Financial Analyst, Wireless Network and Communications Group

Job Details

General Notes

The Wireless Networking and Communications Group (WNCG) is an Organized Research Unit and interdisciplinary center for research and education with an emphasis on industrial relevance. The center is located within and works closely with The Chandra Family Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Texas ECE), a top-ranked program and the largest department in the Cockrell School of Engineering.

WNCG is home to more than 200 graduate students and 28 faculty. Our mission is to create a collaborative environment that supports research and provides highly relevant education and opportunities. We promote technical innovation, imagination, and entrepreneurship in wireless networking, communications, and data sciences. Join us in changing the world!

WNCG and Texas ECE are committed to advancing the common good through every aspect of research, education, and outreach. We take pride in our values and achieving a greater impact.

Purpose

Provide financial support for the Wireless Networking and Communications Group, a large, high-functioning, multi-million-dollar research center. Coordinate support for complex center financial portfolio, including analysis, interpretation, and reporting.

Responsibilities

Maintain center fund accounts accurately and knowledgeably. Create and execute budgets and spend plans, using various shared resources. Plan based on need, policy, procedure, and precedent. Implement effective strategies to forecast expenditures, manage income, and improve processes, practicing transparency, accountability, and regular problem-solving. Duties include frequent reprioritization, deadlines, and collaboration with center team, university counterparts, and various stakeholders.

Produce center account reports, allowing stakeholders to make informed, timely decisions. Craft recommendations and provide coaching as needed, applying solutions-oriented methods. Serve as liaison between center faculty and university counterparts. Strategize with research administration and center team to track and implement all center post-award activities, including but not limited to cost transfers, extensions, increments, overdrafts, fees, efforts, certifications, and closeout.

Execute funding allocations for all center personnel, including appointments, scholarships, fellowships, tuition, fees, and related funding. Serve as contact for tuition bill and supplemental funding requests. Collaborate with team, department, college, and related offices to troubleshoot and solve related issues.

Function as center resource on university funding policies and procedures. Ensure compliance and consistency with related funding agencies. Guide team on best practices. Perform center voucher auditing and approval, acting as the first line of defense. Manage center electronic office systems, including access, routing, and authorization.

Process center expenditures, such as reimbursements, cash advances, and related research costs. Work with related team members to complete tasks and solve related issues. Provide backup and surge support on purchasing and business contracts.

Provide support for center events. Collaborate with team to optimize fundamental processes. Participate in regular team meetings and attend relevant training. Maintain various task logs. Perform special projects as needed.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance, or related field.

Five years of relevant experience in university accounting, sponsored projects, business management, or other closely related field.

Demonstrated resiliency working within a complex environment.

Demonstrated ability to prioritize job tasks in dynamic circumstances and with conflicting deadlines.

Demonstrated ability to multi-task, work under pressure, and meet deadlines while working independently and / or as a team member.

Demonstrated ability to work with accuracy and attention to detail, following directions without close supervision.

Demonstrated ability of excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written skills.

Professional demeanor and regular, punctual attendance.

Solid knowledge of office productivity tools (EX : Mac OSX, Microsoft Office, etc.)

Preferred Qualifications

More than required years of experience.

Prior work experience in higher education, particularly in STEM or with a significant research operation.

Experience working with faculty and graduate students.

Experience working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team.

Willingness to learn and adapt to new systems.

Positive comportment and a high level of emotional intelligence.

Salary Range

62,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

May work around standard office conditions.

Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation.

Required Materials

Resume / CV

3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor

Letter of interest

Important   for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers :  You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded. Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers :  As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

Employment Eligibility :

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion / transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility :

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks :

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.