Financial Specialist Senior

Michigan Engineering Financial Analyst

At Michigan Engineering, we develop the talent and technologies that move society forward and serve our state and national interests. Through discovery and innovation, we create the foundational knowledge and practical technologies to solve not only today's most pressing challenges, but also power industries and change lives. Our programs and community are designed to promote personal well-being and achievement, enabling everyone to unlock their potential and contribute with confidence.

Michigan Engineering Online & Professional Education (ME-OPE) at Michigan Engineering offers professional educational programs on campus, online, as well as through collaborative learning environments in locations throughout the world. ME-OPE courses offer a broad array of interdisciplinary technical professional certificates, short courses, webinars, and custom programs that are taught by faculty from across campus and experts from industry. Michigan College of Engineering is ranked among the top tier-one universities in the United States in engineering programs and online education.

This position involves a broad range of financial responsibilities, primarily focused on reporting, budgeting, and transactional execution. Key tasks include preparing statements, conducting trend analysis, and generating revenue and enrollment projections. The role requires a dynamic multitasker who is comfortable evaluating and interpreting financial data, maintaining internal accounting records, troubleshooting procurement issues, and overseeing depository and credit card processing. A high level of coordination with department leadership, other departments, and external partners is essential to ensure accurate reporting and compliance. Primary activities and decision-making authority are predominantly performed independently, affecting business operations to a substantial degree. This position reports to the Business Administrator.

The ideal candidate for this position will demonstrate experience analyzing and compiling data to create revenue and enrollment reports, financial statements, trend analysis, etc. This role requires an individual who possesses strong analytical, organizational, and time management skills, an ability to multitask, and enjoys working within a fast-paced team environment. Knowledge of Wolverine Access, MPathways, Emburse Enterprise, and other University software is desired but not required.

Responsibilities*

Reporting, Budgeting, and Business Intelligence (50%):

• Prepare financial statements, trend analysis, revenue and enrollment projections, break-even analysis, and key managerial dashboard metrics regularly.
• Analyze benchmarking studies and requests for metrics. Develop queries to answer routine and ad hoc requests for financial, payroll, and human resource information
• Analyze and monitor accounting, budgeting, and billing activities associated with online credit and professional education budget lines; Identify misalignments and opportunities for improvement with course and program-level budgets.
• Evaluate and provide interpretation of financial analyses to department administrators; meet with them on a regular basis to review accounts and provide a complete outlook of financial portfolios
• Reconcile expenditures and revenue in M-Reports and the statement of activity; review expenditures, investigate, and resolve discrepancies
• Proactively anticipate changes in effort and gaps in funding
• Compare budget allocations, including base funding, review financial statements, and other compliance reports
• Assist in preparing the annual budget document.
• Analyze, compare, and evaluate various courses of action with authority to make independent decisions within the scope of responsibilities, with little oversight or direction from the Business Administrator
• Work with Financial Managers and RPM Department Administrators as needed for department reports, budgets, and financial commitments
• Collaborate with other departments and the College of Engineering regarding accounting matters

Internal Financial Support and Documentation (35%)

• Review travel and expense reports, verify accounts payable documents, sole-source justifications, invoices, instructor compensation, etc., before items are sent to the Business Administrator for final approval.
• Monitor and process royalties and interdepartmental transfers.
• Interpret, monitor, and communicate University, College, and departmental financial policies and procedures.
• Efficiently process procurement transactions, resolve issues, and assist units with procurement processes, utilizing the Online Purchasing System (OPS) and leveraging high-level knowledge of UM procurement.
• Possess a thorough understanding of all fund types and balances at UM, proactively resolve balance issues, address concerns with leadership, and clean up account balances for the fiscal year-end close.
• Assess revenue allocations, commitments, and projections, as well as procurement policies, with a proactive approach to fund balances and fiscal year-end preparations.
• Utilize M-Reports, M-Pathways, Business Objects, and Tableau to initiate and process financial activities
• Troubleshoot procurement and vendor payment problems
• Oversee depository and credit card processing
• Maintain confidential customer records and agreements for custom noncredit courses, including delivery fees and billable expenses.
• Prepare the Aging Accounts Receivable and Deferred Income reports at year-end.
• Maintain internal records tracking revenues and expenditures for each noncredit and third-party course offering; support program managers with course-level financial tracking.
• Monitor compliance with policies and procedures; share best practices and resources.
• Ensure staff comply with internal controls.
• Submit requests to add, modify, or delete shortcodes and project grants.

Administrative and Process Improvement Support (15%)

• Work with the department's administrative team to enhance internal reporting systems, increase productivity and efficiency, and implement appropriate business processes.
• Lead annual gap analysis review and submission based on required documentation.
• Support ongoing efforts to automate financial business processes using AI-enabled tools and business process improvement.
• Manage procurement contracts and assist staff with the competitive bid process.
• Process and monitor Tuition Assistance Paperwork.
• Collaborate with senior staff to enhance financial automation and AI-enabled workflows.
• Participate in business process improvement efforts for recurring financial tasks.

Required Qualifications*

• Bachelor's degree in finance, business administration, or other related field and 4+years of related experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Extremely detail-oriented with the ability to recognize and investigate data anomalies
• Ability to work independently with little direction and daily supervision
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to visually present data and information
• Ability to translate information into concise summary documents
• Demonstrated strong analytical skills
• Excellent computer skills and knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite programs, i.e., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, and utilizing Google tools, i.e., sheets, forms, etc.

Desired Qualifications*

• Demonstrated experience with the University's financial systems (Business Objects and M-Reports). Knowledge of University policies and procedures, including business travel and hosting guidelines, financial management, internal controls, and procurement
• Minimum of 4+ years of high-level financial experience in a UM financial support role
• Advanced experience with the University of Michigan administrative data systems
• Advanced knowledge of University policies, procedures, and systems

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

This position will be hybrid with a minimum of 1-2 days per week in the office.

Additional Information

A higher salary may be considered for an extraordinarily qualified candidate.

Background Screening

The University of Michigan conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background checks. Background checks are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.