FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ANALYST I - DUKE LAW SCHOOL

Duke University:

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

Occ Summary

The Financial Analyst position is a key member of the Law School Administrative Services finance team, working closely with and under the direction of the Director of Finance and the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration. Serves as the primary point of contact for Duke Law School financial, purchasing, corporate card, and other critical financial operations. Provides top tier customer service and acts as a policy and procedure expert for the Law School finance team. Designs, prepares, and coordinates the distribution of various financial reports and analyses. Incumbent has a key role in the preparation of the Duke University Law School budget.

Work Performed

Provide forward facing customer service to all Law School constituents as a policy and procedure expert for the Law School finance team.  Field a variety of questions and communicate with a wide range of Law school constituents to ensure financial tasks are handled appropriately.

Research complex/unusual questions as they arise, identifying possible solutions by engaging campus partners, and proposing appropriate course(s) of action. Use independent judgement to address concerns immediately or escalate issues as appropriate.

Maintain knowledge of changes in Financial Services at Duke by reviewing e-mail/website updates, attending meetings, and taking classes.  Develop and foster an important network of contacts across Duke in the various finance offices.

Review and analyze monthly financial statements for assigned codes and/or departments.  Ensure revenues and expenditures have been charged in accordance with departmental and university procedures. Perform in-house audits of assigned codes and/or departments.  Report any discrepancies or concerns to the Associate Dean of Finance and Administration.

Monitor and report on financial performance of assigned programs and/or departments. Recommend corrective actions based on analysis.  Share results and recommendations with the Associate Dean of Finance and Administration, faculty, and department managers as appropriate.

Assist faculty, departments, and the Associate Dean of Finance and Administration in forecasting by providing historical information. Serve a key role in the preparation of the Law School budget by working with departmental directors, unit managers and appropriate personnel to prepare annual budgets, input information into the budget system, and audit entries to ensure accuracy.

Provide critical leadership in year-end closing activities, including communicating deadlines and expectations to departmental finance staff. Prepare and disseminate yearend deadlines memo, prepare JV’s for accruals/deferrals, review faculty account balances and recommend actions as needed, prepare carryover journal voucher, and provide account allotment adjustments for new fiscal year. 

Review existing financial systems and recommend improvements.  Serve as a key team member in the implementation of new financial policies, procedures, and systems.

Assist in formulating and refining short and long-term financial goals for each department through consultation with departmental directors and administrative staff.

Oversee the training of staff financial policies and procedures, in concert with the staff specialists. This includes providing a financial orientation for new financial staff and providing on-going training on new policies, procedures, and systems.

Administer and maintain key functional areas for the Law School, including the corporate card program, purchasing (Buy@DUKE), accounts payable, e-commerce merchant accounts, and cashier deposits. Maintain knowledge of all key financial deadlines as they relate to assigned programmatic areas. Provide reminders and follow up to ensure the Law School maintains compliance with critical deadlines and program requirements.

Provide guidance and leadership to staff specialists in the office on all financial, policy, and procedural matters, serving as an escalation point for issue or questions.

Perform other related duties incidental to the work described herein.

Education/Training

Work generally requires a bachelor's degree in Accounting, Economics or a related business field.

Experience

No experience required for candidates who possess a Bachelor's degree in a field of study related to the specific position. 

Preferred Experience/Education

Master’s degree desirable. Prefer 5 or more years of experience in a financial setting.  Familiarity with the accepted accounting practices involved in monitoring financial systems and resolving complex accounts.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Preferred

• Excellent written and oral communication skills.
• Excellent organizational skills, including the ability to prioritize multiple projects and move them to completion.
• Experience and knowledge of SAP general ledger software
• Ability to provide guidance and direction to financial staff and faculty members, including setting standards and monitoring performance.
• Skills using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions to problems.
• Skills evaluating program performance, summarizing findings, communicating results, and forming an action plan.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office and familiarity with graphic design programs.

Work generally requires a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Economics or a related business field.

No experience required for candidates who possess a Bachelor's degree in a field of study related to the specific position.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.