Northwestern University is seeking a detail-oriented Financial Coordinator to assist in managing Life Sciences Human Resources and payroll transactions. The role involves financial administration, reporting, and support for various financial transactions and grants management.
Responsibilities
- Prepare and submit HR, payroll, and visa application forms
- Maintain online files to ensure accurate tracking of appointments, visas, and funding
- Completes monthly updates to payroll logs to support the completion of the annual space survey
- Create summary reports and analyses by pulling data and reports from multiple sources in order to provide proactive account and appointment management
- Obtains data by downloading from the enterprise system; develops and runs queries
- Creates custom reports
- Performs general office support activities
- Creates daily, monthly &/or annual analysis & reports regarding grants &/or awards, accounts, funds, payroll, expense &/or revenue allocation, etc
- Analyzes reconciliation and projection templates and implements macros in Excel or creates web-based solutions for process improvements and automation
- Provides support for annual audit work papers
- Maintains and updates financial models and analyses
- Follows up on any inconsistencies
- Tracks all appointments, visa submissions and payroll funding to ensure proactive management of tasks
- Provides review and oversight of all types of financial transactions, some of which may be complex
- Enters individual &/or summary of transactions into journals &/or general ledger or other NU enterprise system
- Reviews, ensures approval based on alternatives regarding practice & policy, analyzes, and classifies transactions in accordance with established chart or coding of accounts; creates new accounts; prepares, processes reconciles & provides receipts (as appropriate) for transactions
- Processes transfer &/or appropriation charges & may balance &/or close accounts
- Troubleshoots problems; performs vendor/account research as needed; obtains additional information from or provides instruction & guidance for customers/vendors; corrects or escalates
- Maintains Chart of Account lists
- Initiates wire transfers
- Provides financial policy interpretation to determine the validity of customer requests & ensure compliance
- Provides support for internal audit requests
- May act as backup Level 1 approver for expenditures on travel, consulting &/or equipment, along with various forms, such as Intra Institutional Vouchers, Requests for Accounting Corrections, the Research Assistant and Scholarship Appointments, &/or payroll adjustments, in accordance with granting agency guidelines & University policies & procedures
- Corrects charges to various accounts
- Performs other duties as assigned
Skills
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, Business Administration, Finance or related field; OR 2 years financial administration work experience; OR equivalent combination education and experience where similar knowledge, skills, and abilities may be acquired
- 1 year financial, budgeting &/or preparing account reconciliations or financial statements along with financial analysis experience
- Excellent computer skills including proficiency in the use of spreadsheet, database and word processing software
- Familiarity with financial reporting
- Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
- Attention to detail and quality focused
- Ability to make progress on multiple competing priorities and work in a high-energy environment
- Ability to prioritize with firm deadlines and to work independently
- Ability to establish and maintain good relationships with a variety of constituents; including faculty, staff, students, and co-workers
- Excellent computer skills, including experience with Mac and Windows-based environments
- Skilled at visual organization of information
- Critical thinking and good judgement
- At least three years' experience in a fast-paced environment
Benefits
- Meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans
- Retirement benefits
- Tuition discounts
- Comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities
- Flexible work arrangements
- Programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care
- Employee career development
- Variety of tools and resources for developing professional potential or continuing formal education
Company Overview
- Northwestern University is a private research and teaching university that offers academic programs across various fields of study. It is a sub-organization of Northwestern Athletics. It was founded in 1851, and is headquartered in Evanston, Illinois, USA, with a workforce of 5001-10000 employees. Its website is https://www.northwestern.edu.
Company H1B Sponsorship
- Northwestern University has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships, with 69 in 2026, 318 in 2025, 299 in 2024, 272 in 2023, 282 in 2022, 184 in 2021, 155 in 2020. Please note that this does not guarantee sponsorship for this specific role.