Financial Coordinator at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL

Summary: Northwestern University is seeking a Financial Coordinator to support the financial management and operational activities of the NUCATS Institute's Center for Clinical Research. This role involves financial oversight of clinical research studies, assisting with budgeting, financial tracking, and ensuring compliance with university and regulatory requirements. Responsibilities: - Prepares materials for annual budget planning such as analysis, budget performance reports & year-end close data - Provides updated budget estimates & account research - Creates daily, monthly &/or annual analysis & reports regarding area/unit, grants &/or awards, accounts, funds, payroll, expense &/or revenue allocation, etc - Assists with monthly/quarterly/annual journal entries, reports and statements - Provides support for annual audit work papers - Maintains, and updates financial models and analysis - Interprets and applies rules and regulations (NU, local, state, federal, industry, sponsor, etc.) and recommends and guides principal investigators (PIs) and research staff in the creation, submission, documenting, reporting, etc. of clinical trials financial activities ensuring appropriate compliance - Enters individual &/or summary of transactions into journals &/or general ledger or other NU enterprise system - Troubleshoots problems; performs vendor/account research as needed; obtains additional information from or provides instruction & guidance for customers/vendors; corrects or escalates - Provides financial policy interpretation to determine the validity of customer requests & ensure compliance - Provides support for internal audit requests - Processes subcontract payments according to rules & regulations of granting agencies - Reconciles subcontract payments - Corrects charges to various accounts - Provides administrative assistance and routine problem solving in support of unit's research programs and mission. Assistance may include the preparation &/or submission of routine research proposals &/or contracts according to standard practice &/or general instruction. May assist with &/or complete proposal submissions, prepare information used in grant budgets, process and project financial transactions, &/or effort reporting activities - Processes & presents data & information through the application of database, graphic & spreadsheet software - Obtains data by downloading from enterprise system; develops and runs queries - Completes special financial projects such as: (enter in explanation of special projects): - Performs general office support activities - Assists with training of new staff members - Creates & provides financial training on practice, procedure, policy &/or laws & regulations to customers - Provides work direction to others - Acts as a mentor in regard to education of junior coordinators/financial assistants - Performs other duties as assigned Required Qualifications: - Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance or related field; OR 2 years financial administration work experience; OR equivalent combination education and experience where similar knowledge, skills, and abilities may be acquired - 1 year financial, budgeting &/or preparing account reconciliations or financial statements along with financial analysis experience - Excellent computer skills including proficiency in the use of spreadsheet, database and word processing software - Familiarity with financial reporting - Demonstrated consistency and reliability in level of output with focus on accuracy and thoroughness Preferred Qualifications: - Experience with Cerner, Power chart, Epic, Primes, and NU Financial systems - Lean/Six Sigma trained - High level of customer service orientation and attention to detail Required Skills: Financial management, Budgeting, Account reconciliation, Financial analysis, Financial reporting, Spreadsheet software, Database software, Word processing software, Cerner, PowerChart, Epic, Primes, NU Financial systems, Lean Six Sigma, Customer service orientation