Financial Coordinator (SPARC - Hybrid Role)

Northwestern University; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 51,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision, disability, &/

Life insurance

Paid vacation and holidays

Tuition benefits for employee and? and

Job summary

Northwestern University’s Kellogg-related department seeks a Financial Coordinator to support SPARC programs in Chicago. The role handles budgets, analysis, transactions, and grants administration, ensuring compliance with university policies.

The position reports to the Associate Director and coordinates seminars, faculty recruiting events, and other academic activities while maintaining accurate financial records and providing service to faculty and staff.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, business, finance or related field OR 2 years financial administration experience.
• 1 year financial, budgeting & or preparing account reconciliations or financial analysis experience.

Responsibilities

• Prepares materials for annual budget planning and provides budget performance reports.
• Creates daily, monthly or annual analysis and reports for grants, accounts, funds and payroll.
• Reviews and processes various financial transactions and maintains chart of accounts.
• Sets up sub-contracts, start-up accounts, and grants-related budgets; forecasts and monitors performance.
• Processes and presents data using database, spreadsheets and word processing software.
• Trains new staff and provides financial training on procedures and policy.

Skills

Excellent computer skills

Familiarity with financial reporting

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance or related field; OR 2 years financial administration work experience; OR equivalent combination education and experience

Job description

Department: MED-Office for Research (SPARC)

Salary/Grade: EXS/5

Target hiring range for this position will be between $51,350-$66,380 per year. 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.

Location: Chicago, Illinois

The Financial Coordinator provides financial assistance and routine problem solving in support of the Sponsored Project and Research Catalyst's (SPARC) research programs and mission as a shared service model within NUFSM.

Job Summary:

The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University offers multiple unique programs to give our MBA students an opportunity to engage in learning across disciplines. These programs are supported by the Kellogg Academic Department infrastructure that provides high-level support to academic department faculty, PhD students, visitors, and staff.

Reporting to the Associate Director, the Business Coordinator is an integral part of the Kellogg Academic Departments infrastructure by providing high-level administrative and financial support. This role is responsible for excellent client service delivery to faculty, students, and visitors while supporting both academic programming and departmental operations. As a member of the academic departments' administrative team, this role coordinates research seminars, faculty recruiting events, and other academic events, managing logistics such as scheduling, travel arrangements, and visitor hospitality. The position also supports faculty activity reporting and monitors PhD student status and progress.

The Business Coordinator is responsible for timely and accurate processing of financial transactions, including reimbursements, invoice payments, contracts, and related documentation, in compliance with university policies. The role also coordinates the hiring and payment of independent contractors, temporary employees, and student staff in alignment with HR and financial guidelines and contributes to the development and administration of annual budgets, fiscal resource allocation and expense tracking.

In addition, this role provides support for departmental operations, including: managing supply orders, maintaining existing stock, technology inventory management, assisting with office space coordination, and responding to and elevating departmental requests to the correct stakeholders. The Business Coordinator collaborates with faculty, staff, and university offices to ensure smooth execution of department events, financial processes, and daily operations.

Specific Responsibilities:

Budget:

• Prepares materials for annual budget planning such as analysis, budget performance reports & year-end close data.
• Provides updated budget estimates & account research.
• Ensures lead schedules are prepared.
• Guides units of responsibility through university budgeting and forecasting processes, reviews budget and forecasting submissions.
• Serves a primary role in the development & implementation of annual budget including fiscal resource allocation of appropriated, discretionary, endowment & gift revenues & expenses.
• Coordinates &/or provides information for annual salary review process.

Analysis, Statements & Reporting:

• Creates daily, monthly &/or annual analysis & reports regarding area/unit, grants &/or awards, accounts, funds, payroll, expense &/or revenue allocation, etc.
• Prepares financial analysis and lead schedules for supplies, equipment, &/or personnel decisions.
• Assists with monthly/quarterly/annual journal entries, reports and statements
• Provides support for annual audit work papers
• Maintains, and updates financial models and analysis.

Transactions:

• Provides review and oversight of all types of financial transactions some of which may be complex in regard to size or duration of account.
• Enter individual &/or summary of transactions into journals &/or general ledger or other NU enterprise system.
• Reviews; ensures approval based on alternatives regarding practice & policy; analyzes and classifies transactions in accordance with established chart or coding of accounts; creates new accounts; prepares, processes, reconciles & provides receipts (as appropriate) for transactions.
• Processes transfer &/or appropriation charges & may balance &/or close accounts.
• Troubleshoots problems; performs vendor/account research as needed; obtains additional information from or provides instruction & guidance for customers/vendors; corrects or escalates.
• Maintains Chart of Account lists.
• Prepares & delivers bank deposits.
• 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.
• Contacts outside agencies, banks &/or banking systems to obtain clarification of rules &/or regulations.
• Controls account availability for all chart strings.
• Provides support for internal audit requests.

Grants &/or Awards:

• Provides assistance regarding grant financial administration such as preparing financial information for grant submission.
• Completes post award accounting.
• Sets-up sub-contracts &/or start-up research accounts.
• Modifies grant budgets.
• Reviews, forecasts, and budgets grants performance
• Closes grants.
• Approves expenditures on travel, consulting &/or equipment, along with various forms, such as Intra Institutional Vouchers, Requests for Accounting Corrections, the Research Assistant and Scholarship Appointments, &/or payroll adjustments, in accordance with granting agency guidelines & University policies & procedures.
• Processes subcontract payments according to rules & regulations of granting agencies.
• Reconciles subcontract payments.
• Verifies payroll funding entries.
• Corrects charges to various accounts.

Administration:

• 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.

Training:

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

Supervision:

• Supervises temporary, part-time or work study students
• Provides work direction to others
• Supervises other employees
• Assists with hiring employees

Miscellaneous

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications: (Education, experience, and any other certifications or clearances)

• 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.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

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

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.