Financial Associate: Supply Chain Management, Haslam College of Business

The Haslam College of Business (HCB) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, invites applications for a Financial Associate (Full-time, Non-Exempt) to join our Supply Chain Management department. Under leadership of Department Head (DH) and Assistant Department Head (ADH), this role functions as a vital member of the department's administrative team, serving as an accounting manager for the department's financial processes and as the unit-level financial reporting and analytics lead. The role is responsible for management of all department financial processes and transactions, budget preparation and forecasting, and real-time monitoring of account balances and funding sources, providing the DH and ADH with relevant, accurate, and forward-looking financial analysis. As part of the department's administrative team, this role also includes duties to assist in general administrative tasks to ensure the efficient functioning of the department. 

• FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT AND REPORTING
  • Provides expert guidance and detailed budget status to department leadership, possessing a deep and broad understanding of the department's financial situation at all times
  • Performs in-depth analysis of budgets, expenditures, revenues, and forecasts to support strategic and operational decision-making.
  • Identifies trends, risks, and variances; prepare clear explanations and recommendations for leadership.
  • Develops department-specific dashboards, reports, scorecards, and analytical views that extend institutional dashboards.
  • Prepares annual department budgets in coordination with Financial Information Office (FIO), with consistent monthly reporting of actuals for monitoring and evaluation of adjustments; aligns reporting with resources provided by HCB and/or FIO leadership
  • Creates and presents detailed summary budget reports after the close of the fiscal year to support analysis of previous year's performance
  • Compiles financial data, monitors and balances accounts, prepares detailed financial reports, and resolves discrepancies
  • Manages payroll reconciliation and reporting per policy, including payroll check registers
  • Proactively identifies and informs Department Head of potential budget/financial issues, recommends solutions, and oversees implementation 
• PROCESSING/ENTRY OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS:
  • Processes and audits financial transactions for department, including but not limited to invoices, travel, payroll, procurement card reconciliations, scholarship authorizations, and petty cash reimbursements
  • Coordinates financial transaction requests and exceptions to policy with FIO as needed
  • Records revenue and processes deposits
  • Provides coordination and support for procurement processes in partnership with FIO, including informal bids, requisitions, contracts, and internal account transfers
  • Monitors and reconciles all departmental ledgers, creating and updating department procedures as necessary and ensuring compliance with fiscal policy
  • Assists faculty, staff, and students with financial procedure questions
• RECORDS MANAGEMENT
  • Organize and accurately maintain office files, supporting primary use of electronic files 
  • Keep current on policies regarding record retention/storage/destruction to ensure department complies with Federal, State, UTK and HCB guidelines
  • Initiate and coordinate process for any records that need to go to Records Retention or that need to be shredded/destroyed; retrieve historical records information as needed
• CONTINUING EDUCATION/TRAINING/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:
  • Must participate in all HCB training and professional development, including but not limited to regular trainings/seminars by FIO and TIS. 
  • Complete all required UTK training modules via K@TE and other delivery platforms.
  • Proactively seek and actively participate in professional development/educational/training opportunities, with approval from DH/ADH. Resources may included LinkedIn Learning, K@TE, UTK Learning and Organizational Development, or external professional organizations.

Required Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma required
• Experience: Minimum of 4 years of relevant, progressively responsible experience with general bookkeeping, accounting, or financial administration, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 
  • Knowledge of financial, bookkeeping, and general accounting principles
  • Knowledge of financial policies and procedures
  • Knowledge of PowerBi and ability to create and analyze department reports
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Advanced computer skills including ability to quickly learn new software s