Finance Specialist

Position Highlights

The Finance Specialist is part of the finance team within Office of Research & Partnership (ORP), a unit within the Business Affairs Division. This position will provide financial management and accounting services for the ORP business units. The ideal candidate for this position will possess a service mentality, with a propensity for relationship building, in addition to a level of traditional accounting and finance experience.

Outstanding U of A benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; U of A/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to U of A recreation and cultural activities; and more! The University of Arizona has been recognized for our innovative work-life programs. For more information about working at the University of Arizona and relocations services, please .

Financial Operations & Transaction Processing

• Deliver advanced support for daily financial operations involving complex transactions across multiple fund types using university financial systems.
• Reconcile complex financial transactions, investigate discrepancies, and ensure documentation meets university and regulatory standards.
• Prepare, review, and approve complex financial documents involving specialized transactions, ensuring accuracy and compliance, and initiating process improvements.
• Lead audit and reporting preparation by coordinating documentation, analyzing readiness, and recommending process improvements.
• Oversee and troubleshoot payment and transaction issues by monitoring, resolving complex cases, and providing guidance to others.

Financial Documentation & Process Improvement

• Prepare, review, and approve complex financial documents involving specialized transactions.
• Verify accuracy, data integrity, and completeness of financial records prior to submission or approval.
• Identify recurring operational issues and recommend process improvements to enhance efficiency and consistency.
• Maintain standardized documentation practices to support transparency and compliance.

Reconciliation, Compliance & Audit Support

• Investigate discrepancies and identify root causes of variances.
• Ensure documentation meets university, state, and regulatory standards and is maintained in an audit-ready manner.
• Coordinate preparation for audits and reviews by compiling documentation and assessing readiness.
• Support internal controls by identifying compliance risks and initiating corrective actions within established processes.

Financial Inquiry Resolution

• Manage and respond to financial inquiries involving unusual or ambiguous situations.
• Analyze transaction history, supporting documentation, and policy guidance to determine appropriate resolutions.
• Apply judgment to resolve issues within established authority and elevate exception cases when required.
• Communicate outcomes clearly and document resolutions to support consistency and audit readiness.

• Ability to independently resolve complex financial transactions and non-routine issues.
• Skill in reconciling accounts, identifying discrepancies, and ensuring audit-ready documentation.
• Ability to interpret and apply policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and time management.
• Ability to communicate financial information clearly and provide guidance to others.

This job posting reflects the general nature and level of work expected of the selected candidate(s). It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The institution reserves the right to amend or update this description as organizational priorities and institutional needs evolve.

• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• High school diploma or high school diploma equivalency is required.

Preferred qualifications are not listed in the original posting.

Contact Information for Candidates:
Christina Rocha, crocha