Accounting Specialist Sr.

Northwestern University; Evanston (IL); On-site; USD 28,000 - 40,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Tuition benefits for employee and/or/+

Generous retirement savings options

Paid vacation and holidays

Job summary

Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, is seeking a detail‑oriented finance support professional to perform day‑to‑day financial and accounting tasks within the MCC Materials Science & Engg department. The role involves applying policies, ensuring accurate bookkeeping, and assisting with payroll, grants, and procurement processes.

Qualified applicants will have a high school diploma and strong computer skills (spreadsheets, databases, word processing).

Qualifications

• High school diploma or the equivalent.
• Excellent computer skills including proficiency in spreadsheet, database and word processing software.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to follow policies and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Maintains and tracks individual budget accounts.
• Produces reports for managers/PIs and tracks payment status.
• Reconciles transactions and ensures policy compliance.
• Provides financial analysis and procurement support.

Skills

Spreadsheet proficiency

Database skills

Word processing

Education

High school diploma

Tools

Spreadsheet software

Database software

Job description

Job ID 54570

Location Evanston, Illinois

Department: MCC Materials Science & Engg

Salary/Grade: NEX/11
Target hiring range for this position will be between $20.51 - $28.85 per hour. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

Job Summary

Provides day-to-day financial & accounting support using an advanced knowledge of applicable skills, methods & practices & some innovation, analysis, & reasoning to choose appropriate alternatives from among pre-defined policies & procedures to complete work that includes successive steps & involves some non-routine problems &/or decisions. Applies industry and professional standards, university policy and procedure, federal and state laws and other regulations. Provides administrative &/or clerical support.

Areas of responsibility

• Accounting policy & procedure
• Accounts payable
• Additional/special pay
• Analysis
• Audit
• Bank deposits
• Budget
• Business continuity planning
• Cash receipt
• Chart &/or account coding
• Expense reimbursement
• Grants &/or awards
• Journal &/or ledger
• Payroll
• Petty cash
• Procurement card program
• Purchase orders
• Reconciliation
• Reporting
• Student funding
• Transfer charges
• Treasury
• Wire transfers

Specific Responsibilities

Budget

• Maintains & tracks individual budget accounts.
• Updates calendar, spreadsheets, templates & forms; monitors submissions.
• Completes reconciliation procedures.
• Creates summary reports.

Analysis, Statements & Reporting

• Provides reports to managers/PIs in tracking payment status & notification when balances & activities do not comply with policy, procedures or are inadequately prepared.
• Creates reports & queries; reviews for incomplete records, data entry errors, &/or accounting mistakes.
• May analyze open encumbrances that are no longer valid & recommend appropriate modifications to ensure smooth processing of financial transactions.

Transactions

• Completes & maintains transactions in enterprise systems.
• Provides review and oversight of all types of financial transactions some of which may be complex in regard to size or duration of account.
• Reviews; ensures approval based on alternatives regarding practice & policy.
• Troubleshoots problems.
• Performs vendor/account research as needed.
• Obtains additional information from or provides instruction & guidance for customers/vendors; corrects or escalates.
• Accesses multiple banking systems to process transactions, retrieve information, &/or initiate wire transfers.
• Provides financial policy interpretation to determine the validity of customer requests & ensure compliance.
• Enters information into database.

Grants &/or Awards

• Provides assistance regarding grant financial administration such as preparing financial information for grant submission.
• Completes post award accounting.
• Closes grants.
• Reconciles subcontract payments.
• Verifies payroll funding entries.
• Corrects charges to various accounts.

Administration

• Provides excellent customer service, over the phone and in person answering standard questions regarding status of requests, policies and procedures for processing transactions, &/or instructions for completing paperwork.
• Instructs & advises regarding options and appropriate courses of action & follows-up inquiries to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Completes other administrative &/or clerical activities such as organizing meetings; reserving AV equipment.
• Maintains inventory.

Training

• Assists with training of new staff members
• Creates & provides financial training on practice, procedure, policy &/or laws & regulations to customers.

Supervision

• Provides guidance to junior employees.

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or the equivalent.

Minimum Competencies

• Excellent computer skills including proficiency in the use of spreadsheet, database and word processing software.

Benefits

At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful and competitive benefits. The available benefits package for this position will include health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance; paid vacation and holidays; paid medical/sick and parental leave; tuition benefits for the employee and dependents; pre-tax and flex spending accounts for commuting and dependent care; generous retirement savings options; and wellness programs. For a comprehensive overview of available benefits, including eligibility details, visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/index.html to learn more.

Work-Life and Wellness

Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/work-life/index.html to learn more.

Professional Growth & Development

Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/learning/index.html to learn more.

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern's non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.