strong problem solving and time management skills including ability to adapt to frequent changes in work assignments, prioritize, and manage competing priorities to meet deadlines
-Must be precise, thorough, reliable and perform daily activities with minimal supervision
-Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and cooperatively in a large complex organization with the ability to work both independently and as a contributing member of a team
-Ability to effectively communicate with a wide range of individuals at varying administrative levels within the university
-Ability to function well in a complex, fast paced, multitask work environment that regularly includes a variety of projects with multiple deadlines
-Must be proficient in the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint
-Ability to work collaboratively and effectively in a diverse environment.

Additional Information:

ORP Eligible: - NO
Hours / weeks - 40 hours weekly
Title Details: Sr. Financial Specialist
University Title: Sr. Financial Specialist FS 1-3
University Code: (18214N-18216N)
University Job Family: Financial Services

The position will remain open until a candidate is selected.

The School of Medicine continuously strives for our workplace and learning environment to reflect the demographic and social milieu of the communities we serve. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action university providing access to education and employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability.