Job Description

Job Summary
The Resource Planning and Management unit in the College of Engineering seeks an experienced financial analyst to support the Director of Financial Operations.

Resource Planning and Management (RPM) provides administrative support services for financial planning and management, human resources, research administration, and facilities planning and management for the College of Engineering. As the main administrative unit of the College, RPM reports directly to the Dean and works closely with CoE's academic leaders to sustain and advance the academic mission of the College.

Who We Are
Michigan Engineers are world-class educators, researchers, students and staff who strive to build a people-first future. As part of a top national public research institution, Michigan Engineering's mission is to provide scientific and technological leadership to the people of the world, develop intellectually curious and socially conscious minds, create collaborative solutions to societal problems, and promote an inclusive and innovative community of service for the common good.

Why Work at Michigan?
In addition to a career filled with purpose and opportunity, The University of Michigan offers a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family and plan for a secure future. Benefits include:

Generous time off
A retirement plan that provides two-for-one matching contributions with immediate vesting
Many choices for comprehensive health insurance
Life insurance
Long-term disability coverage
Flexible spending accounts for healthcare and dependent care expenses
Maternity and Parental Leave
Responsibilities*
ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT:

Verify and troubleshoot salary charges, understand employee appointments' budget impact, forecast HR issues, and manage confidential information.
Assess revenue allocations, commitments, and projections, and manage MOUs, offer letters, agreements, and procurement policies with a proactive approach to fund balances and fiscal year-end preparations.
Efficiently process procurement transactions, resolve issues, and assist units with procurement processes, utilizing the Online Purchasing System (OPS) and leveraging high-level knowledge of UM procurement.
Reconcile transactions, maintain accurate records, store documentation per RPM guidelines, and manage journal entries, invoices, and service unit billing using SSC.
Possess a thorough understanding of all fund types and balances at UM, proactively resolve balance issues, address concerns with leadership, and clean up account balances for fiscal year-end close.
Manage and adjust commitments and encumbrances (UDC), verify expenses, and correct misstatements.
Manage chartcoms by requesting, modifying, and closing project IDs and shortcodes, and assist in preparing budgets and materials for annual strategic budget meetings.
Resolve issues promptly, seek necessary solutions and guidance, and ensure transactional accuracy.
APPROVALS/COMPLIANCE:

Review and approve transactions for appropriateness according to SPG and CoE guidelines, ensuring the correct funding is used.
Maintain certification requirements (e.g., merchant account) and proactively update UM systems and RPM documentation with leadership.
Complete and discuss monthly financial reports (budget to actual, variance reporting, forecasts, trend analysis) with leadership, ensuring balances match MReports and are accurate at the project/grant level.
Approve Concur reports, POs, and Non-PO transactions.
Establish, document, and maintain unit approval flows, correcting errors to prevent recurrence.
Lead and document internal controls, including annual GAP analysis, maintaining updated documentation.
Provide guidance on UM, CoE, and unit financial policies, promoting collaboration with Shared Services and central units to ensure a strong internal controls environment.
Assist with and document CoE and unit financial processes, seeking opportunities for process improvements and best practices.
FINANCIAL ANALYSIS:

Track and analyze expenses, salary trends, and budget projections, and forecast future expenditures with leadership.
Prepare clear and concise financial reports and ad hoc analyses for quarterly and strategic meetings.
Identify areas for financial assessment and improvement, advising leadership on issues.
Provide timely guidance and support to units on financial inquiries.
Review and analyze DeptID balances, annual commitments, revenue, and reporting variances.
Forecast future expenditures with leadership.
OTHER:

Prepare and conduct monthly client meetings with directors and managers, addressing areas of concern and providing direction and advice on financial processes, policies, and troubleshooting.
Be available and responsive to inquiries, communicate the status of requests promptly, and serve as a point of contact for departmental inquiries.
Work efficiently to allow time for unit or CoE projects, showing initiative, offering help, and providing suggestions to co-workers and leadership.
Act as a liaison between SSC and the team, identifying and addressing collaboration improvements, and display leadership qualities while sharing knowledge through job aids and communication.
Prepare and communicate monthly financial reports to departments and stakeholders, participating in special projects to enhance reporting, analysis, internal processes, and customer service.
Engage actively in RPM financial operations and Finance & Budget Community of Practice activities.
Perform other duties as requested.