Financial Analyst

General Summary/Purpose:

The Central School Compliance Team provides routine sponsored and non-sponsored reporting across the School of Medicine to ensure compliance and accuracy of financial reporting. The team reviews and monitors internal controls with the goal of risk mitigation and capitalizing on available financial opportunities. Data, tools and recommendations are provided to the Director of Research Finance Operations on a routine basis that can result in improved financial and administrative processes within Clinical, Basic Science and Administrative departments.

The Financial Analyst is responsible for updating and distributing multiple sponsored and non-sponsored financial reports which capture both risks and opportunities on a routine basis. This position will partner with departments and central teams including the Office of Research Administration (ORA), Sponsored Projects Shared Services (SPSS), Internal Audits and the School of Medicine Business Office (SOMBO). This position reports directly to the Financial Project Manager.

Position Scope/Complexity:

This individual should have the ability to work independently to achieve team goals, deadlines, and desired outcomes/results. In addition, they are expected to collaborate and engage with key stakeholders to provide recommendations to influence process improvements. In collaboration with the Financial Project Manager, assist with the design and development of complex and detailed reports for SOM clinical, basic science and administrative departments utilizing SAP, Analysis and Microsoft Excel.

Specific Duties &Responsibilities:

Financial Reporting:

• On a semi-monthly basis, update the School of Medicine control salary report and prospective control salary report. Distribute customized, department specific reports to all key stakeholders. Also, update the overpayments summary report.
• On a semi-monthly basis, update the IRB fee report. Distribute customized, department specific reports to all key stakeholders. Follow-up on any erroneous postings to ensure they are reversed timely and track IRB fees identified that do not currently have an active Clinical Trial Agreement.
• On a monthly basis, update the School of Medicine clinical trial start-up report for all newly executed Clinical Trial Agreements (CTA’s). Review contract(s), identify fees that were payable upon contract execution, disseminate to departments and closely monitor invoicing on accounts to ensure that an open receivable exists.
• Ensure the Financial Transaction Approval Policy is being followed which includes monitoring training/roles and upside down approvals for ISR’s, Online Payments, Shopping Carts and Travel & Expense Reimbursements. Follow up as needed.
• Conduct monthly high-risk subrecipient audits across SOM including a thorough review of the most recently signed/completed certification for payment and performance form and ledger detail is being obtained during the high-risk reviews
• Conduct monthly procurement card audits across SOM including collection of receipts/backup documentation, ensuring approvers are appropriate, tax has not been charged and charge has been allocated as appropriate in JP Morgan.
• On a monthly basis, distribute outstanding Effort Training and COI Training information to departments utilizing the Internal Audits Dashboard. Ensure compliance with Effort Training 5 year requirement.
• On a quarterly basis, distribute up-to-date status reports from the Effort Reporting System (ERS) to all departments with outstanding effort certification records. Work with the Effort Team to resolve any issues/discrepancies discovered. Ensure all certification deadlines are met (internal and external to SOM). Follow up as needed.
• Monthly, distribute the risks and opportunities report to each department which includes reporting on the following:Award with $0 Expenses/$0 Commitments, Deficits, CT Cash Balances, Departmental Billing, Closed Accounts with Open Receivables, Supplementson Sponsored, Undistributed Budgets etc.
• Other Reporting Includes: Goods Receipt/Invoice Receipt Discrepancies, E210 Past Due Approvals, E210 Missing/Terminated Supervisors, Cost Overruns, IPA Account Deficits etc.
• In collaboration with the Financial Project Manager and Director, collaborate with Central School Sr. IT Manager, JHU Internal Audits IT Team and Financial Systems Administration to identify opportunities for Dashboard updates/modifications. Influence portal tool enhancements to effectively and proactively provide value-add reporting.

Financial Analysis:

• On a semi-monthly basis, analyze control salary trends across departments and identify outliers causing increases and/or decreases in control salary.
• Analyze the Sponsored Compliance Dashboard on a monthly basis to determine areas of risk surrounding: FSR’s, Deficit Balances, Transfers over 90+ Days, Effort, Unbilled Revenue and Open Receivables.
• On a quarterly basis, analyze departments and/or specific departmental coordinator certification trends to identify areas of opportunity to reduce the number of days from effort form being generated to being certified.
• In depth analysis of risks/opportunities report on a monthly basis to determine trends and areas of concern
• Ad hoc financial analysis as required for miscellaneous projects as assigned by the Financial Project Manager and/or Director of Research Finance Operations

NEXUS Account Reconciliation:

• Distribute monthly reporting package to departments live in NEXUS to include accounts with unassigned reconcilers, unassigned approvers, delinquent reconciliations and delinquent approvals
• Monitor terminations to ensure that users (reconcilers and approvers) are removed/replaced in the system
• In collaboration with the Controller’s Office, upload monthly PI summary reports (sponsored and non-sponsored) to system
• Manage approval delegations, as appropriate. Retain documentation.
• On a monthly basis, determine unmatched accounts and populate required information utilizing SAP and Analysis
• Update account reconcilers and approvers, as appropriate.
• Make recommendations for system improvements and partner with IT. Update policies and procedures.

Other:

• Update and maintain SharePoint site with reports, due dates and metrics.
• Liaison with Internal Audits on Monthly Continuous Research Audit requests
• Provide excellent customer service, prompt replies and information as requested through the shared email address.
• As requested, submit payroll, non-payroll cost transfers and budget distributions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Mandatory):

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, or other related field
• Three years progressively responsible related financial/accounting experience
• Additional education may substitute for required experience and additional related experience may substitute for required education, to the extent permitted by the JHU equivalency formula
  • JHU Equivalency Formula: 30 undergraduate degree credits (semester hours) or 18 graduate degree credits may substitute for one year of experience. Additional related experience may substitute for required education on the same basis. For jobs where equivalency is permitted, up to two years of non-related college course work may be applied towards the total minimum education/experience required for the respective job.