Events Financial Operations Specialist

Brown University; Providence (RI); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Brown University in Providence, RI seeks an Events Financial Operations Specialist to manage the Advancement Events budget of $1M+ annually. You will forecast expenditures, monitor performance, reconcile activity, and ensure proper coding and reporting to aid decision-making.

The role liaises with vendors and university partners on contracts, coordinates purchasing, and helps implement improved workflows and tools for event operations. Requires a Bachelor's and 3+ years in related fields.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent required.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in fundraising, banking, nonprofits, or customer service.
• Minimum two years' experience in finance and budget tracking preferred.
• Some project management experience preferred.
• Experience in a higher education or nonprofit setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage financial operations for the Advancement Events team, including a $1M+ annual budget.
• Develop annual and long-range expenditure forecasts; monitor budget performance.
• Reconcile financial activity and ensure accurate transaction coding and documentation.
• Provide budgeting reports and analysis to support planning and decision-making.
• Liaise with external vendors and university partners on contracts and purchasing.

Skills

Budget management

Financial analysis

Vendor coordination

Data management

Communication

Microsoft Excel

Google Sheets

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

3+ years in fundraising/banking/nonprofits

Finance/budget tracking experience

Tools

Google Workspace

Excel

PowerPoint

Zoom/Teams/WebEx

Job description

Job Description:

The Events Financial Operations Specialist manages the financialoperations of the Advancement Events team, including a $1M+ annualbudget. This role develops annual and long-range expenditureforecasts; monitors and analyzes budget performance; reconcilesfinancial activity; ensures accurate transaction coding anddocumentation; and develops financial reporting and analysis tosupport planning and decision-making. The position maintains astrong working knowledge of University financial policies,protocols, and systems, and provides guidance to colleagues anddivisional partners with varying levels of financialexpertise.

This role serves as a key liaison between Advancement Events,external vendors, and University business partners regarding eventcontracts and purchasing processes. This position facilitatescontract review and approval, identifies and resolves issues,coordinates vendor communication, and proactively works withstakeholders to reduce processing delays and support successfulevent execution.

This role also contributes to creating and implementingdocumentation to support and improve the Advancement Events team'sproject management systems and operational workflows. This includesevaluating business processes; developing tools, templates, andresources; training and coaching team members; and recommendingimprovements that increase efficiency.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education andexperience.
• Minimum 3 years of experience in a related field such asfundraising, banking, nonprofits, or customer service.
• Minimum two years' experience in finance and budget trackingexperience preferred.
• Some project management experience preferred.
• Experience in a higher education or non-profit settingpreferred.

Job Competencies

• Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability toinitiate, collaborate, implement, monitor, evaluate, and supportstrategic plans that support the activities of the program andcontribute to the overall goals and objectives of Advancement andthe fundraising enterprise.
• Experience with data management, including data collection,entry, and accurate maintenance, with output and usage inmind.
• Customer service experience with a strong service-mindedphilosophy. Excellent relationship-building skills, along with ahigh level of tact, discretion, and diplomacy, are required.Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the abilityto successfully interact with diverse groups.
• Expertise in Microsoft and Google platforms, especially GoogleCalendar and email, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Excel, andPowerPoint. Proficient with audio/visual and presentation platforms(Zoom, Microsoft Teams or WebEx, PowerPoint, etc.)
• Ability to work independently with strong project/timemanagement skills and attention to detail.
• Ability to apply tact and maintain confidentiality.
• Must be able and willing to work occasional evenings andweekends.

Background Check:

All offers of employment are contingentupon a successful criminal background check and educationverification satisfactory to Brown.

Benefits of Working at Brown:

Read more about thebenefits of working at Brown here

Please review additional information on the Benefits of Working atBrown.

Recruiting Start Date:

2026-10-06

Job Posting Title: Events Financial Operations Specialist

Department: Advancement

Grade: Grade 9

Worker Type: Employee

Worker Sub-Type: Regular

Time Type: Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 37.5

Position Work Location: Hybrid

Submission Guidelines:

The designated Position WorkLocation for each position determines the approved modalityof work. Positions are classified based on the operational andbusiness needs of the department and may be designated as on-site,hybrid, or remote.

Employees with a designated position work location as remote mustreside and perform their work in a state where Brown University isregistered to do business. Brown University is a registeredemployer in the following states: Rhode Island, California,Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York,New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Washington, D.C.

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

Still Have Questions?

If you have any questions you may contact [e-mail].

Brown is an E-Verify Employer.

EEO Statement:

Brown University provides equal opportunity and prohibitsdiscrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon a person'srace, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin,disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity,gender expression, or any other characteristic protected underapplicable law, in the administration of its policies, programs,and activities. The University recognizes and rewards individualson the basis of qualifications and performance. The Universitymaintains certain affirmative action programs in compliance withapplicable law.