Fiscal Specialist 1

Central Washington University is recruiting a Fiscal Specialist 1 to join our SES - VP team in Ellensburg, Washington. This role is an important member of our team as they enhance the vision for the University. The role is a campus-based position, which means you get to see the lives you are impacting. We're offering a salary, depending on experience, from $31,293 - $41,688 (adjusted per 0.75 FTE) plus the awesome CWU benefits.

Who we are:

We are a team of individuals committed to Changing Students' Lives. No matter what job, each of us plays a part in supporting and empowering our students to fulfill their dreams.

Working in higher education provides career growth and career choice. Think of a university campus like a mini city, operating across 380 acres. You'll find diverse academics, libraries, athletics and sporting events, full service and quick serve dining, conferences and events from small to large, recreation centers, housing, health services, police and public safety for the campus population of ~10,000 students.

Central Washington University has been named a Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program Top Producing Institution for the 2022-2023 academic year. In addition, for the seventh time in eight years, CWU is a recipient of the prestigious Higher Education Excellence in Diversity (HEED) Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine. Come join us on our journey to encourage, inspire, and create spaces where all identities thrive on campus.

Tour our campus in Ellensburg here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjdhOegDa9A

What we offer:

Our investment in you begins the day you join our team, a healthy and successful future for you is important to us. We offer medical, dental, life and disability insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, tuition assistance for you and your dependents, discounts across town, an employee assistance program for individualized counseling, and a wellness incentive program. Learn more: Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

The Role:

This position will use independent judgment to provide fiscal support for office of the Vice President for Student Engagement & Success and other budgets as needed within the Division of Student Engagement & Success. The Fiscal Specialist 1 will work closely with division staff and university personnel to provide specialized fiscal functions such as record keeping, auditing, analysis, budgeting, forecasting, payroll, travel, purchasing, and other types of fiscal operations for the VP's office budgets as well as divisional State and Fee Supported budgets. This position will also serve as a back-up with customer service for the VP's office as needed. This position maintains close working relationships with other personnel in the departments including student employees, administrators and other personnel of the University, public agencies, and the general public. The position works in a fast-paced office with many contacts. The Fiscal Specialist directly affects the vision, mission, and values of Central Washington University by practicing responsible stewardship of our financial resources and promoting access and opportunity for all students. All employees are expected to support CWU's commitment to diversity and to bring and support inclusion into the university environment.

Fiscal Support:
- Maintain and modify fiscal record keeping systems, databases, and spreadsheets on a weekly and monthly basis; reviews budget reports, verifying for accuracy and able to take action to correct errors as necessary.
- Reconcile monthly budget status reports and prepares expenditure projections; makes changes to budget forecasts in CatPlan as are needed, works with area Directors to notify, and recommend appropriate projections and over/under expenditures and then processes corrective actions to adjust.
- Works with Finance Managers to process journals and adjustments.
- Maintain purchasing records; Purchases supplies and needed items for the office and other staff in the office of VP of Student Engagement & Success; accurately reconciles monthly purchasing card logs; reviews, and allocates purchases to the proper budgets, ensuring compliance with institutional rules and regulations.
- Maintains salary and benefits costs to each budget, initiating and recording with accuracy on each position.
- Maintain and process travel expenses and records, while ensuring compliance with state and institution guidelines and procedures; allocates the appropriate travel expenses to the appropriate budgets and adjusting forecasts to the annual budgets.
- Completes contract intakes for needed contracts and follows up with appropriate requisitions in the system and final invoices for payment.
- Prepares, compiles, and provides fiscal reports such as year-end reports, budgetary reports, and auditing reports, with accuracy; investigates and corrects errors to ensure compliance with established procedures and policies; uses complex computations.
- Assist with the development of annual budgets, consulting with Directors to set budget lines for the VP of Student Engagement & Success.

