Financial Services Analyst (4627U) - 54502 About Berkeley
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Departmental Overview
The Department of Economics is among the largest teaching and research departments at UC Berkeley, and is consistently ranked among the top five in its field worldwide. The department employs 16 departmental staff, approximately 45 ladder-rank faculty, and maintains a total academic membership of approximately 70 including joint appointments, lecturers, visiting faculty and active emeritus. The Department has a $30 million annual budget comprised of state, endowment, special project, extramural, contracts/grants, prize and student aid monies, as well as donor funds. The size of the Economics degree programs overall rivals that of many schools or colleges at Berkeley, with 1,600 undergraduate majors, 800 degrees annually, 130 PhD students, and 40,000 student credit hours annually.
The Financial Services Analyst (FSA) has a wide range of responsibilities by providing financial and administrative guidance and support to the Department, serving as a liaison with the Berkeley Regional Services (BRS) - SHARE regarding related services, and working directly with the Finance and Business Services Team. The FSA routinely interacts with faculty, staff, students, visiting faculty and researchers, and outside individuals to manage, review, control, and monitor departmental events, seminars, and job talks and initiates a variety of operational, personnel, and financial transactions including purchasing and paying for services, processing travel and entertainment reimbursements, direct billing, payroll, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and general accounting transactions.
Application Review Date
The First Review Date for this job is: 06/22/2023.
Responsibilities
Business and Financial Services
Coordinates, monitors, and initiates all processes associated with the day-to-day financial services of the Department, including Travel & Entertainment, Reimbursement/Payment services, Purchasing (BearBuy), Accounts Payable/Receivable, Gift Accounting, Vendor Set-Up, and bank deposits (CDS) related to Visit Day, Commencement, Recruitment, and Job Talks. Assists the Director and Assistant Director of Finance with ledger review and participates in SAS 115 reconciliation and reporting.
Serves as an expert resource and first point of contact for the Department on matters related to University policy regarding travel, entertainment, purchasing, and reimbursement services. Serves as the initial reviewer of exceptional reimbursement requests such as entertainment, hotel and other event contracts. Advises non-US citizens and sponsoring faculty of foreign visitors of visa requirements to qualify for travel reimbursement according to immigration regulations. Serves as liaison for Berkeley Regional Services (BRS) - SHARE regarding all financial services
Applies professional financial and accounting concepts to perform analyses of moderately simple financial services such as researching discrepancies, compliance with external regulations, and internal policies. Processes financial journals for incorrect charges on a timely manner. Understands the chart of accounts, including assigning the appropriate account code of expense type and working in the correct Org Node. Independently confirms appropriateness of expenses and determines funding source.
Assists faculty in C&G post-award purchasing and reimbursement support by ensuring funds are spent in accordance with granting agencies. Coordinates all necessary communication, paperwork and internal training to ensure compliance of Bus-43 and Bus-79 and stays abreast of any new requirements. Reconciles ProCard transactions for purchases made with Department issued BluCard and EPC. Gathers all necessary information for internal ProCard audits dealing with reimbursements.
Seminar Coordination
Oversees the department's 12 seminars which includes allocating budget, managing and tracking the expenditures, preparing summary reports to faculty for review and decision-making, reconciling the ledger, and closing out the seminar accounts at fiscal close. Collaborates with graduate student seminar coordinators to gather information and materials to set-up new vendors, initiates payments and reimbursements, and advises on campus policies and procedures. Processes travel reimbursements for seminar speakers, entertainment reimbursements for faculty hosting seminar lunches and/or dinners, and payments for seminar venues.
Creates, updates, and maintains training materials found on the department website used as reference for graduate student seminar coordinators, manages seminar listserv, and composes email announcement on weekly seminars. Communicates with sponsoring seminar faculty, Director and Assistant Director of Finance, Center Administrators, and other campus units regarding shared seminar expenditures, chart of accounts, and cost overages.
Main Office Coordination
Acts as backup when the Business Services Coordinator is absent by overseeing and performing some Main Office functions including submitting visiting researcher and student assistant hire requests, entering ASE and GSR hires into Smartsheet, and providing building access for faculty, staff, students, and visiting faculty and researchers. Acts as position administrator using Position Management in UCPath by creating new position numbers and updating existing ones. Works closely with Director and Assistant Director of Finance in maintaining the department's position numbers and assigning them accordingly for ASE, GSR, and Student Assistant hires.
Professional Development
Maintains professional development and updates working knowledge of financial and accounting policies through attendance and participation at campus and other training sessions, seminars, conferences, and events as well as active membership in campus and professional organizations, and networks with peers across campus. The Department of Economics provides $1,500 per year toward professional development activities.
Required Qualifications
Working knowledge of fund accounting, financial processes, policies and procedures. Knowledge of financial data management and reporting systems. Proficiency in using Microsoft Office, in particular Excel, knowledge of common desktop/web applications, and proficiency with and/or ability to learn campus systems (BearBuy, BFS, CalAnswers, T&E, CDS) or similar systems. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively with diverse populations. Ability to maintain confidentiality with sensitive information. Ability to effectively present information in a clear and concise manner both verbal and in writing. Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to multi-task in a high-volume, customer service-oriented environment. Ability in making sound judgment and decision in problem identification and able to follow through. Ability to function effectively both independently and as a member of a team and adapt to changing priorities. Knowledge and comprehensive understanding of federal, state, and University regulations and policies governing travel, purchasing, and entertainment expenses and foreign documents required for basic visa types.
Education & Training
Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
Preferred Qualifications
UC campus experience.
Salary & Benefits
This is a 100% full-time (40 hrs a week) non-exempt career position, which is paid hourly and eligible for full UC Benefits.
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.
Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.
The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $33.52 - $40.71.