Financial Management Analyst II, Alumni Engagement and Development

Overview

Occupational

Summary:

This position serves as the direct supervisor for the Staff Accountants supporting Alumni Engagement & Development (AED) and oversees financial operations across 25+ cost centers and 100+ cardholders. The role reviews Shopping Carts, Online Check Requests, Concur Expense Reports, JVs, and reconciliations, and applies Duke University Financial Services policies to ensure compliance and data integrity. The incumbent makes informed decisions on complex financial matters, resolves escalated issues, and identifies process improvements to enhance operational efficiency and financial stewardship.

This position reports to the Director of AED Finance and contributes to planning and policy discussions within the department.

Work Performed

Financial Management

• Lead and guide Staff Accountants in implementing and optimizing financial systems including Concur, Buy@Duke, online check requests, journal vouchers, and reconciliations. Ensure transactions are processed accurately and efficiently, while resolving ambiguities and recommending improvements.
• Provide strategic oversight and act as a key decision-maker in resolving complex and atypical financial transactions. Serve as a resource for budget interpretation and ensure alignment with departmental and university financial goals.
• Assist with budget preparation, reporting and variance analysis. Liaise with departmental directors to educate them about their annual budget and year-to-date spending.
• Independently review and approve a wide range of financial documents—including Concur travel and non-travel expense reports, online check requests, Buy@Duke POs, interdepartmental requests, and relocation reimbursement forms—ensuring compliance with university policies. Serve as an authorized signatory and contribute to quarterly reporting through data analysis and interpretation.
• Oversee and manage expenditures across all current unrestricted and allocated funds, leveraging SAP data to monitor trends, identify risks, and support strategic financial planning.
• Serve as a senior resource and liaison for departmental financial representatives, interpreting and disseminating university financial policies. Proactively identify training needs, recommend appropriate learning opportunities, and foster a collaborative environment that promotes knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.

Workflow and Process Improvement

• Oversee the end-to-end workflow for all departmental expenses, ensuring robust internal controls are in place and functioning effectively. Exercise judgment in identifying and mitigating financial risks, and implement process enhancements where needed.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for Staff Accountants, aligning them with departmental financial goals, compliance standards, and critical deadlines. Use these metrics to guide performance reviews and continuous improvement efforts.
• Provide regular updates and strategic recommendations to the Director of Finance regarding workflow efficiency, bottlenecks, and opportunities for optimization.
• Lead the monthly and year-end financial close processes, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with university standards. Take ownership of resolving complex reconciliation issues and coordinating with cross-functional teams to meet reporting deadlines.

Management Duties – Manager

• Representative Duties - Appropriately represent Duke University as “employer” to direct reports and direct reports as “employees” to Duke University
• Programmatic Duties - Ensure alignment of given programmatic, departmental, and/or organization-wide activities with AED strategic goals, priorities, and expectations.
• Financial Duties - Exercise fiduciary responsibility for given individual, programmatic, departmental, and/or organization-wide activities in accordance with Duke’s financial policies, procedures, and standards, and AED expectations.
• Personnel Duties - Supervise direct reports in accordance with Duke’s human resource policies, procedures, and standards, and AED expectations.
• Personnel Duties - Hire & Onboard new employees (and offboard separating employees) in accordance with programmatic,…