Financial Coordinator

Overview:
**Term: 1 year.**

The Financial Coordinator works with an assigned set of research grant and contract holders in all aspects of their projects from initial grant/contract proposal generation, budget set-up, tracking monthly financial statements and assisting with project reports to funding agencies. The Financial Coordinator also supports the Financial Officer in managing the School’s operating budget. Key accountabilities vary according to the USG level on this job description’s associated Career Path.

**Responsibilities**:
Financial Administration
- Prepares and/or previews expense reimbursement claims
- Guides faculty members, post docs and grad students and other support staff (as necessary) in the use of the expense reimbursement system
- Coordinates the purchase of major supplies and equipment for the School and/or Researchers, maintaining records and ensuring eligibility and that budget allocations are adequate
- Prepares casual pay requests and temporary employment contracts for assigned researchers
- Provides back up to the School’s Grad Office in preparation of TA, GRS and GRA payments
- Processes CSCF chargebacks to all applicable research accounts

Financial Reporting
- Determines if funds are available to support the strategic priorities of the Principal Investigator’s research and/or the School
- Ensures that all operating and research accounts are soundly managed, including monthly reconciliation of accounts, and that activities are in compliance with university policies and procedures and those of external granting agencies
- Reviews and analyzes financial statements for assigned operating and research accounts
- Reconciles financial statements for operating and research accounts on a monthly basis and report any concerns to the researcher and/or contract holders or Financial Officer; assists with problem-solving and error correction
- Reviews Form 300s for assigned researchers
- Provides guidance to researchers, research staff and students on financial rules and policies relevant to their grants and contracts
- Understands the constraints of specific granting programs; forecast and recommend strategies to maximize the use and leverage of the research funding

Project Management
- Tracks project schedules and deadlines for reporting, and in conjunction with researchers ensure that the deadlines are met
- Works with the Office of Research to ensure that key Intellectual Property (IP) issues and research ethics issues related to contracts and research grants are properly followed
- Assists in the clarification of policies and procedures relating to grants, contracts, overhead and other sources of funding such as operating and trust accounts
- Assists the Principal Investigator in the preparation of research budgets for major contracts and research grants
- Maintains a record of all project agreements

Other
- Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or Business, or equivalent experience
- Canadian accounting designation an asset. (See Career Path requirements for specific requirements at each USG level)
- A strong financial background and experience working with major funding agencies such as NSERC, CFI, CRC, ERA, ORF, etc., in a research environment
- Ability to adapt to changing administrative and financial systems
- Excellent human relation skills, in particular, ability to work confidentially and strategically with faculty members and staff
- Independent judgment in areas of time management, task prioritization and decision-making
- Proven ability to manage a large volume of work, conflicting priorities and deadlines
- Exceptional verbal and written communication ability
- Intermediate/advanced experience with Microsoft Office, especially Excel including features such as databases and pivot tables. Experience with online financial reporting systems. Technical qualifications increase as the incumbent progresses on the Career Path for this position

Equity Statement:
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within our Office of Indigenous Relations.