Corporate Card Analyst (Hybrid)

Department: Procurement Card
Salary/Grade: EXS/5

Target hiring range for this position will be between $51,346 to $66,702 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.

Job Summary:

Procurement and Payment Services (PPS) serves as the centralized hub for all procurement and payment-related activities at Northwestern University. PPS is committed to delivering timely, accurate, and policy-compliant procure to pay financial services, while continuously improving systems and processes to enhance efficiency and user experience.

Reporting to the Assistant Manager Procurement Card Programs, the Corporate Card Analyst plays a key role in supporting the Procurement Card Programs, including various accounting, analytical, reporting, and auditing related activities.

The position requires strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to troubleshoot and resolve issues in an increasingly automated environment. All work is performed with integrity, timeliness, and a high degree of independence. Collaboration across the PPS team, as well as departments and schools, is essential to success in this role.

Specific Responsibilities:

Analysis, Statements & Reporting:

• Records journal entries and creates reports.
• Analyzes bank data and prepares chargeback files for journal upload.
• Creates tailored queries using bank software and financial system tools
• Researches errors and consults with cardholders to correct journal errors on chartstrings, to use appropriate account types, and to include transaction descriptions for reporting.
• Creates reports for program monitoring, statistics, and other management information
• Performs financial account reconciliations, statement analysis, and transaction research.
• Conducts audits of data to identify outlier transactions, spending patterns, unusual vendors, or other unusual activity and performs followup to investigate and resolve issues and questions about transactions
• Conducts audit reviews of cardholders in their departments to ensure transactions, documentation and procedures are in compliance with cardholder and University policies; writes reports of findings and provides recommendations for improvement.

Transactions:

• Enters individual &/or summary of transactions into journals &/or general ledger or other NU enterprise system.
• Prepares chargeback files for journal upload
• Provides financial policy interpretation to determine the validity of customer requests & ensure compliance.
• Clarifies policy for cardholders
• Provides support for internal audit requests.
• Provides transaction details to Internal Audit and Purchasing upon request.
• Assists with program operations, such as reviewing applications, verifying completion of training, processing change requests, sending aging notifications to cardholders, suspend cards when applicable, etc.

Administration:

• Manages operation of or interaction with a computer system or system processes that support the area or program.
• Issues bankcards and performs card and bank system maintenance
• Provides customer service and helpline support

Communication

• Internal:
• Maintain effective working relationships with departments and schools at Northwestern, especially to identify future partnership opportunities.
• Represent Procurement and Payment Services at various internal meetings

External:

• Serve as representative of Northwestern to the vendor community.
• Represent Northwestern at relevant industry conferences and events.

Training:

• Provides training and support to related university units or program participants; maintains website and training materials
• Conducts training for new and existing users when necessary
• Provides feedback to users on compliance with University policy and procedures and best practices for cardholders
• Maintains webpage and updates training documentation

Miscellaneous

• Maintain knowledge of industries and analyzes trends and new developments as they may pertain to and affect Northwestern University.
• Mediate resolution of issues and implement changes to prevent reoccurrence.
• Provide input into policy, forms, newsletter, procurement strategy, web site, training, etc.

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

• Bachelor's degree in business or related field, or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience from which comparable skills can be acquired.
• Minimum two years' clerical accounting/bookkeeping experience.
• Customer service experience.

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

• Proven analytical and problem solving skills, including the ability to compile, analyze, and interpret data to support informed recommendations and actions.
• Strong interpersonal, oral and written, communication skills. Demonstrated ability to effectively apply these skills when working with multiple constituents (faculty, staff, vendors, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications: (Education and experience)

• Experience working at a higher education institution.
• Proficiency with banking systems and PeopleSoft Financials or similar enterprise system.
• Experience working with procurement card and accounting systems.
• Working knowledge of accounting principles and financial reporting.
• Experience working with policy compliance requirements within a nonprofit or university setting.
• Strong program and process improvement experience and mindset.

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Advanced proficiency with banking systems and PeopleSoft Financials or similar enterprise system.
• Advanced knowledge of accounting principles and financial reporting.
• Advanced understanding of policy compliance requirements within a nonprofit or university setting.
• Strong program and process improvement experience and mindset.

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.