Events Financial Operations Specialist

Brown University; United States; Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Brown University seeks an Events Financial Operations Specialist to manage the Advancement Events team’s financial operations, including a budget of $1M+. You will forecast expenditures, monitor performance, reconcile activities, and prepare financial reports to aid planning.

You’ll coordinate closely with internal partners and external vendors, review contracts, and streamline workflows to reduce processing delays and support successful events. Hybrid work arrangement applies.

Qualifications

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

Responsibilities

• Manages financial operations of the Advancement Events team, including a $1M+ annual budget.
• Develops annual and long-range expenditure forecasts; monitors budget performance.
• Reconciles financial activity and ensures accurate transaction coding and documentation.
• Develops financial reporting and analysis to support planning and decision-making.
• Serves as liaison between Advancement Events, vendors, and university partners.
• Reviews contracts and coordinates vendor communications to reduce delays.
• Contributes to documentation for improving project management workflows.

Skills

Organizational skills

Project management

Data management

Customer service

Communication

MS Office & Google Suite

AV/presentation skills

Confidentiality

Evenings/weekends flexibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Google Calendar

Google Docs

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Zoom/Teams/WebEx

Job description

Events Financial Operations Specialist

Job Description

The Events Financial Operations Specialist manages the financial operations of the Advancement Events team, including a $1M+ annual budget. This role develops annual and long-range expenditure forecasts; monitors and analyzes budget performance; reconciles financial activity; ensures accurate transaction coding and documentation; and develops financial reporting and analysis to support planning and decision-making. The position maintains a strong working knowledge of University financial policies, protocols, and systems, and provides guidance to colleagues and divisional partners with varying levels of financial expertise. This role serves as a key liaison between Advancement Events, external vendors, and University business partners regarding event contracts and purchasing processes. This position facilitates contract review and approval, identifies and resolves issues, coordinates vendor communication, and proactively works with stakeholders to reduce processing delays and support successful event execution. This role also contributes to creating and implementing documentation to support and improve the Advancement Events team’s project management systems and operational workflows. This includes evaluating business processes; developing tools, templates, and resources; training and coaching team members; and recommending improvements that increase efficiency.

Education and Experience

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience. Minimum 3 years of experience in a related field such as fundraising, banking, nonprofits, or customer service. Minimum two years’ experience in finance and budget tracking experience preferred. Some project management experience preferred. Experience in a higher education or non-profit setting preferred.

Job Competencies

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

Background Check

All offers of employment are contingent upon a successful criminal background check and education verification satisfactory to Brown.

Contract Type & Working Hours

Worker Type: Employee

Worker Sub-Type: Regular

Time Type: Full time

Scheduled Weekly Hours: 37.5

Location

Work Location: Hybrid

The designated Position Work Location for each position determines the approved modality of work. Positions are classified based on the operational and business needs of the department and may be designated as on-site, hybrid, or remote. Employees with a designated position work location as remote must reside and perform their work in a state where Brown University is registered to do business. Brown University is a registered employer in the following states: Rhode Island, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Washington, D.C.

Eligibility

This position is not eligible for visa sponsorship.

EEO Statement

Brown University provides equal opportunity and prohibits discrimination, harassment and retaliation based upon a person’s race, color, religion, sex, age, national or ethnic origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law, in the administration of its policies, programs, and activities. The University recognizes and rewards individuals on the basis of qualifications and performance. The University maintains certain affirmative action programs in compliance with applicable law.

About Brown

Founded in 1764, Brown is a leading institution for education, discovery, and global intellectual progress as well as one of the largest employers in Rhode Island. Working at Brown brings more than just a paycheck and generous benefits; it offers an opportunity to contribute to a greater good. Join us in supporting the pursuit of knowledge and individual growth that defines higher education and enriches our community.

Posting Information

Recruiting Start Date: 2026-10-06