University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Senior Financial Analyst - Division of Finance

Job Profile Title

Accountant/Financial Analyst Senior

Job Description Summary

The Senior Financial Analyst role performs significant aspects of Penn’s external reporting and analysis process, including related internal controls and monthly closing procedures, and highly technical and complex accounting/reporting research.

Significant responsibilities and duties include:

1. Provide accounting support including analysis and corresponding reconciliations and reporting of intercompany activity that occurs between the University and its related entities; specifically, the University of Pennsylvania Health System (“UPHS”). Monitors and processes transactions daily.

2. Reconcile University’s bank accounts monthly. Provide accounting activities involving the intercompany partners including invoicing, payables, and receivable balances detail review. Support efforts to improve and harmonize processes and controls within the intercompany partners.

3. Assist in the preparation of consolidated financial statements, including intercompany eliminations. Investigate and resolve any discrepancies or variances in intercompany accounts promptly. Collaborate effectively with various teams, subsidiaries, and external auditors to address queries and provide necessary information. Liaison with the Commonwealth on annual University appropriation. Prepare reoccurring billing statements to facilitate receipt of payments.

4. Assume ownership of fixed asset general ledger accounts and serve as a subject matter expert. Provide guidance to departments regarding the determination of capital vs. operating expenses based on GAAP regulations. Monitor and process transactions daily, ensuring completed construction projects are properly accounted for and capitalized in a timely manner, including tracking go-live dates for depreciation.

5. Prepare monthly fixed asset and construction in progress roll-forward reports and ensure all fixed asset reconciliations are completed and reviewed on a timely basis. This also includes the completion of the University’s moveable equipment inventory cycle in various locations and facilities.

6. Work fluently in the University’s Oracle-based enterprise system, BEN Financials (BEN), and reconcile to general ledger and other applicable ledgers. Create and post various general ledger journal entries and analyze/reconcile various general ledger work papers to the general ledger. Support enterprise system conversions or upgrades, and champion for process automation/improvements efforts and system changes. Interprets, executes, and recommends modifications to processes, policies, and practices.

7. Responsible for ensuring design, testing, training, and implementation/conversion of data is complete and accurate prior to and post Go Live.

8. Prepare audit schedules for external audits and provide requested information to the auditors. Maintain a clear and concise audit trail regarding journal entries, analytical procedures, and general ledger reconciliations.

9. Conduct accounting research and apply GAAP to accounting processes and transactions. Maintain the University’s financial policy manual, including departmental policies and procedures. Post and maintain the policies on the department’s intranet. Monitors emerging accounting, reporting, and control rules promulgated by authoritative bodies, including the SEC, FASB, EITF, AICPA and Uniform Guidance. Benchmarks other entity reporting/accounting practices. Evaluates these emerging rules and practices, communicates impact on the University, and recommends and implements appropriate actions.

10. Ad hoc projects, reports, and future projects, as assigned, such as the analysis, reporting, and research of similar financial statement categories.

    Job Description

Job Responsibilities

• Reporting: Ensures compliance with GAAP through detailed review of complex accounting rules and the application of those rules to complicated and multifaceted transactions throughout the University.

• External audit: Assists in all aspects of the external audit process, including scheduling of quarterly reviews and annual audit activities, scheduling of related internal activities to meet external deadlines, coordination with other functional departments to ensure that necessary supporting information is provided timely and accurately, and coordination of Management Letter Comments and responses. This also includes the completion of the University’s moveable equipment inventory cycle in various locations and facilities.

• Analysis: Performs/evaluates comprehensive analysis and prepares formal analysis documents used by executive management to communicate business trends and issues to the Board of Trustees and by external auditors to verify compliance with reporting controls as well as the accuracy of our statements.

• Control: Implements the functional aspects of the closing process/schedule and assists the Managers with related system requirements performed by Finance IT and ISC. Assists the Managers with the implementation of a comprehensive shared governance model in functional departments throughout the university including assignment of object code control and analysis responsibilities.

• Research: Ensures compliance with GAAP through detailed review of complex accounting rules and the application of those rules to complicated and multifaceted transactions throughout the University. Prepares professionally documented accounting and reporting research position papers recommending critical accounting decisions for concurrence by the Manger/Director. Monitors emerging accounting, reporting and control rules promulgated by authoritative bodies.

• Performs/evaluates comprehensive analysis and prepares formal analysis documents used by executive management to communicate business trends and issues to the university board and external auditors to verify compliance with reporting controls as well as the accuracy of our statements.

• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science and 5 to 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.

• CPA license is preferred.

• Demonstrated knowledge of project budgeting and fiscal management principles and processes.

• Accurate and demonstrated competency with financial, analytical, and modeling skills.

• Demonstrated advanced user skills with Excel and other Microsoft Suite/programs. Proficiency with various computer systems, technologies, programs and financial interfaces, and online websites.

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills.

• Demonstrated ability to be detail-oriented and accurate in a deadline driven and dynamic environment.

• Able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously, accurately and precisely.

• Demonstrated organizational and prioritization skills, along with the ability to work within tight and often conflicting deadlines.

• Must be flexible, show effective judgement, discretion and have the ability to handle confidential financial matters.

• Work effectively in a highly matrixed and decentralized environment with the ability to navigate through ambiguity and demonstrate appreciation and support for diversity, inclusion and belonging in a constantly evolving academic/higher education environment.

  Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Division of Finance

Pay Range

$61,046.00 - $85,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

• Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

• Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

• Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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  To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay

  The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.