Financial Operations Analyst at The University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois

Financial Operations Analyst

Globus ( is a mission-driven organization dedicated to enabling discovery by delivering advanced data management and computation capabilities to researchers worldwide. As a unit within The University of Chicago, Globus develops and operates commercial-quality, software-as-a-service used by thousands of institutions, including research universities, national laboratories, federal agencies, and commercial research organizations. Core features are free for non-profit researchers, and the Globus service is sustained through institutional subscriptions that unlock advanced features for organizations needing greater control, compliance support, and deeper integration with their research computing environment. This model reflects the organization's core commitment: making secure, reliable cyberinfrastructure services accessible to the broadest possible research community.

The Globus team comprises professional software developers and business operations staff, as well Globus Labs, a dedicated research group pioneering novel methods and technologies. Team members are geographically distributed-a structure that reflects the global nature of the research communities we serve-while maintaining a collaborative culture focused on making an impact in disciplines ranging from the life sciences and astronomy to materials science and public policy.

We are seeking a Financial Operations Analyst to join the Globus business operations team. The financial operations that sustain Globus's mission sit at the heart of this role - from the full cycle of accounts receivable, invoicing, collections, and cash receipting, to deferred revenue management, variance reporting, and financial statement preparation for senior leadership. This role is well-suited to someone who sees the numbers behind a growing, mission-driven organization and immediately wants to understand them. You will thrive here if you are energized by variety and complexity; if you take pride in doing the detail work well, and you want to be part of a small, collaborative team where accurate, well-run financial operations genuinely matter. Curiosity, rigor, and a willingness to learn by doing are what will make you successful here. If that sounds like the environment where you do your best work, we would love to hear from you!

Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end accounts receivable process in collaboration with the central AR team and Sales Operations team, including recording deposits in Oracle, monitoring University funds for misdirected payments, investigating discrepancies, and supporting improvements to the accuracy and efficiency of the function.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customer-facing payment communications, handling inquiries and collections correspondence with professionalism and clarity.
• Monitor AR and deferred revenue subledgers and perform regular reconciliations and error corrections.
• Perform monthly bank account reconciliations across accounting, revenue, and bank records, and conduct daily general ledger downloads and reconciliations to maintain the integrity of receivable balances.
• Assists with tracking state sales tax obligations arising from Globus subscription activity, and support state filings on schedule; work with the customer team on KYC processes to collect required tax documentation (e.g., exemption certificates, entity information).
• Assist with budget management and monthly forecasting using the department's budgeting and planning system (UCPLAN); contribute to variance analyses.
• Support preparation of financial statements and ad hoc analyses for senior leadership.
• Monitor the general ledger for spending activity and budget-to-actual variances; proactively submit journal entries and cost corrections as needed to maintain accuracy and ensure expenses are recorded to the correct accounts.
• Support procurement activities across the department including submitting operational and high-value procurement requests in Oracle; assist staff with transactions in Oracle, Concur, and Workday.
• Support special projects spanning procurement, financial analysis, budgeting, and other areas as directed.
• Performs a variety of operating or cost accounting activities which require moderate knowledge of accounting theories and principles.
• Interprets accounting records for the purpose of determining gains and losses, receipts and disbursements, and inventory.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.
• Work Experience: Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Preferred Qualifications Experience:

• 2-4 years of experience in financial operations, accounting, or a related role, preferably in a higher education, nonprofit, research, or SaaS environment.
• Experience with accounts receivable, general ledger maintenance, and month-end close processes.
• Experience working within a large ERP system (Oracle FST, Workday, or SAP strongly preferred).
• Experience supporting research finance for federal and non-federal grant funds.
• Experience supporting budget preparation and variance analysis.
• Experience in a small team or unit finance role contributing to multiple functions often with competing priorities and deadlines (AR, procurement, reporting).

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Proficiency in Oracle Financial Systems strongly preferred; experience with Concur and Workday is a plus.
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data validation); experience with financial reporting tools or BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, or similar) a plus.
• Familiarity with GAAP and general accounting principles.
• Experience with or interest in data visualization and financial dashboard development.
• Familiarity with principles of post-award financial management.

Preferred Competencies

• Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and constant attention to detail.
• Ability to work discreetly with sensitive and confidential data.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet recurring deadlines in a high-volume transactional environment.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including ability to present financial information clearly to non-financial colleagues.
• Proactive problem-solving orientation; comfort identifying errors and discrepancies and pursuing resolution independently.
• Collaborative working style with ability to partner across functions (engineering, sales, research administration) and across institutions.
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and a growth-oriented, evolving environment.

Working Conditions

• This job is a remote position with occasional attendance at in-person meetings required.

Application Documents

• Resume (required to include this)
• Finalists will be required to provide professional references. Reference checks will be conducted prior to an offer being extended. Candidates may also be asked to complete an in-person interview as part of the selection process.

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.