Analyst-Accounts Receivables

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Salary Range: $75,000 - $87,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Sponsored Projects Finance and Reporting, the Accounts Receivables Analyst provides a wide range of financial review and operational duties in support of the Climate School as it related to sponsored project and contract-based funding. The Accounts Receivables Analyst will take a leading role in all Climate School accounts receivables including reconciliation and monitoring of OMO Research Vessel accounting and Climate School recharge centers.

Responsibilities

• Research and resolve issues concerning all Account Receivable (AR) accounts including third parties.
• Contract setup and maintenance for third party billing.
• Develop and create correspondence in response to AR inquiries.
• Assist in the management of the billing, collections, and financial reporting.
• Manage business processes, systems, and workflows, to support and respond to the needs of the University and sponsors.
• Work collaboratively with the Office of Research and other University departments to serve, be a core part of the University's research team, and ensure compliance with regulations and policies.
• Ensure that appropriate internal controls are in place.
• Comply with changes in accounting standards or other compliance issues regardless of organizational structure.
• Analyze, monitor, approve, and issue invoices to sponsors and other external organizations on a regular basis, including final invoices, in accordance with the terms of the award or contract.
• Interpret billing instructions from grants and contracts documents.
• Develop and maintain accounting related specialized spreadsheets and reports to monitor the Ship related accounts - Master's Cash, Master's Checking and Agent's Advances related to the Marine Ship operations. Review OMO bank statement reconciliations for submission to the Controllers Office.
• Prepare accurate and timely financial reports, including final reports, in accordance with the terms of the award.
• Participate as an active member of the University's cash management team by monitoring receivable balances reported in the financial system on a regular basis, inquiring about delinquent payments, posting payments accurately and timely to the bank and financial system, researching any unidentified payments as needed.
• Reconcile financial system subsidiary ledgers, including the receivable ledger, with the University's general ledger.
• Monitor awards through final financial closeout, including but not limited to: issuing final invoices and financial reports, initiating refund requests, monitoring final invoice payments, ensuring unbilled accounts receivable and/or deferred revenue balances are zero.
• Complete financial close out process, including but not limited to: award financial analysis and updating financial system statuses as needed.
• Maintain current knowledge of various University systems and all related interfaces needed for day-to-day responsibilities.
• Assist with the implementation of new financial systems and upgrades to existing financial systems.
• Review recharge center budgets for approval at the beginning of every fiscal year. Regularly monitor recharge center activities to ensure timely recovery of costs. Review all recharge center recovery requests received for processing. Assure compliance with the University's recharge center policy.
• Maintain working knowledge of Office of Management and Budget (OMB) policies for federal awards, such as 2 Part CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), federal and state agency specific grant guidance and University policies and procedures.
• Complete quarterly accounts receivables analysis for Climate School leadership to monitor and flag any delays or variances.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and Minimum of three years of financial accounting experience.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Attention to detail and ability work with a high degree of accuracy.
• Experience with organizing and managing multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Demonstrated experience using financial or ERP systems.
• Strong verbal and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency in written communication skills.
• Willingness to learn new processes and keep current on emerging industry trends.
• Demonstrated ability to work with diverse groups/populations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Computer skills, including excellent skills in EXCEL, Microsoft Office knowledge, and university financial systems (ARC and FDS).

Other Requirements

• Strong analytic skills, accuracy, and attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational and follow-up skills with a proven ability to prioritize and multitask.
• Professional, ethical, and able to handle confidential information; ability to remain impartial and objective.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and writing skills, including the ability to work independently and as part of a team at various levels in an organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

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