Financial Operations Principal Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Thank you for considering a career with the Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY).

The team at RFCUNY is made up of dedicated, talented professionals committed to providing the services that allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries.

We are pleased that you are interested in exploring opportunities to join RFCUNY.

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Under the supervision of the Senior Director of Finance & Budget, the Grants Financial & Operations Coordinator will support project directors within the Division of Adult and Continuing Education at LaGuardia Community College in administering Tax Levy and Research Foundation of CUNY-funded projects. Responsibilities include assisting with budget development and supporting principal investigators in monitoring, analyzing, and administering these grant-funded initiatives, along with the following duties:

• Monitor and reconcile accounts for adherence to established/sponsored approved budgets.

• Monitor and assist with coordinating budgets to ensure expenditure aligns with grant-funded requirements; maintain compliance with funding guidelines, and complete budget closeout activities in a timely manner.

• Ensure that account transactions are in compliance with all applicable guidelines.

• Assist project directors with analysis of project-related issues.

• Develop and implement solutions, create and maintain information systems related to projects, and run reports as required by management.

• Maintain comprehensive grant documentation and records (e.g., budgets, amendments, correspondence, reports) in compliance with LaGuardia, CUNY, and Research Foundation policies and audit standards.

• Work closely with the grant's Principal Investigator (PI)/Project Directors and the Fiscal and Operations Manager to support and coordinate the day-to-day fiscal and administrative activities of grant-sponsored projects, serving as a liaison among the ACE Finance Office, ACE Vice President's Office, Human Resources Office, Business Office, Grants Office, Research Foundation (procurement, HR, and finance offices), and other campus or CUNY offices as needed.

• Assist the Senior Director of Finance in compiling and analyzing data for financial reports for senior management and project directors.

• Assist in identifying opportunities for improved efficiency within grant administration workflows, providing recommendations to the Senior Director of Finance.

Invoicing & Payments

• Prepare, submit, and track all grant-related payment requests-including invoices, reimbursements, travel, honoraria, consultant, and catering expenses-requested by leadership or administrative personnel, while maintaining accurate invoicing records and supporting the preparation, submission, and follow-up of sponsor invoices.

• Monitor sponsor payments and follow up as needed to support timely receipt

• Maintain invoice and payment tracking logs to support reporting and audits

Procurement & Purchasing Support

• Support procurement activities by obtaining quotes, preparing purchase documentation, and assisting with order processing

• Track procurement requests and maintain documentation related to purchases and services

• Work with program teams to align procurement orders with program timelines

Onboarding & Staffing Administration

• Support instructor and staff onboarding by preparing comprehensive onboarding packets and required documentation.

• Prepare appointment materials for new hires and track appointment status through designated systems.

• Coordinate post-award processes by preparing and tracking appointments and onboarding documentation, monitoring approval workflows, processing hiring and reappointment transactions, monitoring time and effort reporting, and following up on outstanding items to ensure timely completion.

Project Funding & Requests

• Support project funding processes, including preparation of forwarding funding and guarantee requests

• Track funding requests and approvals and maintain related documentation

• Other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and four years' related experience required, or Associate's degree and eight years of related experience required, or 10 years of related experience.

• Experience with financial database systems and administering budgets with multiple funding sources is required, along with strong analytical and computer skills related to budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.

• Experience supporting invoicing, procurement, or onboarding processes in an administrative or program support role.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Grants' management experience is strongly preferred.

• Experience with financial database systems such as CUNYFirst/CUNYbuy, Workday (OneRF), Blackbaud Financial Edge, and administering budgets with multiple funding sources is strongly preferred, along with strong analytical and computer skills related to budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.

• Relevant experience in budget or financial analysis with experience in higher education is strongly preferred.

• Must have strong organizational skills with the ability to establish priorities, handle multiple demands and projects, attention to detail, a high degree of accuracy, and meet multiple simultaneous deadlines.

• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Advanced proficiency using Microsoft Office software programs to analyze financial data, database experience, evaluate needs and requirements, and present findings as required.

• Demonstrate ability to effectively manage time while supporting multiple programs, and coordinating with diverse stakeholders, adhering to established processes, and consistently meeting deadlines.

Appointments are subject to availability of funding and satisfactory performance. This is an in-person position with the option of some remote work.

About LaGuardia Community College

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens, LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia's degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first-generation college students.

Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty-six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation most students transfer to four-year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility - moving low-income students into the middle class and beyond - in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020). Please visit www.laguardia.edu to learn more.

Pay Range:

$55,000 - $70,000

RFCUNY Benefits
RFCUNY Employee Benefits and Accruals (link to https://www.rfcuny.org/RFWebsite)

About the Research Foundation
The Research Foundation of The City University of New York (RFCUNY) is a nonprofit educational corporation founded in 1963 to provide post-award fiscal and administrative support for CUNY's research and sponsored programs. RFCUNY's services allow CUNY researchers, faculty, and staff to focus on their intellectual curiosity and scientific discoveries, on projects and programs that serve our local and global communities, proposing concrete solutions to society's most pressing challenges.
RFCUNY serves as a fiscal agent and works closely with all the CUNY campus Grants Offices to perform the core functions of post-award financial management for CUNY research projects and sponsored programs. These functions include legal assessment and signing of agreements where RFCUNY is named as a fiscal agent; setting up award accounts; preparing sub-awards and assisting PIs in monitoring the work of the recipients of sub-awards; supporting project directors with hiring and managing research project and sponsored program staff; supporting the purchasing and paying for goods and services with grant and program funds; managing financial aspects of projects including accounts receivable, financial reporting, invoicing, budget monitoring, and cost compliance with uniform guidance; ensuring that sponsor financial requirements are met; monitoring compliance with applicable project and financial management rules and laws; supporting the management of independent and external audits and financial reviews; and providing data, information, management expertise, and other supports to CUNY's research and sponsored programs.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
The Research Foundation of the City University of New York is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities Act/E-Verify Employer. It is the policy of the Research Foundation of CUNY to provide equal employment opportunities free of discrimination based on race, color, age, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth, national origin, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic violence victim status, arrest record, criminal conviction history, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.