"Finance Manager, Cornell Atkinson"

About the Role

The Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability announces a search for its next Finance Manager. Well-qualified candidates will be experienced financial professionals with experience in financial analysis, budgeting, reporting, and sponsored award administration.

As Finance Manager, you will deliver exceptional support and leadership on complex financial reporting, budgets and forecasts, gifts and grant funding, and business practices that ensure compliance and efficiency. You will work with Cornell Atkinson’s directors to enhance planning for our operations and programs, and you will interact regularly with Research & Innovation Finance, Alumni Affairs & Development, and numerous college and academic unit finance teams on budget-related elements of grants administration.

As part of the Cornell community, you will help foster a culture of belonging and a healthy work environment by communicating across differences; being cooperative, collaborative, open, and welcoming; showing respect, compassion, and empathy; engaging and supporting others regardless of background or perspective; speaking up when others are being excluded or treated inappropriately; and supporting work/life integration of oneself and others.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinating the planning, development, and entry of the Center’s annual operating budget and meeting regularly with directors to review budget to actual expenses
• Collaborating with administrators and finance staff across campus on Center funding programs, financial processes, and reporting
• Managing the development of financial reports and presentations in consultation with the associate director
• Preparing annual certifications and tax returns
• Performing account analyses and ensuring compliance
• Developing long-range financial models and forecasts
• Conducting ongoing reviews of internal processes and verifying internal controls

About Us

Created through the generous support of David and Patricia Atkinson, the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability enables transdisciplinary and translational research that advances sustainability to create a healthy and resilient future. By supporting research across all of Cornell’s colleges and schools, and partnering with governmental, non-governmental, and private entities, Cornell Atkinson directly supports the radical collaboration necessary to transform knowledge to action.

What We Need

Send us a cover letter and resume outlining your interest in this position and explaining how your experience and qualifications match the position requirements. Note: Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.

When evaluating your candidacy, we will look for evidence of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, accounting or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3-5 years of experience with program and research administration, including research proposals, budget preparation, and proposal submission systems
• Excellent skills in accounting analyses and reporting, including demonstrated strengths utilizing spreadsheets and databases (such as Excel) as well as complex data applications and delivery systems (Kuali dashboards, applications and queries, Workday, etc.)
• Strong customer service orientation and demonstrated effectiveness in verbal and written communications
• Proven ability to compile, analyze, and report on complex financial data verbally, in writing, and with charts and graphs
• Ability to handle confidential information with good judgment and discretion
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members
• Ability to be flexible, adaptable, and comfortable working in and contributing to an environment where change in process and procedures may be frequent

Additionally, although not required, we would like to see clear evidence of:

• Demonstrated experience with Cornell policies and use of Cornell financial systems
• Current understanding of university, sponsored research, and gift financial policies and procedures

Rewards and Benefits

This position is located in Ithaca, New York on the campus of Cornell University. The position is eligible for a hybrid working arrangement with work on campus required at least three days per week. Cornell receives national recognition as an award-winning workplace for our health, wellbeing, and sustainability.

Our benefits programs include comprehensive health care options, generous retirement contributions, access to wellness programs, and employee discounts with local and national retail brands. We invite you to follow this link to get more information about our benefits: Understand Your Benefits | Working at Cornell.

Our leave provisions include health and personal leave, three weeks of vacation and 13 holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the day after, and an end of the year winter break from December 25-January 1. To offer greater flexibility for observing faiths and traditions, we also offer two additional floating holidays. Learn more about our generous leave provisions: Holiday and Accrued Time Off | Working at Cornell.

Cornell’s impressive educational benefits include tuition-free Extramural Study and Employee Degree Program, tuition aid for external education, and Cornell Children’s Tuition Assistance Program. Learn more about our extensive educational benefits: Education Benefits | Working at Cornell.

Follow this link to learn more about the Total Rewards of Working at Cornell: Total Rewards | Working at Cornell.