Financial Coordinator

• Job Type: Support Staff - Union
• Bargaining Unit: Local 2110
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building: Schermerhorn
• Salary Range: $57,200 - $59,000

Position Summary

The Financial Coordinator serves as a key member of the Department of Anthropology, providing comprehensive administrative, financial, and event coordination support to faculty, researchers, and students across the Postbaccalaureate, MA, and PhD programs. The position ensures smooth day-to-day financial operations, compliance with university policies, and high-quality service to the department's diverse academic community.

The Department of Anthropology at Columbia University examines the concepts and everyday practices that shape how people think, act, and make sense of their own and others' worlds. Central to this inquiry is understanding where these frameworks originate, how they enable or constrain forms of life, and how they relate to the production and distribution of power. The department interrogates these dynamics by exploring how people across different societies, times, and places have thought and acted, and what this reveals about alternative possibilities for engaging with the world. Faculty and students work collectively across ethnographic, historical, archaeological, and linguistic archives to address interdisciplinary questions, with research interests spanning philosophy, law, ethics, politics, semiotics, ecology and ecocriticism, science and technology studies, critical native studies, aesthetics, affect theory, visual culture, moving image, and sound studies.

Responsibilities

• Provide administrative and financial support to faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and students, initiating all transactions in university systems such as ARC, PAC, and Concur.
• Coordinate and track Arts and Sciences and departmental reimbursement programs for student research and conference travel.
• Process Work Study, temporary help, and student research worker hires and payroll. Perform monthly account reconciliations, resolve open commitments and overdrafts, and process corrections through Journal Vouchers or ITFs.
• Manage complex purchasing processes for laboratory, scientific, and computer equipment, as well as research services using sponsored funds. Prepare requisitions, purchase orders, and payments in accordance with university policies.
• Communicate procurement and reimbursement policies to faculty, staff, and students. Approve and process check requests, purchase orders, invoices, reimbursements, and travel and business expenses.
• Ensure timely submission and tracking of vendor setup, wire requests, reimbursements, and invoice payments. Manage vendor registration in Payment|Works and reconcile discrepancies with vendors, procurement offices, and departmental stakeholders.
• Collaborate with the International Students & Scholars Office (ISSO) to manage visa applications for faculty and departmental researchers.
• Maintain office inventory, equipment, and supplies; oversee maintenance and repair requests; and coordinate space management and facility services.
• Provide event support for departmental seminars, workshops, and PhD presentations, including setup, repair, and troubleshooting of electronic and audio-visual equipment.
• Assist the Director of Academic Administration and Finance with maintaining the department's website and social media presence.
• Serve as a resource for students by explaining departmental policies and procedures, answering inquiries, and supporting daily office operations.
• Perform related duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• High School diploma and three years of related experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of PeopleSoft or similar enterprise HRIS, Microsoft Office, and relational databases.

Other Requirements

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to maintain high confidentiality and professionalism with a client focus.
• Strong multi-tasking, prioritization, and organization skills.
• Attention to detail, research, critical thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Self-starter, a fast learner who can work independently under limited supervision.
• Ability to collaborate effectively in a dynamic, team-oriented environment.
• Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.