Financial Specialist - Facilities Services - UTK

Reporting to the department's Budget Director, the Financial Specialist performs and presents insightful analysis to inform management actions and initiatives and plays a key role in supporting the Facilities Services department's budgeting process. Duties include: developing, updating and improving financial reporting and analysis; materially assisting with developing the annual position and operating expense budget; interacting with department Directors to understand drivers that impact financial results; executing ad hoc research, analysis and reporting tasks as assigned.

Designs, builds, implements, documents and maintains reporting packages that inform and provide insight into the financial health of the Facilities Services unit and each of its cost centers.

Extracts and assimilates financial data from the General Ledger, other components of the ERP system, and other sources for routine and ad hoc reporting needs.

Synthesizes and communicates information in a timely, proactive and quality-driven manner.

Gathers data to complete various routine annual reports requested by the University and other government agencies.

Conceives and scopes financial analyses and develops analytic models that will effectively answer questions and support decision-making.

Leveraging the analytic models, identifies and assesses trends to determine root causes and drivers.

Conducts Budget-to-Actual variance analyses, working to determine the underlying causes, future impacts of financial trends, and identify alternative courses of action when necessary.

Contributes to improving departmental analytics by researching industry resources and other external sources for “best-practice” methodology ideas.

Supports the Annual Budget Process: Under the direction of the Budget Director, gathers input in support of the department's annual budget process, following the guidelines and timeframe of the University's RCM budget process and calendar.

Analyzes trends in cost center staffing, spending and recoveries to validate budget development.

Tracks working budget versions and documents reasons for version variances.

Collects, prepares, analyzes, reviews budget adjustments and funds transfers. Inputs and maintains budgets in the EPM (budgeting) system.

Supports the department's Directors as a Finance Business Partner: Improves financial awareness and responsibility among the department's Directors by presenting variance reports and financial analyses.

Explain to Directors how their activities and decisions impact department spending and recoveries and helps them to determine ways to more efficiently manage their budget.

Works with Directors to understand activities that drive department spending and recoveries.

Assists Directors with developing position plans and annual budgets.

Improves Financial Accuracy and Integrity: Contributes materially to improving the relevance of financial reporting and analysis by assuring that expenses and recoveries are accounted for properly.

Reviews General Ledger entries to verify expenses are reflected in the correct GL accounts and cost centers and works with accounting to reclassify if needed.

Cooperating with the Manager, Financial Integrity and Controls, assists with researching, documenting and reviewing processes and recommends updates to improve the accuracy and visibility of expenses and recoveries.

Assists with developing justifications and proposals for financial Standard Operating Procedures that improve financial controls and reduce financial risk.

Required Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance, Analytics, Accounting or other related fields of study.

Experience: Four (4) years of relevant, progressively responsible work experience of which two (2) years’ experience involving financial analysis, budgeting or modeling

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

Strong understanding of foundational accounting principles;

Intermediate knowledge of higher education budgeting, planning, and reporting

Possess comprehensive computer skills and be able to research General Ledger transactions, generate financial reports, analyze data, and convert data into useful information for executive decision-making

Be able to research and understand operational drivers that influence financial results

Must be comfortable with ambiguity and able to develop approaches to research and analysis in order to accomplish concrete analytical and business objectives

Must be able to interpret data created by models, develop options for actions and make recommendations based on the interpretation of the data

Must have a proficient level of skill in Microsoft Excel and other data reporting, analysis and transformation tools

Must possess very effective oral and written communication skills

Be able to manage projects and facilitate successful and timely completion

Must be self-motivated and self-directed

Must be detail-oriented and thorough

Be able to collaborate with fellow team members and managers and able to work in a team environment

Other Conditions:

Valid Driver’s license

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Work Location

University of Tennessee – Knoxville, TN Campus

This is an on-site position

Compensation and Benefits

UT Market Range: MR11

About The College/Department/Division

UT Facilities Services is responsible for the care and keeping of more than 300 facilities and utilities systems in and around Knoxville. As the University of Tennessee Knoxville’s largest non-academic department, team members are responsible for facilities maintenance and repair, custodial needs, landscaping and lawncare, utility work, in-house and capital construction projects, facilities planning and design, environmental initiatives, pest control, campus event services, and facilities administration functions for both the flagship campus and the agricultural institute. The Facilities Services staff provides around-the-clock coverage to ensure students, staff, faculty, and fans have a consistent and positive experience every time they step foot on Rocky Top.