• Job Type: Support Staff - Union
• Bargaining Unit: Local 2110
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $55,805 ??? $56,800

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Academic Administration and Finance (DAAF), the Financial Assistant provides operational support in the areas of financial, faculty, and office administration in the Department of Philosophy.

Responsibilities

• Assists with the day-to-day financial and office operations of the Department of Philosophy, including but not limited to: payments of goods and services; reimbursements for faculty, student, and third-party payees on Concur; purchase orders; honoraria; check requests and wire transfers; faculty equipment and supply purchases.
• Interacts with vendors and the financial offices at Columbia on a daily basis (e.g., Accounts Payable, Financial Service Center). Resolves any processing issues with vendors and Columbia's central offices in a timely manner.
• Assists the DAAF with monthly expenditure reconciliation and annual fiscal closing to prevent liability to the Department and the University. This includes reconciling vendor payments, checking for duplicate payments, resolving open commitments and overdrafts, and reviewing processed invoices to validate account distribution. Reconciles P-Card transactions in ARC in a timely manner to ensure all the transactions comply with University procedures, deadlines, and accurate distribution of costs.
• Assists the DAAF with maintaining the Department???s financial records and monitoring faculty research accounts and other departmental accounts to avoid overspending.
• Assists with departmental events (e.g., workshops, student programming, receptions); coordinates travel for guests as needed.
• Assists with tracking facilities and CUIT requests via ServiceNow.
• Maintains inventory of instructional and office supplies and equipment.
• The incumbent is part of an office team that provides general support for the Department of Philosophy for administrative items such as receptionist support, website maintenance, and other departmental activities as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required. Two-three years of related experience in accounting and finance required.

Preferred Qualifications

• College degree and/or advanced degree in accounting, finance, or business desired. Customer service experience desired. Experience in higher education or nonprofit administration is a plus.

Other Requirements

• Attention to detail is a must. High level of discretion and confidentiality required. Strong computer experience and proficiency with Microsoft Office including Excel and Word necessary. Excellent interpersonal, organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and verbal and written communication skills required. Ability to work independently, establish priorities, meet multiple deadlines, and handle pressure in a high-volume environment with frequent interruptions in a departmental office and heavy traffic of faculty and students.
  
  

• Ability to quickly acquire knowledge of University electronic systems (e.g., ARC, Concur, PaymentWorks, ServiceNow) and federal and University regulations is essential.
  
  

• Self-driven desire for high-quality service with a strong sense of teamwork. Must be able to work collaboratively with others at all levels of an organization. Commitment to an inclusive work environment and must be able to work with culturally diverse constituencies. Capability of displaying patience, diplomacy, and tact under pressure.
  
  

**Cover letter and r??sum?? required. Applications without a cover letter will NOT be considered.**

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.