Customer Service:
- Occasionally assist with support to reception for Office of the VP of Student Engagement & Success, directs requests, resolves problems, and responds to inquiries regarding FERPA questions, releases of information, fee waiver requests, rules, regulations, policies, department procedures, and department services; answers telephone; receives and refers visitors and calls.
- Assist with files and records in administrative area. Assists with tracking of dated material, correspondence and pending files and assists with record retention policies.
- Support occasional meetings with note taking.
- Assists with recording contracts and department funding requests and assists with keeping the logs and requests up to date.
- Perform other duties as assigned.

Training and/or experience demonstrating the ability to independently perform financial related activities such as: travel, accounts payable, accounts receivables, journal entries, auditing, analysis, budgeting, forecasting, purchasing, and reconciliations.

• Training and/or experience demonstrating the ability to independently perform financial related activities such as: travel, accounts payable, accounts receivables, journal entries, auditing, analysis, budgeting, forecasting, purchasing, and reconciliations.
• Experience financial management systems and databases.
• Experience interpreting and applying regulations or policies associated with financial transactions.
• Ability to work independently.
• Experience or training that demonstrates proficiency in Word, Excel, Outlook, e-mail and/or similar software applications to produce written correspondence, create and maintain spreadsheets, receive and respond to e-mail inquiries, tasks, etc.
• Excellent communication (oral and written), interpersonal and organizational skills (ability to walk individuals through complex processes via phone).
• Ability to effectively organize multiple work assignments in a busy office setting, involve competing priorities to produce work products that are accurate, of a high quality and meet deadlines.
• Demonstrated willingness and/or experience working with students and/or co-workers from a wide range of abilities, backgrounds, and experiences.
• OR applicable combination of education and/or experience which demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the position.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• University related experience.
• Experience using CatPlan or Hyperion financial management systems.
• Extensive customer service experience communicating effectively and diplomatically with a variety of internal and external clientele inclusive of handling difficult customer service situations and resolving conflict in a professional manner.
• Experience that demonstrates ability to work effectively with diverse individuals. (First Generation & Marginalized populations).
• A record of promoting a positive work environment and works well with all constituents.
• Experience or interest in mentoring students from all backgrounds.
• Ability to incorporate multicultural perspectives and issues into everyday conversations.
• Life experiences that demonstrate an ability to contribute to CWU`s vision, mission, and values.

Competencies

• Accountability/Dependability: Accepts responsibility for quality of own work; acknowledges and corrects mistakes. Shows up on time, meets standards, deadlines and work schedules.
• Judgement: Makes timely, informed decisions. Analyzes options and determines appropriate course of action.
• Teamwork: Promotes cooperation and mutual support to achieve goals. Encourages participation and mutual support.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Responds positively to changing business needs and responsibilities. Adapts approach and methods to achieve results; recovers quickly from setbacks and finds alternatives.
• Commitment to Diversity: Recognizes the value of diversity and helps create environment that supports and embraces diversity.

Don't meet every single requirement? At CWU we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn't align perfectly with every requirement, we encourage you to apply anyway. This may be the job for you!

Salary: This position is based on the range 40 of the Washington State Classification Listing, which has a minimum annual salary of $31,293 and maximum annual salary of $41,688. In accordance with RCW 49.58.110, the above salary reflects the full salary range for this position. Individual placement within the range is based on the candidate's current experience, education, skills, and abilities related to the position (salary adjusted per 0.75 FTE).

Schedule/Appointment: Monday - Friday, 8am-3pm, (1-hour lunch) / 30 hours a week

Working Conditions: Work is performed in an indoor office setting with frequent in-person interactions. It is essential to be able to remain at a desk/computer workstation for prolonged periods of time, perform extensive data entry and other computer-related tasks and create/maintain filing systems for departmental records. Some evening or weekend work and/or occasional travel may be required.

Benefits: CWU offers a comprehensive benefits package including medical and dental insurance, retirement and optional savings plans, life and disability insurance, along with vacation and sick leave plans depending on employment classification. For additional information please visit Benefits, Perks, and Leave.

An employee of CWU may be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program if the employee has student loans. To learn more, visit: https://ofm.wa.gov/state-human-resources/public-service-loan-forgiveness-program.