Department
 

Law Administration and Budget

About the Department
 

The University of Chicago Law School occupies a unique niche among this country's premier law schools. Located on a residential campus in one of America's great cities, UChicago Law offers a rigorous and interdisciplinary professional education that blends the study of law with the humanities, the social sciences, and the natural sciences. Students, faculty, and staff form a small, tightly knit community devoted to the life of the mind.

Job Summary
 

Reporting to the Associate Dean for Finance and Administration, the Assistant Director of Finance uses financial knowledge and applicable skills, methods, and practices in support of Law School budget and operations functions.

The University recently undertook a Financial Systems Transformation (FST) to replace the University’s 40 year old, cobalt based Financial Accounting System with Oracle Cloud ERP. This role is critical to supporting the Law School’s transition in the overall transformation to Oracle and to a new University Budget Model.

Responsibilities

Understands Law School and internal unit priorities and exercises that knowledge to help achieve goals within budget.

Assists and provides support to prepare annual budgets, create internal tracking mechanisms, ensure compliance with policies, procedures and leadership’s expectations, and perform research, reporting and analysis as directed.

Represents the Law School at University financial meetings and events. Keeps abreast of changes to University financial systems, policies, regulations, and guidelines.

Provides relevant training and act as a resource to faculty and staff; assists internal units with University financial systems, as needed.

Performs all related accounting functions required to maintain the general ledger, such as monitoring accounts, preparing financial projections and/or reports, and account creation, reconciliation and closing, in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and University policies and procedures.

Reconciles monthly financial data, assists in the preparation of monthly variance reports and annual effort reports, supports the yearend close process.

Makes deposits, tracks gifts, payments and pledges to ensure proper allocation, reconciles stale dated checks and monthly wire transfers.

Serves as the primary contact for grants and contracts; assists with proposal preparation, maintains records, and prepares audit and closing documentation as needed.

Processes payments to vendors as needed, assists with account set-up for vendors and independent contractors, advises internal unit administrators on the procurement process.

Proposes efficiency improvements as needed and manage deadlines.

Creates and maintains accurate financial resources and content on Law School webpage to provide relevant references, documented processes, and training materials to the Law School community.

Develops strong working relationships with internal units and University-wide offices.

Cross-trains to ensure adequate departmental coverage.

Provides professional support as a primary account administrator for account owners in an intensive customer service environment.

Analyzes and prepares budgets, creates accounts, and works with the financial accounting system to allocate, authorize, monitor, and control expenses.

Perform other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications
 

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

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Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

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Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:  

Bachelor’s degree in finance or related field strongly preferred. 

Experience: 

Previous experience in higher education strongly preferred. 

Experience with Oracle Cloud ERP and/or chart of accounts mapping strongly preferred. 

Experience training colleagues strongly preferred. 

Technical Skills or Knowledge:

Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).  

Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). 

Preferred Competencies

Strong financial and analytical skills. 

Communicate accounting and financial information clearly and concisely. 

Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills. 

Think strategically and translate into operational objectives.  

Independently develop and analyze alternative solutions and make recommendations.  

Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and tact. 

Time management skills and the ability to handle multiple, concurrent tasks within deadlines. 

Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact professionally and diplomatically with individuals across the division and university. 

Ability to be flexible and adaptable to changes in workflow and procedures. 

Ability to work independently and complete projects on time and accurately with minimal supervision. 

Working Conditions

This position is available for hybrid work based on business needs of the Law School. 

Application Documents 

Resume/CV (required) 

Cover Letter (required)  

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family
 

Financial Management

Role Impact
 

Individual Contributor

FLSA Status
 

Exempt

Pay Frequency
 

Monthly

Scheduled Weekly Hours
 

37.5

Benefits Eligible
 

Yes

Drug Test Required
 

No

Health Screen Required
 

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required
 

No

Posting Statement
 

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity/Disabled/Veterans and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Staff Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

We seek a diverse pool of applicants who wish to join an academic community that places the highest value on rigorous inquiry and encourages a diversity of perspectives, experiences, groups of individuals, and ideas to inform and stimulate intellectual challenge, engagement, and exchange.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.