Financial Operations Analyst Jobs in Minnesota

INTRODUCTION

The Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering (CEGE) at the University of Minnesota is a mid-sized department dedicated to conducting cutting-edge theoretical, computational, and experimental research in all areas related to Civil, Environmental, and Geo-Engineering, with noted excellence in the areas of water resources and environmental engineering. The department features state-of-the-art experimental facilities, including multiple excellent core facilities (imaging, genomics, research computing, etc.) and the Saint Anthony Falls Laboratory, a unique and globally recognized facility for pioneering research in experimental and computational fluid mechanics, hydrology, geophysics, and (micro)biology. CEGE is one of twelve departments within the College of Science and Engineering, which offers outstanding opportunities for interdisciplinary research due to the unique combination of mathematics, physical sciences, and engineering in one college. The college has a strong Data Science Initiative and provides state-of-the-art computational facilities through the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Job duties:

Department Budget Oversight and Management (35%)

• Manages annual departmental budget planning for purposes of fiscal year budgeting and annual department reporting.
• Prepare annual fiscal year budgets in EFS (Enterprise Financial System) including position budgeting and budget detail for non-sponsored chart strings following Dean's office guidelines, and meeting deadlines for entering into University budget system.
• In consultation with the administrator, make decisions on how major departmental expenses are covered across the Fund Chartfield.
• Regularly perform audits of departmental chartstrings and initiate corrective actions, tracking progress until resolved.
• Manage instructional equipment requests; including working with Associate Head on communicating with faculty, gathering requests, prioritizing requests, distributing funds, and following up with instructional equipment account holders on spending.
• Manage course fee process; including auditing course fee spending to ensure compliance with course fee policy, working with faculty to develop new course fees or discontinue course fees (as appropriate), and ensuring course fee revenue distributes to accounts appropriately.
• Oversee departmental Internship Opportunity Program (IOP) run every fall, spring, and summer term. This includes communicating with faculty and students, working with the department administrator on IOP administration, and auditing and monitoring departmental finances that support IOPs as well as individual student accounts.

Department Policy and Analysis (35%)

• Identify and implement process improvements related to sponsored and non-sponsored accounting, faculty reporting, and annual departmental financial commitments.
• Develop tracking systems, methodologies, and consistent schedules for processing regular departmental financial commitments (e.g. salary return, Chair/Professorship discretionary payments, faculty salary support from endowment accounts, advising payments, instructional equipment allocations, and UMF transfers).
• Periodically review departmental financial policies and edit/revise as necessary based on financial analysis within the department and across CSE departments. Specific policies and related funds include External Sales, Fixed Price, and Conference Revenue.
• Update and refine faculty sponsored and non-sponsored reports, distributed three times per year; manage communication with faculty about reports.
• Develops and prepares customized departmental reports at the request of the department head and administrator utilizing UM Analytics.
• In consultation with administrator and CEGE development officer, develops and prepares standardized reports for foundation funds to be distributed annually to donors.
• Develop reports and analyses for department head and administrator on departmental sponsored project reporting including, but not limited to, proposal success rates, ICR trends, and expenditure trends across sponsors. May suggest action items based on analyses.
• Develop a credit hour report and analysis – undergraduate and graduate – for department head and administrator to aid in recruitment and curriculum decisions. May suggest action items based on analysis.
• Develop space utilization report analysis to aid department head and administrator in making space assignment decision. May suggest action items based on analysis.

Account Management – Sponsored & Non-sponsored (25%)

• Responsible for a portfolio of faculty members’ sponsored and non-sponsored accounts. This includes pre-award, accounting, reconciliations, auditing, and approving or denying expenditures based on existing administrative requirements.
• Regularly meet with faculty to review status of accounts and develop individualized financial plans, including providing financial management and oversight to faculty accounts.
• Work with SFR (Sponsored Financial Reporting) to prepare and analyze detailed reports provided to sponsors for accuracy.
• Work with SPA (Sponsored Projects Administration) to ensure sponsored requirements are met and ensure grants are closed out properly.

Other duties as assigned (5%)

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• BA/BS in accounting or related field and 6 years of relevant work experience
• Experience with financial planning or budget management.
• Demonstrated proficiency with Microsoft Word and Excel.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Familiarity with University systems such as PeopleSoft, EFS, UM Reports, ECRT and EGMS.
• Demonstrated ability to proactively identify and resolve complex problems.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and direct multiple projects and interrelated financial activities with major operational or funding impact.
• Demonstrated ability to anticipate business needs of the department, develop and analyze alternatives, and make recommendations to faculty and unit leaders regarding budgets and sponsored projects.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Demonstrated ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Must have the skills and ability to work toward becoming a Certified Approver within one year of employment.
• Familiarity with University and sponsor accounting (Federal and non-Federal) regulations.

Applications must be submitted online. To be considered for this position, please click the Apply button and follow the instructions. You will be given the opportunity to complete an online application for the position and attach a cover letter and resume.

Additional documents may be attached after application by accessing your "My Job Applications" page and uploading documents in the "My Cover Letters and Attachments" section.

To request an accommodation during the application process, please e-mail employ@umn.edu or call (612) 624-8647.

The University recognizes and values the importance of diversity and inclusion in enriching the employment experience of its employees and in supporting the academic mission. The University is committed to attracting and retaining employees with varying identities and backgrounds.

The University of Minnesota provides equal access to and opportunity in its programs, facilities, and employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, disability, public assistance status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. To learn more about diversity at the U: http://diversity.umn.edu

Any offer of employment is contingent upon the successful completion of a background check. Our presumption is that prospective employees are eligible to work here. Criminal convictions do not automatically disqualify finalists from employment.

LOCATION

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC)

The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities (UMTC), is among the largest public research universities in the country, offering undergraduate, graduate, and professional students a multitude of opportunities for study and research. Located at the heart of one of the nation's most vibrant, diverse metropolitan communities, students on the campuses in Minneapolis and St. Paul benefit from extensive partnerships with world-renowned health centers, international corporations, government agencies, and arts, nonprofit, and public service organizations.

At the University of Minnesota, we are proud to be recognized by Forbes as a Best Employer for Company Culture (2026), Best Employer for Women (2023), and Best Employer by State (2022-2026). In 2026, we also received Culture Excellence & Industry Awards recognition for employee appreciation and work-life flexibility.