This temporary position processes and reviews financial transactions for the Department of Plant Sciences. On the accounts payable side they process and serve as an IRIS Reviewer for procurement card activity, invoices, internal transfers, petty cash reimbursements, and other forms of University payment and establishing new vendors when necessary. On the accounts receivable side, they perform on line receipting, deposits, credit card processing, and sales tax reporting. This position works with faculty and staff for purchasing, serving as the procurement card authority, Market Place assistant, contract and purchase order creator. This position also supports faculty with sponsored projects. They validate the projects in Cayuse, monitor the spending, reconcile the ledgers monthly, forecast the spending, communicate with sponsored accounting any concerns or issues. This position serves as the lead for the equipment purchases, verification, and surplus. This position supervises term and student workers in the business office. This position will assume responsibility in the absence of the business manager.

Required Qualifications:

• Education:
  • High School diploma
• Experience:
  • Two years of relevant experience, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Knowledge of and ability to appropriately apply University and UTIA policies and procedures.
  • Ability to compile information, receipts, documentation in an organized manner.
  • The skills to use computers, adding machines, scanners and other office machines along with the ability to comprehend various software packages.
  • Ability to communicate effectively and work well with others.
  • Knowledge of MS Excel and fund accounting principles.
  • Knowledge of uniform guidance and sponsored project procedures.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Education:
  • Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, math or management field
• Experience:
  • Four to five years of work experience to include supervising personnel.
  • SAP/IRIS experience.
  • Sponsored project experience at an institute of higher learning.
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
  • Knowledge of SAP/IRIS and skills with reporting to state and federal agencies.
  • Ability to supervise others.

About The College/Department/Division:

The Department of Plant Sciences, part of the Herbert College of Agriculture at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, addresses agricultural and environmental challenges through teaching, research, and Extension. We offer programs in plant sciences and landscape design, conduct research in crop production, genetics, plant physiology, and sustainable agriculture, and support growers and industry partners across Tennessee.

• Provides sponsored accounting support to faculty by verifying budgets and justifications for projects in Cayuse. Audits expenses for assigned projects and determines validation. Reconciles ledgers and provides forecasting situations and concerns to faculty. These accounts include recharge centers, departmental operating, gifts, royalties, and sponsored program accounts. Responsible for monitoring, validating, and processing sub-award contracts within the grant for Extension. Provides reporting for assigned faculty to include summaries of monthly activities and yearly activities. Determines and creates requests for advanced accounts, no cost extensions, budget revisions, and pay funding changes. Assists faculty with final close out of sponsored projects.
• Assists faculty and staff with procedures relating to attaining, usage, compromises, deadlines and termination of procurement cards. Processes procurement cards monthly by accumulating receipts, validating charges, tabulating in SAP/IRIS and ensuring fiscal compliance. Refers knowledge of procurement card policy and procedures to cardholders and provides support with audits.
• Creates vendors and processes invoices for payment, petty cash reimbursements, interdepartmental transfers, and other forms of University payment to include T-27's and T-29's while ensuring fiscal compliance with each. Processes contracts in the ESM system.
• Creates purchase orders in Market Place for faculty equipment. Creates assets for equipment. Maintains the equipment inventory by verifying annually and processing the proper paperwork to transfer, dismantle or send to surplus.
• Receives funds and deposits income from functions and/or events to include bankcard transactions.
• Supervises temporary and student workers in the business office.
• Offers support to the business manager and assumes responsibility in her absence.