Finance Associate

Job Responsibilities

Reporting to the Business Center Manager, the Finance Associate processes financial transactions related to travel, procurement, accounts payable and receivable, accounting and asset management for the Center's assigned departments, ensuring accuracy and compliance with all applicable institutional, state and federal regulations, policies and procedures.

Procurement

• Determines and executes the appropriate procurement procedures for routine purchases, including referrals to Information Technology for technology procurement, institutional software contracts and purchase order support.
• Ensures a complete W-9 is on file for all vendors, vendor profiles in Banner are complete and accurate, and vendors have been reviewed for independent contractor/employment classification.
• Ensures independent contractors have a current contract.
• Reviews requisitions for potential fixed-asset implications and notifies the appropriate functional offices.
• Reviews and reconciles purchasing card (P-Card) transactions for appropriate funding, policy compliance and completion.
• Maintains financial records and files.
• Assists in preparing routine, standardized reports.
• Responds to department questions regarding P-Card use and escalates complex procurement processing concerns.

Travel

• Assists employees and students in submitting travel authorization requests, including recording commitments in Banner.
• Reviews and processes routine employee, student and group travel authorization requests.
• Reviews and processes requests for and reconciliation of travel-related cash advances and out-of-pocket expenses, including those processed on a P-Card.
• Retains financial records and files according to adopted naming conventions, organization and record retention protocols.
• Assists in preparing routine, standardized reports.
• Fields employee questions and escalates complex travel processing concerns.

Accounts Payable

• Reviews and routes invoices from third-party vendors and completes or routes change order requests.
• Reviews routine check requests to ensure they are complete and comply with policy.
• Reviews requests to pay independent contractors and determines whether they meet IRS regulations.
• Retains financial records and files according to adopted naming conventions, organization and record retention protocols.
• Assists in preparing routine, standardized reports.
• Fields employee questions and escalates complex concerns to the appropriate person.

Budget

• Addresses or routes budget-related inquiries.
• Addresses or routes user questions related to Banner Finance and related modules.
• Reviews initial budget submissions for compliance with guidelines and mathematical accuracy.
• Retains financial records and files according to adopted naming conventions, organization and record retention protocols.
• Assists in preparing routine, standardized reports.

Accounting

• Assists in preparing routine, standardized reports.
• Fields employee questions and escalates complex concerns to the appropriate person.

Other Duties

• Creates and maintains procedural documentation.
• Performs other related duties as required, including serving as backup for other members of the assigned Business Center.

Minimum and Additional Requirements

• High school diploma and four years of finance experience; an equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Intermediate proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Knowledge of finance and payroll terminology and practices.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws and guidelines related to business practices preferred.
• Effective oral and written communication skills.
• Exceptional organizational skills.
• Effective interpersonal skills and the ability to establish and maintain positive relationships within and outside of reporting lines.
• Willingness and demonstrated ability to learn new hardware and software systems.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality in compliance with rules and regulations, including HIPAA and FERPA.
• Proven ability and dedication to meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to work with accuracy and attention to detail in a high-volume environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with Adobe and Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and SharePoint.
• Experience working as part of a service team.
• Experience with Banner or similar integrated software system.
• Relevant experience at an institution of higher education.

Additional Comments

Travel/Overtime Requirements: Occasional work outside normal business hours. To apply go to . Telecommuting: Employees are not eligible for telecommuting/remote work during their 12-month probationary period. After that time, certain positions may be eligible for telecommuting/remote work at the discretion of the supervisor and in accordance with Winthrop policies.

Benefits

Benefits for State Employees The state of South Carolina offers eligible employees generous benefits, including health and dental insurance; retirement and savings plan options; and paid vacation and sick leave. Plus, work-life balance programs such as telecommuting and flexible work schedules are available to employees of some state agencies. Insurance Benefits Eligible employees may enroll in health insurance, which includes prescription coverage and wellness benefits. Other available insurance benefits include dental, vision, term life insurance, long term disability and flexible spending accounts for health and child care expenses. Retirement Benefits State employees are also offered retirement plan options, including defined benefit and defined contribution plans. Additionally, eligible employees may elect to participate in the South Carolina Deferred Compensation Program, which is a voluntary, supplemental retirement savings plan offering 401(k) and 457 plan options. Workplace Benefits State employees may also be eligible for other benefits, including tuition assistance; holiday, annual and sick leave; and discounts on purchases, travel and more. Note: The benefits above are available to most state employees, with the exception of those in temporary positions. Employees in temporary grant and time-limited positions may be eligible for all, some or none of these benefits as benefits are associated with each position type. For these positions, contact the hiring agency to determine what benefits may be available.