Northwestern University is seeking an Accounting Coordinator to support grant and contract cash management functions. The role involves financial reporting, invoicing, and coordinating audits for university researchers with sponsored projects.
Responsibilities
- Supports grant and contract cash management function in ASRSP in coordination with central offices such as Sponsored Research, Accounting Services, Purchasing, external payees & payors, and campus schools/departments
- Reviews and processes a portfolio of receivable activity for sponsored awards comprised primarily of standard and routine work
- Determines when complex issues need to be escalated
- Provides transactional oversight
- Applies industry and professional standards, university policy and procedure, federal and state laws and other regulations (as applicable)
- Represents &/or guides business area on internal &/or external financial affairs by exchanging information
- 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
- 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
- Provides review and oversight of all types of financial transactions some of which may be complex in regard to size or duration of account
- Enters 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
- 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
- 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
- Assists with training of new staff members
- Creates & provides financial training on practice, procedure, policy &/or laws & regulations to customers
- Supervises temporary, part-time or work study students
- Provides work direction to others
- Supervises other employees
- Assists with hiring employees
- Performs other duties as assigned
Skills
- Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree in a major such as accounting, business administration, finance, or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience
- 1 year financial, budgeting &/or preparing account reconciliations or financial statements along with financial analysis or other relevant experience
- Excellent computer skills including proficiency in the use of spreadsheet, database and word processing software
- Familiarity with financial reporting
Benefits
- High-quality health care plans
- Retirement benefits
- Tuition discounts
- Flexible work arrangements
- Programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care
- Employee career development
Company Overview
Northwestern University is a private research and teaching university that offers academic programs across various fields of study. It is a sub-organization of Northwestern Athletics. It was founded in 1851, and is headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, USA, with a workforce of 5001-10000 employees. Its website is https://www.northwestern.edu.Company H1B Sponsorship
Northwestern University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 325 in 2025, 308 in 2024, 280 in 2023, 282 in 2022, 184 in 2021, 155 in 2020. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.
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