Berkman's Hiring: Financial/Administrative Associate
Current Berkman People and Projects 2013-04-10
Summary:
The Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University seeks an experienced and charismatic Financial/Administrative Associate to support our dynamic, high-functioning research center. S/he will work closely with our Financial Manager on implementing efforts to ensure that the financial affairs of the Center are in order, and, as a member of the Center’s core team, will contribute to and provide assistance for event planning, travel coordination, and other duties as needed. This key position supports a wide range of exciting public-interest focused activities, as well as community members at every level within the Berkman Center, including faculty, students, staff, fellows, and visitors and partners from all over the world.
A full position description for the job can be found below and on the Harvard Human Resources website.
Please note that applications for job must be submitted through the Harvard Human Resources website, and will not be collected or coordinated directly through the Berkman Center.
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Duties & Responsibilities
The Financial/Administrative Associate’s main responsibilities will include handling routine payments and financial responsibilities related to the day-to-day running and activities of the Center and contributing to budget analysis and other tasks related to grant management.
Tasks will include:
• Coordinating the accounts payable function of the Center, reviewing vendor invoices and statements before processing for payment, and resolving vendor questions and disputes;
• Handling all reimbursements and corporate card payments for the Center's community;
• Reconciling all expenditures on department purchasing cards;
• Reviewing, updating, reconciling, and developing project budgets, including tracking monthly expenditures and anticipating upcoming expenses for each project, and tracking project reporting deadlines;
• Assisting in grant management duties, including preparing budgets for proposals and reports, tracking relevant dates and interfacing with associated project teams, and communicating with Office for Sponsored Programs and other University offices, project staff, and funders as needed;
• Advising and training the Berkman community in financial policies and best practices, and assisting in documenting procedures;
• Performing journal entries and other fund transfers;
• Providing assistance to the office manager, including reception duties, interaction with catering and other functional areas, and general staff support;
• Acting as back-up in processing weekly payrolls; and
• Coordinating travel and event planning for special projects, including timely and accurate communication with vendors, invited guests, staff and other participants and systematizing and tracking event logistics.
Based on the fast-paced and changing needs of the Berkman Center, the Financial/Administrative Associate may be called upon for other tasks at short notice.
The right candidate for the Financial/Administrative Associate position will have heart, verve, and vigor; a can-do attitude; a very good sense of humor; and a strong desire to effect change in workplace and in the world. She or he will thrive in a committed, collaborative, and tight-knit community that encourages creativity and serious fun, values novel approaches to solving problems, continually builds upon best-practices and lessons learned, and supports its community members' independent and collective goals.
As with all Berkman staff positions, this is a term position ending June 30, 2014; continuation is anticipated but contingent upon funding and institutional needs.
Basic Qualifications
3 plus years of experience in financial administrative support is required. Proficiency with quantitative data, financial software, and office technologies is required.
The position also requires someone with strong and effective communication skills for phone, e-mail, and in-person interactions; the ability to tactfully and naturally engage a wide range of constituencies; and superb problem solving skills. S/he must be proactive and accountable. S/he must be able to prioritize across responsibilities, and manage varied commitments, competing deadlines, and shifting priorities. She or he must be able to gain an exceptional command of our office's culture and develop the ability to anticipate our needs and think around corners. Flexibility and adaptability are critical.
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