Senior Financial Associate: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering - UTK

Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CBE) in the Tickle College of Engineering located on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) campus, is seeking a Financial Associate interested in working in a team environment supporting the Business Manager & Financial Specialist. Additional information regarding the department may be viewed here.   UTK is recognized by Forbes magazine as one of America’s best places to work and offers competitive benefits that can be reviewed here: UT Benefits

Reporting to the Financial Specialist, the Senior Financial Associate performs financial and administrative functions of the unit. This position acts as the principal procurement agent for CBE, ordering 99% of the department’s goods and services. This position represents the unit in a professional manner often working with individuals and organizations external to the university.

• Procurement agent for the entire CBE department, including but not limited to: equipment, office supplies, lab supplies, chemicals, educational supplies, etc. 
• Process invoices for payment, including verification of receipt of merchandise and verifying accounts.
• Setup and establish new vendors.
• Responsible for maintaining inventory controls for all major and sensitive equipment.
• Handles all shipping and receiving for the department.
• Reconciles procurement cards statements to include verification of acceptable receipts.
• Serves as the point of contact for all departmental events. 
• Verifies the department's annual equipment & chemical inventory, and freezer audit.
• Responsible for assisting the IT Administrator with CUP & Tech Fee purchases.
• Track expenses as required by the Business Manager regarding certain purchases to be reimbursed by other departments and ensure that those funds are transferred as necessary.
• Provides backup for other departmental personnel when needed.

 

Required Education and Experience:

• A high school diploma or GED with 4 or more years of experience in accounting or an Associate’s degree in a field related to business or a degree related to the position’s duties with 2 or more years of accounting.

 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

• Knowledge of basic accounting principles.
• Excellent customer service and organizational skills.
• Ability to multi-task and work independently.
• Ability to prioritize a heavy workload.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills. 
• Ability to multi-task and prioritize tasks based on needs of others and with time-sensitive deadlines.
• Ability to work autonomously as well as within a team environment.
• Sound interpersonal and communication skills.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

 

Preferred Education and Experience: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a field related to business or a degree related to the position’s duties with any accounting.
• Experience in an academic environment.
• Experience hiring foreign nationals and communicating with non-native English speakers.
• Purchasing experience, a plus.

 

Preferred Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of state and federal contract and grant financial requirements.
• Working knowledge of UT fiscal policies and procedures.
• Knowledge of financial / personnel management applications.

 

Application Process: 
For full consideration, applicants must electronically submit a letter of interest, resume, and the name, address, email, and phone number of three professional references.

With over 225 years dedicated to education and research, and as one of the 100 largest employers in Tennessee, there is endless potential to discover at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. This advanced academic center comprises 17 degree-granting colleges and schools, 900+ programs of study, 547 graduate programs, and is ho