The Placement Exchange Job Board

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $70,000 to $78,000

Position Summary

Reporting to Assistant Dean for Engineering Student Affairs and working closely with the Assistant Director, Budget and Finance in SEAS Finance, the incumbent owns the processing, tracking, and strategy for finance and purchasing in the division of Engineering Student Affairs. This position will be the subject matter expert on financial policy and procedures, implementing best practices for the division. This will include reconciling financial activity in ARC and various financial systems, procuring goods and services, accounts payable, accounts receivable, inventory control, and vendor management. With the SEAS finance team, the incumbent will also participate in budgeting, auditing, reporting, and financial planning. This position covers the finances for the Engineering Student Affairs, the student-facing unit of Columbia Engineering. The individual is part of the team providing general operational coverage, serving as a point of contact for current and perspective students as well as supporting ad-hoc and special projects

Responsibilities

• (60%) Records expenditures and/or payments, ensuring they are posted to proper accounts. Prepares and reviews invoices, reimbursements for payment, monthly journal entries, and procurement documents for securing goods and services to ensure timely, accurate, and effective processing of expenditures and purchases. Processes all transactions in ARC (Accounting and Reporting at Columbia), the University???s financial system of record. Manages Columbia University Purchasing Card for purchases of goods and limited services and does monthly reconciliation of P-card expenditures.

  In collaboration with the Assistant Dean and Assistant Director of Budget and Finance, the incumbent creates, implements, and monitors budget parameters, including the preparation of variance reports, tracking supporting documents and reconciling internal financial records against expenses recorded in the financial systems.  Independently maintains, updates and reconciles complex financial and budgetary spreadsheets.

  Troubleshoots errors, tracks banking activity to identify potential discrepancies and overdrafts. Maintains knowledge of the School/Department???s current use of gifts and tracks donations to ensure receipts are consistent with the terms of each gift.

  Stays current with, adheres to, and enforces a complex set of University financial policies and procedures. Interprets and enforces policies and procedures to ensure compliance with University standards.

• (25%) Serves as office manager for Engineering Student Affairs.  Manages all operations of the Office of Engineering Student Affairs, including supplies, orders, and contracts with vendors. Manages departmental casual and work-study payroll.

• (10%) Provides data analysis and reporting and works in close collaboration with the SEAS finance team to complete all monthly, quarterly, and year-end transactions following the reporting schedule as set by the SEAS Finance Office and the University central offices. Reviews and updates departmental budgets in the SEAS budget tool system in collaboration with the department and the Assistant Dean and Assistant Director of Finance and Budget in on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis to minimize large variances.

• (5%) Performs related duties & responsibilities as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor's degree or equivalent related experience required. 2 - 4 years related experience required.

Must have excellent interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to work independently and under pressure, with high level of attention to detail. Must be able to prioritize multiple tasks with minimal supervision. Must be service-oriented and well organized with strong time management skills and the ability to prioritize, think critically, identify potential issues, and offer solutions. Must be able to manage highly sensitive and confidential communications with accuracy, discretion, and integrity. Must be adept at problem-solving and using judgment in situations requiring initiative and tact.

Strong financial and analytical skills, including expertise in Excel, including pivot tables, and report preparation, are required. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and knowledge of financial software a must.

Must be willing to work on occasional evenings and weekends, on a need basis.

Positive, mission-oriented, forward-thinking attitude and sense of humor a must.

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong preference for related financial analysis or operations experience in higher education, non-profit, or complex organization. 

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world.

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