Financial Operations Analyst

Summary

The University of Chicago's Globus organization provides data management and computing services to research institutions worldwide. The Financial Operations Analyst will manage accounts receivable, invoicing, collections, reconciliations, deferred revenue, budgeting, procurement, financial reporting, and related analyses while supporting accurate and efficient financial operations.

Responsibilities

• Manage the end-to-end accounts receivable process in collaboration with the central AR team and Sales Operations team, including recording deposits in Oracle, monitoring University funds for misdirected payments, investigating discrepancies, and supporting improvements to the accuracy and efficiency of the function
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customer-facing payment communications, handling inquiries and collections correspondence with professionalism and clarity
• Monitor AR and deferred revenue subledgers and perform regular reconciliations and error corrections
• Perform monthly bank account reconciliations across accounting, revenue, and bank records, and conduct daily general ledger downloads and reconciliations to maintain the integrity of receivable balances
• Assists with tracking state sales tax obligations arising from Globus subscription activity, and support state filings on schedule; work with the customer team on KYC processes to collect required tax documentation (e.g., exemption certificates, entity information)
• Assist with budget management and monthly forecasting using the department's budgeting and planning system (UCPLAN); contribute to variance analyses
• Support preparation of financial statements and ad hoc analyses for senior leadership
• Monitor the general ledger for spending activity and budget-to-actual variances; proactively submit journal entries and cost corrections as needed to maintain accuracy and ensure expenses are recorded to the correct accounts
• Support procurement activities across the department including submitting operational and high-value procurement requests in Oracle; assist staff with transactions in Oracle, Concur, and Workday
• Support special projects spanning procurement, financial analysis, budgeting, and other areas as directed
• Performs a variety of operating or cost accounting activities which require moderate knowledge of accounting theories and principles
• Interprets accounting records for the purpose of determining gains and losses, receipts and disbursements, and inventory
• Performs other related work as needed

Skills

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline
• This job is a remote position with occasional attendance at in-person meetings required
• 2–4 years of experience in financial operations, accounting, or a related role, preferably in a higher education, nonprofit, research, or SaaS environment
• Experience with accounts receivable, general ledger maintenance, and month-end close processes
• Experience working within a large ERP system (Oracle FST, Workday, or SAP strongly preferred)
• Experience supporting research finance for federal and non-federal grant funds
• Experience supporting budget preparation and variance analysis
• Experience in a small team or unit finance role contributing to multiple functions often with competing priorities and deadlines (AR, procurement, reporting)
• Proficiency in Oracle Financial Systems strongly preferred; experience with Concur and Workday is a plus
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data validation); experience with financial reporting tools or BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, or similar) a plus
• Familiarity with GAAP and general accounting principles
• Experience with or interest in data visualization and financial dashboard development
• Familiarity with principles of post-award financial management
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Excellent organizational skills and constant attention to detail
• Ability to work discreetly with sensitive and confidential data
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet recurring deadlines in a high-volume transactional environment
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including ability to present financial information clearly to non-financial colleagues
• Proactive problem-solving orientation; comfort identifying errors and discrepancies and pursuing resolution independently
• Collaborative working style with ability to partner across functions (engineering, sales, research administration) and across institutions
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and a growth-oriented, evolving environment

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field
• Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline
• This job is a remote position with occasional attendance at in-person meetings required

Nice to Haves

• 2–4 years of experience in financial operations, accounting, or a related role, preferably in a higher education, nonprofit, research, or SaaS environment
• Experience with accounts receivable, general ledger maintenance, and month-end close processes
• Experience working within a large ERP system (Oracle FST, Workday, or SAP strongly preferred)
• Experience supporting research finance for federal and non-federal grant funds
• Experience supporting budget preparation and variance analysis
• Experience in a small team or unit finance role contributing to multiple functions often with competing priorities and deadlines (AR, procurement, reporting)
• Proficiency in Oracle Financial Systems strongly preferred; experience with Concur and Workday is a plus
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, data validation); experience with financial reporting tools or BI tools (Power BI, Tableau, or similar) a plus
• Familiarity with GAAP and general accounting principles
• Experience with or interest in data visualization and financial dashboard development
• Familiarity with principles of post-award financial management
• Strong analytical and problem solving skills
• Excellent organizational skills and constant attention to detail
• Ability to work discreetly with sensitive and confidential data
• Ability to manage competing priorities and meet recurring deadlines in a high-volume transactional environment
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including ability to present financial information clearly to non-financial colleagues
• Proactive problem-solving orientation; comfort identifying errors and discrepancies and pursuing resolution independently
• Collaborative working style with ability to partner across functions (engineering, sales, research administration) and across institutions
• Comfort operating in ambiguity and a growth-oriented, evolving environment

Benefits

• Health
• Retirement
• Paid time off
• This job is a remote position with occasional attendance at in-person meetings required.