Accounting Associate, Accounts Payable

Department
 

F&A FIN - Procurement Services

About the Department
 

Procurement Services provides integrated solutions to enhance the University's Procure-to-Pay experience. This includes establishing contracts, creating purchase orders and administering the credit card program, travel services and other specialized campus programs.

Job Summary
 

Payment Services partners with the campus community to ensure that all University payment functions adhere to University policies, IRS regulations, and generally accepted standards. Payment Services works with our customers to properly onboard suppliers/payees and process all payments in a timely manner to meet customer (supplier, faculty, and staff) needs and expectations in the areas of supplier/payee payments and employee expense reimbursements. The Payment Services Accounting Associate will be responsible for assisting campus clients with processing correcting entries.

Responsibilities

• Responds to inquiries from, and provides appropriate guidance to, campus and external clients regarding requested transactional corrections to invoices and other accounts payable transactions.
• Processes corrections, ensuring any requested changes are properly approved, prepared, reviewed, and recorded according to institutional policies and procedures.
• Ensures quality of payment processing and reporting within assigned deadlines to avoid penalties.
• Provides consistent, quality customer service to the University community in facilitating customer transactions.
• Continuously seeks opportunities to make improvements of procedures and systems.
• Responds to and researches accounts receivable/payable inquiries including payments to vendors and reimbursements to individuals with guidance and direction from others.
• Collects, interprets, and performs routine analyses of payables data. Likely to act as an informal resource to associates with less experience.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through < 2 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree, preferably in accounting or business administration.

Experience:

• A minimum of two years business experience.
• Background in a customer service environment.
• Previous experience in a higher education institution.

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

• Working with Oracle Cloud.
• Background working with Microsoft Excel, Word, and databases.
• Familiarity with administrative processes, procedures, and systems within a university setting.
• Skill and knowledge of computer tools including MS Office.
• Strong personal computer skills.
• Thorough knowledge of accounting principles and accounts payable practices/techniques.
• Working knowledge of interfaces between accounts payable and other financial systems.

Preferred Competencies

• Communicate effectively and professionally in writing, especially in email.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Participate as a team player and positively influence group activity.
• Project management and proven problem solving and analytical skills.
• Identify payment discrepancies and oversee all required research to resolve issues.
• Correspond with vendors and departmental administrators regarding payment information and problem resolution.
• Develop and complete departmental goals including identifying and implementing continuous improvement efficiencies.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References Contact Information (3)(required)

When applying, the document(s) MUST  be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Financial Management

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Non-Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Biweekly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

40

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu . Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.