Financial Analyst, Department of Art Practice

About Berkeley

The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world’s most iconic teaching and research institutions. Since 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world. Berkeley’s culture of openness, freedom and acceptance—academic and artistic, political and cultural—make it a very special place for students, faculty and staff.

Berkeley is committed to hiring and developing staff who want to work in a high performing culture that supports the outstanding work of our faculty and students. In deciding whether to apply for a staff position at Berkeley, candidates are strongly encouraged to consider the alignment of the Berkeley Workplace Culture with their potential for success at http://jobs.berkeley.edu/why-berkeley.html.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: 6/13/2017

Departmental Overview

This position will provide financial analysis and reporting support for the Department of Art Practice as well as other divisional departments. UC Berkeley’s Department of Art Practice provides professional art training within the context of a world-renowned public research university offering innovative, interdisciplinary courses leading to B.A. and MFA degrees. As practicing visual artists, the faculty of the Department of Art Practice hold the representation and analysis of human experiences through creative research in visual art. Their mission is to help students pose profound questions by developing their creative voices, mastering their practices, relating to their audiences, and connecting to histories of art and cultures. In Arts & Humanities, faculty and students explore the human experience across an exceptionally broad range of subjects. By studying the world’s languages and cultures, students expand their horizons and prepare themselves for an increasingly multicultural world.

Responsibilities

This position is responsible for financial analysis and reporting for divisional programs and initiatives, management of business and finance processes (including serving as the liaison with Campus Shared Services), and interpretation of financial policy and the development of efficient procedures that are in compliance with policy. Manage day-to-day financial activities for all department funds in two or more A&H departments. Create internal records keeping systems for departmental accounts to complement campus systems. Oversee records of appropriations, expenditures, and encumbrances; reconcile them against the general ledgers. Approve vendor payments, process zero adjustments and financial journals as needed to maintain budget levels. Monitor expenses to ensure adherence to budget, provide financial tracking and fiscal control. Reconcile charges from recurring vendors and camps recharge units on a monthly basis. Independently investigate and resolve financial issues. Run and analyze BAIRS reports; provide and interpret financial reports for faculty, staff and graduate students. Resolve any irregularities and exceptional cases, bringing cases to the attention of the manager only when necessary or when a higher authority is required, drawing on a thorough knowledge of relevant UC policies and regulations. Custodian and responsible for day-to-day administration of the department petty cash fund. Responsible for all department collected fees including rental income. Provides analytical support for complex budget, financial, or resource analysis projects.

Provide administrative support to faculty and graduate student instructors in regard to grants such as Faculty Research Grants and Instructional Mini-grants, from application to implementation. Monitors and advises faculty and GSIs about deadlines and appropriate fund usage. Investigate vendor issues and resolves them to maintain good vendor relations to facilitate purchasing. Interprets work-study funding regulations and facilitates the hiring of student staff to assist faculty and the department, maintaining oversight of designated funding levels.

Manage all financial activities for the Digital Media Lab (DML). Provide monthly reports to Consortium and semester end budget forecast. Attend DML quarterly meetings to give budget update. Work with DML Chair on budget for yearly letter to A&H Dean.

Coordinates and implements department budget allocations, conceives of and maintains department chart of accounts or other data management tools, and related business processes. Gathers, analyzes, prepares and summarizes recommendations for financial and/or resource plans, including annual resource allocation approaches, trended future requirements, operating forecasts, sources and uses, etc. Examples include generating, modifying, and conceiving of new financial or other resource reports, or analyzing and forecasting contracts, grants, gifts, endowments, or user fees. Provides other department related support as necessary.

Required Qualifications

Knowledge/Skills:

• Thorough knowledge of finance policies, practices and systems.

• Must be able to learn new computing systems and keep skills up-to-date as campus systems change.

• Demonstrated ability and experience in interpreting quantitative information in verbal terms.

• Demonstrated ability to independently gather, organize, and perform financial analysis assignments.

• Demonstrated experience in using automated financial systems for financial projection, tracking, reporting and analysis.

• Ability to run queries and analyze reports from an automated financial system, creating Excel spreadsheets and preparing customized reports for management decisions.

• Demonstrated ability to juggle heavy deadline-driven workload and set priorities.

• Ability to work both independently and as a team member: take initiative, prioritize work and manage multifaceted projects with competing deadlines.

• Ability to take action and implement changes with minimal direction or supervision.

• Mature ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion and professionalism in handling sensitive, often difficult and highly confidential information.

• Requires ability to present information in a clear and concise manner both in oral and written communications and maintain positive relationships with diverse constituencies, including faculty, students, visitors, a variety of other campus units, and the general public.

Education/training:

• Bachelor’s degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Preferred Qualifications

• Well-developed competency with existing campus systems BFS (PeopleSoft GL), HCM (PeopleSoft), CalPlanning (Hyperion Planning), SmartView (Hyperion), BAIRS (Hyperion Interactive Reporting, Travel and Entertainment reimbursement system, Cal Reporting, Commitment Database, campus cashier’s deposit system, and Inventorial equipment procedures or comparable business systems.

• Advanced knowledge of UC financial policies, practices and systems preferred.

• Experience in a financial setting in a higher education environment or similar

Salary & Benefits

$61,700 – $75,000 annually commensurate with experience.

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University visit:

http://ucnet.universityofcalifornia.edu/compensation-and-benefits/index.html

How to Apply

Please submit your cover letter and resume as a single attachment when applying.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

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Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant see: http://www.eeoc.gov/employers/upload/poster_screen_reader_optimized.pdf

For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy see:

http://policy.ucop.edu/doc/4000376/NondiscrimAffirmAct