Job Description

Position Overview:
The University of Minnesota seeks an Accounts Payable Payable Specialist I to support our
Financial Operation Center department within the Controller’s Office. The Accounts Payable
Specialist I is responsible for performing general and routine accounts payable activities in
support of a portfolio of Resource Responsibility Centers (RRCs) in the Finance Operations
Center (FinOps). The Accounts Payable Specialist I communicates with other FinOps teams as
needed, finance professionals across the University, and suppliers outside the University to
ensure appropriate and timely support for RRCs. To succeed as an Accounts Payable Specialist I,
you should be professional, a team player, and attentive while being detail-oriented. You must
be comfortable with using technology such as TeamDynamix (TDx) and Google Suite and excel
at both verbal and written communication. Most importantly, as an Accounts Payable Specialist
I should have a genuine desire to meet the needs of others across the institution. You will
report to the Accounts Payable Supervisor.


Job Responsibilities with % of time:


Accounts Payable - (65%)
● Under general supervision, process payments to suppliers: For a portfolio of RRCs,
receives and uses information from service requests to prepare and process payments.
Following University standard policy and procedure:
● Conducts research and uses information and requests received to complete the
entry of vouchers into the Enterprise Financial System (EFS) accounts payable
module
● Conducts research and uses information and requests received to process check
requests and special handling of checks, invoice digitization and documentation,
internal sales, receiving against purchase orders as needed, and payment
reconciliation.
● Conducts research and uses information and requests received to process expense
reports in the Expenses module of EFS only in those cases allowable by policy and the
supporting guidance from the Tax Management Office.
● Collaborates with accounts receivable specialists to process process transactions related
to returned goods and credit memos.
● Reviews service requests for vouchers and expense reports and identifies and resolves
complex irregularities.
● Identifies transactions, policy, or system challenges that require escalation to ensure
successful resolution and accurate transaction entry.
● Understands, explains, interprets, and applies university accounts payable policy to
various and complex scenarios.
● Review and analyze service requests submitted by departments using experience or
knowledge base, evaluate application of chartstrings, and ask clarifying questions in
order to complete the transaction.
● Works with Requesters to collect supporting documentation and completes check
requests, special handling requests, payment forms and other supporting
documentation as defined by policy.
● Works with Requesters to make requests to change / update the supplier file.
● Monitors transactions created to ensure the activity is fully processed, routed through
the approvals process, addresses exceptions from match processes, and ensures budget
exceptions are monitored and addressed.
● Ensures supporting documentation is provided or created, such as receipts for PCard
activity and invoices or check request forms for supplier payments.
● Review and analyze spreadsheets submitted and process for mass transaction upload.
● Review, analyze, and process moderately complex service requests containing multiple
invoices and/or multiple suppliers.


Corporate Card Reconciliation (10%)
● Runs reports and provides support to FinOps colleagues to ensure expense reports are
entered correctly, system errors or exceptions are identified and addressed, and non-
standard discrepancies are mitigated.
● Collaborates with accounts receivable specialists to process unallowable expense
transactions as needed (PCard-related).


Unit Support (10%)
● Supports the strategy of the Finance Operations Center by assisting in the production
and review of supporting data. May include analysis of financial data, ITSM data, and
other sources.
● May support the preparation of ad hoc financial reports to support portfolios of RRCs.
● Runs and maintains reports from systems such as TeamDynamix and the Enterprise
Financial System to support their FinOps team and lane in daily operations including but
not limited to PCards ready to reconcile.


Professional Development (10%)
● May provide content to training manuals and procedures for the Finance Operations
Center.
● Identifies and participates in opportunities for cross-training across Finance Operations
Center functions to maintain adequate coverage of all functions.
● Completes professional development, education, and training activities, consistent with
managing the responsibilities of the position. Completes continued learning and
development appropriate to work duties and for the pursuit of individual, unit, and
institutional success.
● Participates in staff development based on individual need including ongoing skills
training, DEI development, professional learning, service & scholarly activity, and
engagement & well-being.
● As an individual contributor, models UMN dedication to crafting an inclusive work
environment and encouraging a caring culture.


Other duties as assigned (5%)


Qualifications
Required Qualifications (please document on resume):
● BA/BS degree or a combination of related education and proven work experience equal
to four years.
● Ability to interact with standard technology platforms (e.g., chat, word processing, data
entry, email, internet browsing).
● Ability to run reports, understand data, and make recommendations based on analysis
of data.
● Ability to find solutions to modestly technical or operational problems.
● Ability to work both independently and in a team environment.
● Ability to detect problems and report information to appropriate personnel
● Ability to communicate clearly and concisely in both written and verbal settings
Preferred Qualifications (please document on resume):
● Knowledge of university policies and procedures involving accounts payable.
● Experience in a public accounts payable setting