Northwestern University · 5 days ago
Manager Financial Admin
Chicago, IL
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$78K/yr - $105K/yr
5+ years expNorthwestern University is a leading educational institution, and they are seeking a Manager of Financial Administration to oversee financial operations and analysis within the MED-Cancer Center. The role involves managing budgets, financial reporting, and compliance with regulations while providing guidance to various university departments.
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Responsibilities
Serves a primary role in the development & implementation of annual budget including fiscal resource allocation of appropriated, discretionary, endowment & gift revenues & expenses
Manages budget & provides timely, accurate financial status for the current fiscal & future plan
Guides units of responsibility through university budgeting and forecasting processes, reviews budget and forecasting submissions
Acts a Budget Office expert on units and functions within portfolio of responsibilities
Coordinates & completes all associated fiscal year close/open processes
Reviews & reconciles actual expenses to budget per NU Audit guidelines
Approves funds reallocation within budget as necessary & appropriate
Measures individual net performance of all areas/units as well as consolidated area/unit income statement & balance sheet with the use of pre-defined analytical financial tools
Recommends changes to tools to improve analysis, forecasting, modeling & reporting & ultimately quality of financial information & analyses provided to management for planning, evaluating & controlling operations
Establishes proper accounting & audit trails for revenue & expenses related to programs & initiatives
Oversees monthly reconciliation & reports on current financial performance, impact on year-end forecast & opportunities & risks
Prepares area or program financial statements and regulatory reports
Acts as the key contact for external auditors; prepares financial statement and audit workpapers
Prepares sections of the university's annual financial report
Performs complex financial account reconciliations, statement analysis, and transaction research
Builds, maintains, and updates financial models and associated financial analysis
Oversees accurate, efficient and compliant workflow of all transactional processes across areas/units
May serve as primary Level III school approver for NU Financial transactions
Provides optimal customer service and financial guidance to areas/units
Oversees processing of all daily financial transactional activity
Reviews exceptions forms and reimbursements that require special attention
Requests new chart strings
Prepares faculty salary recovery & summer salary
Creates & monitors recharge centers
Monitors open encumbrances & deficit chart strings; &/or stop an expense that is inappropriate or against deficit chart string
Reviews status of related university unit accounts and processes; troubleshoots issues as needed
Leads and provides support for internal &/or granting agency audit requests
Typically involved in the budget management of numerous research grants
Oversees &/or completes pre- & post-award research administration
Utilizes established systems (effort reporting, direct cost charging/SDA, & financial reporting) to ensure compliance with all applicable regulations
Interacts with Principal Investigators (PIs) to build relationships, transfer knowledge & advise on research policies & procedures
Oversees payroll for research appointments
Ensures faculty completion of effort certification
Provides appropriate training for staff & PIs
Monitors commitments and expenditures to ensure compliance with granting agency guidelines
Verifies accurate set up of sponsored project accounts
Identifies current & future resource planning & allocation issues & develops, leads, & supervises complex studies & analyses that will assist senior staff in reaching resource planning and allocation decisions
Processes & presents associated data & information through the application of sophisticated database, graphic & spreadsheet tools
Negotiates with vendors for purchases & leases
Acts act as project manager for design and implementation of regulatory and system changes
Manages operation of a computer system or system processes that support the area or program
Ensures that service level goals are met
Provides training and support to related university units or program participants
Develops and maintains website content and training materials
Supervises employees
Trains employees
Hires employees
Evaluates employees' performance
Provides work direction to other employees
Performed other duties
Qualification
Required
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 social or health science or related; OR appropriate combination of education and experience
Must complete NU's IRB CITI training before interacting with any participants & must re-certify every 3 years
Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance or related field; equivalent combination education and experience where similar knowledge, skills, and abilities may be acquired
5 years financial, budgeting &/or preparing account reconciliations or financial statements along with financial analysis experience
Excellent computer skills including proficiency in the use of spreadsheet, database and word processing software
Strong understanding of financial reporting
Familiarity with FASB requirements
Preferred
CFE-Certified Fraud Examiner
CIA-Certified Internal Auditor
CISA-Certified Information Systems Auditor
CPA-Certified Public Accountant
SoCRA certification
Experience managing Recharge Facility finance budgets and developing Recharge Rates
Ability to build relationships with clients and collaborators
Benefits
Meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans
Retirement benefits
Tuition discounts
Comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities
Flexible work arrangements
Programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care
Employee career development
Company
Northwestern University
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.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Northwestern University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (325)
2024 (308)
2023 (280)
2022 (282)
2021 (184)
2020 (155)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$98.02MKey Investors
National Peanut BoardAdvanced Research Projects Agency for HealthGRAMMY Museum
2024-10-30Grant
2024-10-04Grant· $34M
2023-11-28Grant· $0.02M
Leadership Team
Diego Klabjan
Professor
Henry Bienen
Interim President
Recent News
2026-01-11
Digital Journal
2026-01-11
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