Finance Lead

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 skills and experience that directly relate to this position.

Department Summary:

Student Life Budget and Finance (SLBF) supports the Student Life departments of Housing, Dining, University Unions, Conference and Events, University Health Services (UHS), Michigan Recreation and many departments, centers and programs within Student Life. SLBF prepares monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports, prepares annual budgets, data analysis, procurement and accounts receivable support across Student Life. SLBF also facilitates the annual Internal Controls gap analysis process, provides financial system and business process training as well as updates to U of M processes and policies within Student Life.

Position Summary:

This position reports to the Assistant Director Auxiliary Finance Services Student Life Budget and Finance (SLBF), with a functional relationship to student life departments, and supervises a Financial Specialist Intermediate. You will provide the Assistant Director Auxiliary Finance Services SLBF and department Directors with comprehensive, timely and accurate financial analysis and budget support with a strategic insight. In addition, you will be responsible for supporting all business and finance activities for a department, as well as act as a finance liaison with other divisional units.

You will also determine and support process improvements and efficiencies in financial operations.

10% - Budget Support & Analysis

• Annually, assist with the preparation and distribution of all budget files and supporting documentation for leadership and all department heads. Participate in budget meetings with department managers as assigned. Assist with the preparation of budget scenarios as needed. Maintain comprehensive budget history including rationale behind budget decisions. Represent the department at budget related meetings. Prepare monthly budget spread for salaries, revenues and expenses.
  
  Work with leadership and staff to ensure funding agreements are properly recorded in the budget commitment system.
• Assist and review the monthly/quarterly/annual projections including variance analysis and narrative. Meet with department managers to provide updates regarding their budget variances. Work with department managers to identify strategies for keeping future expenditures in line with the budget.
• Review reconciliation of revenues and expenses, including the determination if expenditures are recorded properly
• Work with leadership to automate reporting wherever possible, reduce and/or eliminate reliance on supplemental or shadow financial systems
• Review and monitor entry of financial data (revenue and expenses) into the financial accounting system
• Review and periodically audit accounting entries to ensure the accuracy of the financial statements
• Review consolidated Profit & Loss by using all financial databases available
• Review and/or prepare accurate notes to the financial statements, balance sheet, cash flow, key indicators, Accounts Receivable reconciliation, monthly and quarterly revenue reports, monthly sales tax reporting, monthly and year-end journal entries and other sub-ledgers as part of the financial statements
• Prepare graphs and charts for special reports or events (e.g. Board of Regents, Department meetings)
• Serve as the business and finance process strategic partner for the department. Work with business and finance process leads to ensure work is processed correctly and in a timely fashion. Respond to basic inquiries and complaints
• In consultation with the divisional account management and billing leads, coordinate accounting transactions between the department and other University units including month-end close and upload of monthly Service Unit Billing, Journal Entries and Student Account transactions /li
• Prepare ad hoc reporting and analysis by extracting financial data from multiple data sources and assemble data for analysis
• Ensure reconciliations are complete and monitor expenses
• Work with and answer questions from managers and staff from other departments listed above regarding any accounting and financial issues, including the budget and financial reports. Analyze financial data as requested
• Assist in development of departmental accounting policies and procedures
• Periodically audit…