Financial Analyst

The School of Engineering is seeking an experienced Financial Analyst to help build and run a new Research Support Office (RSO). The RSO will support all pre and post-award duties for all Category 2 research centers in the School, as well as all complex and/or large research awards that academic units do not have the bandwidth to administer. The Research Support Office will report directly to the SoE Associate Dean for Research and Innovation, and will be managed by a Program Operations Director, to support the Center for Water and the Environment, the SouthWest Environmental Finance Center, Cosmiac, and the Manufacturing Training and Technology Center. Research expenditures for these units for FY24 were close to $20M.

The RSO Director will work closely with the Financial Analyst on all post-award activities encompassing the life cycle of research (award set-up through closeout). The RSO will include two Faculty Research Support Officers for all pre-award activities, as well as 3-4 other support staff for pre and post-award work in the RSO. Major responsibilities for the Financial Analyst include, but are not limited to the following:

* Award set-up:

o Reviewing fully executed agreement(s) for exclusions and limitations.

o Preparing award budget sheet for index creation.

o Processing Signature Authorization Forms.

o Creating status of indices worksheet.

o Setting up shared files for monitoring of project life cycle.

* Contract/Grant administration through award life cycle. Advises and interprets UNM policies to support Category 2 Center Directors in making financial decisions relating to procurement and salary (to ensure sustainable hiring for growing Centers); explains billings, reports, and resolves related problems. Responsible for monthly reconciliation of award spending and projections, along with analyzing spending trends to ensure appropriate burn rate and final spend down.

o Evaluating costs for allowability, allocability, and reasonableness per CFR 200.

o Review procurement requests for adherence to University's policies and procedures.

o Correspond with external departments and collaborators.

o Maintaining forecasting tools.

o Monitor and maintain appropriate funding levels.

o Compile supporting documentation for invoicing.

o Gather financial data per funding agency requests.

o Review audit inquiries and prepare responses.

o Process complex procurement requests.

o Prepare journal vouchers, budget and correcting entries.

o Prepare internal budget revisions and 90-day memos.

o Prepare faculty and staff salary allocations and redistributions.

o Undergraduate and graduate student contract submissions and revisions.

o Prepare vendor invoicing and deposits.

* Award closeout:

o Adherence to agency deadlines and requests for extensions.

o Reconcile direct and indirect costs.

o Ensure cost share commitments are met.

o Process final closeout documents.

If this sounds like you, and you're excited about being the lead Financial Analyst for all Category 2 research in the School of Engineering, then we want to hear from you! Please include a cover letter with your application of interest for the position that talks to your experience providing financial management and oversight, with comprehensive understanding of and big picture thinking about operation costs and related financial needs. You'll need extensive experience in advising and interpreting UNM as well as federal and state policies and guidelines, explaining billing/invoicing from agencies as well as research financial reporting. You'll need to be highly adept at resolving research related financial problems and issues, and investigating and resolving these problems related to funds, budgets, expenditures and/or procurement practices.

See the Position Description for additional information.

Bachelor's degree; at least 3 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.

Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.

• Master's degree in accounting, finance or related field.
• Extensive experience with fund accounting in higher education.
• UNM CAR, mid-year projections, budget/salary planner, and effort certification experience.
• Ability to or experience in advising principal investigators, Dean's, Directors, on complex accounting concepts and issues effectively.
• Ability to or experience in working with research active faculty in higher education, as well as the ability to make high level decisions.
• Experience performing high volume of monthly reconciliations and working with principal investigators, Dean's, Directors on forecasting and spending plans within uniform guidelines and other applicable policies and guidelines.
• Experience approving a high volume of financial transactions including but not limited to Chrome River reports, journal vouchers, requisitions, ePaf's and purchase orders.
• Knowledge of cost share and administration of cost share across multiple awards.
• Knowledge of faculty, staff, student salary allocations and redistributions.
• Knowledge of preparation of journal vouchers, budget and correcting entries.

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Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details.

The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class.

The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.