Finance Coordinator (Staff Accountant) Provost Academic Support

Duke University:

 

Duke University was created in 1924 through an indenture of trust by James Buchanan Duke. Today, Duke is regarded as one of America’s leading research universities. Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke is positioned in the heart of the Research Triangle, which is ranked annually as one of the best places in the country to work and live. Duke has more than 15,000 students who study and conduct research in its 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools. With about 40,000 employees, Duke is the third largest private employer in North Carolina, and it now has international programs in more than 150 countries.

 

Be You. Be Bold. Choose Duke.

Be You.

At Duke, we celebrate individuality and the unique perspectives that each member of our community brings. As the Finance Coordinator (Staff Accountant), you will serve as the front‑line point of contact for financial activities supporting University Institutes and Centers (UICs) and other Academic Support units within Provost Academic Support (PAS). In this highly visible role, you’ll partner closely with finance and human resource professionals to ensure academic support units operate as a model of excellence—allocating and expending resources in accordance with University policy while delivering exceptional customer service to faculty, staff, and campus partners. This is a full‑time, exempt position with occasional on‑campus presence required.

Be Bold.

This role is ideal for a finance professional who enjoys solving problems, navigating complex systems, and serving as a trusted advisor. You’ll triage and escalate financial matters, interpret policy, and help others succeed by providing guidance, training, and timely solutions in a fast‑paced academic environment.

What You’ll Do

General Financial Support (30%)

• Serve as a procurement expert for assigned units, advising on the most appropriate purchasing mechanisms
• Review and approve journal vouchers, corporate card transactions, and high‑dollar procurement items
• Prepare balance, projection, and variance reports for financial managers and UIC leadership
• Maintain and distribute endowment reports for all UICs
• Assist with annual budget preparation and monitoring activities
• Perform periodic corporate card audits and report findings to leadership
• Train faculty and staff on financial systems and procedures, including travel, reimbursement, and corporate cards
• Field questions and provide guidance on best practices related to ETRs, APs, IRI, Buy@Duke, SAP R/3, and related systems
• Monitor and resolve stalled workflow items
• Run monthly CAS reports and communicate findings to impacted units
• Oversee the UIC corporate card program, liaising with Card Services and departments on compliance, limits, and timeliness

Month‑End Close & Reporting (25%)

• Complete month‑end close procedures, including reconciliations for assigned BFRs
• Review overdrafts, CAS compliance, and delinquent items; report write‑offs or interest charges to the Finance Director
• Review and distribute problem invoice reports
• Serve as a reconciliation tool expert and conduct periodic departmental audits
• Prepare analytical and narrative reports for assigned endowments
• Prepare the annual Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) report

Security Administration & Workflow Management (15%)

• Coordinate and administer SAP R/3 workflows and related administrative systems (AP, Travel, Buy@Duke)
• Process and oversee security permissions and workflow setup
• Review and process cost center and BFR add/change/block requests

Student Programs Oversight (25%)

• Support compensatory and non‑compensatory payroll for undergraduate and graduate summer programs
• Assist with program setup and collaborate with Payroll to determine appropriate payroll types
• Manage administrative activities for signature programs such as Data+, partnering with program staff, Payroll, and OIT
• Direct staff on payroll‑related elements tied to student programs

General Administrative Support (5%)

• Order and maintain office supplies and coordinate maintenance requests
• Perform occasional courier services on campus
• Complete I‑9 verification for student hires
• Assist with dossier preparation and MOU logging, as needed
• Perform other duties as assigned

What You Bring

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business, or a directly related field
• Or an