IT Financial Specialist

The IT Financial Specialist position is responsible for the processing, payment, tracking, analyzing and reporting of IT department invoicing and assists with forecasting and budgeting of IT Department spend. This position also assists with large scale process improvement initiatives and spearheads smaller scale process improvement projects with a small team or independently.Job Responsibility• Primary contact for IT Activity Managers and accountable for assisting with the deliverables related to the processing and payment of IT related invoices, including but not limited to PO creation, invoice auditing, change order and invoicing approvals per the approval matrix, and invoice processing. Serves as IT liaison to Finance, AP, Internal Audit and Tax on invoice and budget related requests, payment issues, process changes and other ad hoc reporting. Partners with all vendors on training and process refinements or changes, invoicing errors, payment disputes, and other invoicing issues. Partners with self-procured vendors on vendor financial on-boarding, payment process and payment resolution. (35%)• Assist Activity Managers with managing budgets including but not limited to yearly submissions and monthly reforecast reviews, revisions, and system updates. Utilizing all budget knowledge to ensure forecast accuracy and invoice payment align with budget allocations. (30%)• Acts as key contact for exception reporting as it relates to cost management. Responsible for tracking and processing of invoices paid, accruals, reimbursements, real-time and forecasted committed spend. Manages accrual accounting processes adhering to Finance and Accounting Dept requirements and time constraints. Assists with weekly expenditure tracking and assists with monitoring of project progress vs. approved budget and approved payments. Communicates proactively with all partners to enforce compliance with submittal processes and deadlines. (15%)• Analyses, prepares, and distributes reports on departmental spend, committed costs, and average project costs. Acts as primary liaison with other departments to ensure cost management exceptions are resolved. Prepares monthly reports and outputs regarding all facets of budgets. (10%)• Leads or works as a team member on Office of the CIO and IT process improvement initiatives and process changes as outlined by Manager. Partners with Key stakeholders on projects and works to complete project deliverables according to project timeline. Measures and controls project outcomes and may become New Process Owner after transitioned from Project to Process. (10%)Job Qualifications• Proficiency in organization and time management skills with the ability to meet deadlines• Ability to effectively communicate and work with people at all levels up to executives —strong interpersonal skills are required due to the nature and volume of interaction with various levels of management and outside contacts• Must function well in a fast-paced environment with high sense of urgency• Versatile, capable of working proactively, collaboratively and independently while assuming responsibility for multiple simultaneous activities• Highly motivated and requires minimal supervision• Strong critical thinking skills• Conflict resolution and customer service skills• Proficiency with Microsoft Outlook is required• Intermediate skills using Microsoft Excel and Access• Knowledge of Accounting terminology, best practices, and internal controlsEducation/ExperienceOne of the following:• Two years experience in financial or a similar position that utilizes the core competencies with an Associate’s degree• Four years experience in financial or a similar position that utilizes the core competencies without a degree• Four year degree with a financial focusRetail experience preferred.