Financial Associate: College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies - UTK

The College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville invites applications for a Financial Associate II to join the Finance, Administration, and Operations team of one of the university's fastest-growing and most innovative colleges. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to CECS's continued growth and success while supporting emerging academic programs, innovative initiatives, and collaborative partnerships.

Reporting to the Director of Finance, Administration, and Operations (DFAO), the Financial Associate II serves as a key financial and operational resource for the college, providing comprehensive support across financial management, procurement, technology, grants, and administrative operations. Working with a high degree of independence, this position manages day-to-day financial activities, including procurement, accounts payable and receivable, general ledger reconciliation, budget and expense tracking, grant expenditure tracking, and financial reporting while ensuring accuracy, compliance, and strong financial stewardship.

The Financial Associate II also coordinates college-wide technology procurement and resource management, partnering with the CECS IT Technician to support equipment inventory, software licensing, and asset management. The position maintains accurate financial, equipment, inventory, and space records and provides timely information and reporting to support resource allocation, operational planning, and informed decision-making.

As a member of a highly collaborative team, the Financial Associate II provides backup support for human resources and other operational functions, including payroll processing, onboarding activities, and related administrative needs to ensure continuity of college operations.

The successful candidate will thrive in a fast-paced, evolving, and innovative environment and bring a proactive, solutions-oriented approach to their work. CECS is seeking someone who can work independently, anticipate needs, manage competing priorities, analyze financial information, exercise sound judgment, maintain the highest level of confidentiality, solve problems, and identify opportunities to improve processes and efficiency. This position offers the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the success of a rapidly growing college while delivering the accurate, responsive, and efficient financial and operational services that help CECS advance its mission and priorities.

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees-the Volunteers-who uphold the university's tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service.

UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee's flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy's largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service.

UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone.

The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as "Best Employer for New Graduates," "One of America's Best Large Employers," and "Best Workplace for Women," and has been designated as "Best Place for Working Parents" by Forbes Magazine.

Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!

Required Qualifications

Education: High School Diploma or GED required

Experience: At least 2 years in a position requiring similar bookkeeping/accounting/financial management/administrative skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of financial, bookkeeping, and accounting principles, procedures and systems

• Advanced computer skills including ability to quickly learn new software systems

• Ability to work independently with limited supervision

• Excellent knowledge of Excel

• Excellent written and verbal interpersonal and communication skills

• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituents in a diverse community

• Ability to gather data, compile information, and prepare reports

• Ability to use tact and discretion when dealing with a variety of issues

• Ability to multitask and prioritize

• Ability to protect and maintain confidential information

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree

• At least 4 years in a position requiring similar bookkeeping/accounting/financial management/administrative skills.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Thorough understanding of higher education practices and UT & ORIED policies and procedures.

Work Location:

• Location: Knoxville, TN, UTK Campus

• Onsite

Compensation and Benefits

• UT market range: MR06

• Anticipated hiring range: $48,000- $58,000, depending on experience

• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here

• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments:

• Resume

• Cover Letter

To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before 8/19/2026

About the College:

The College of Emerging and Collaborative Studies (CECS) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is at the forefront of changing the future of higher education. It is a first-of-its-kind college created to meet the needs of students seeking a customizable degree path in emerging fields such as artificial intelligence and data science that leads to rewarding careers upon graduation. CECS offers timely, innovative, student-centric degrees, minors, and stackable certificates at both undergraduate and graduate levels that address the future talent gap and expose students to experts and disciplines from across campus through a cross-cutting curriculum. CECS utilizes strong industry partnerships to ensure students gain relevant skills and real-world experience, offering for-credit internships and multi-disciplinary projects. CECS emphasizes the cohort experience where students learn and interact with fellow students from across campus and disciplines, allowing them to learn from one another and work together to solve real-world problems.

Who We Are:

We are a small team of energetic, adaptable, and hardworking individuals committed to educational initiatives that will lead to meaningful careers for our students and a positive impact on society. Every member of our team is a valuable collaborator, driven entrepreneur, and proficient multi-tasker dedicated to working together to find innovative approaches to achieving our shared goals. We are fast-moving and growing. Our work is constantly evolving to meet changing needs.

Financial Operations, Procurement & Grants

• Manage day-to-day financial transactions, including accounts payable/receivable, P-Card and travel card activity, reimbursements, requisitions, purchase orders, quotes, pre-approvals, and procurement for technology, equipment, labs, software, subscriptions, and other college needs.
• Monitor and reconcile ledgers, budgets, expenditures, purchasing activity, grant expenses, and other financial records across accounts, grants, contracts, gifts, and restricted funds; identify discrepancies and budget variances and recommend corrective actions to the DFAO.
• Evaluate purchasing requests for appropriate procurement methods, funding sources, account coding, approvals, and compliance requirements; coordinate with Procurement, Contracts, IT, and other university offices and provide financial and purchasing guidance to faculty and staff.
• Support sponsored projects, grants, and contracts by preparing documentation and system entries in Cayuse, Agiloft, and DASH; tracking post-award allowable expenses; and providing administrative support to the Grants Business Manager.

Technology, Inventory & Resource Management

• Coordinate college-wide technology procurement and management of equipment, software, licenses, subscriptions, warranties, service agreements, purchases, and other technology resources in partnership with the CECS IT Technician.
• Manage annual and ongoing IT equipment and space inventories; maintain accurate records of assets, sensitive minor equipment, equipment under $1,500, software, subscriptions, and other college resources.
• Coordinate asset and general surplus activities, research and resolve inventory discrepancies in DASH, and collaborate with IT to maximize the effective use of existing resources.

Travel & Administrative Operations

• Coordinate travel for faculty, staff, and guest travelers, including DASH travel requests, guest setup, travel arrangements and itineraries, expense reports, and reimbursements, ensuring accurate account coding, documentation, compliance, and timely processing.
• Provide responsive customer service to students, faculty, staff, and guests; monitor CECS shared email accounts; and maintain organized electronic records in SharePoint, OneDrive, and other college systems.
• Provide backup support to the Grants Business Manager, Executive Administrative Assistant, and HR Administrative Associate and assist the DFAO with special projects, initiatives, and other operational priorities.

Compliance, Judgment & Professional Development

• Perform responsibilities with a high degree of independence, sound judgment, confidentiality, accuracy, and fiscal stewardship while proactively resolving issues, monitoring deadlines, and identifying opportunities to improve processes and efficiency.
• Maintain current knowledge of university and ORIED financial, procurement, travel, grants, and administrative policies; communicate relevant requirements to college stakeholders and complete all required training.
• Proactively pursue professional development and training to strengthen financial, technical, and operational knowledge and skills.
• Perform other duties and special assignments as assigned.

Financial Operations, Procurement & Grants

• Manage day-to-day financial transactions, including accounts payable/receivable, P-Card and travel card activity, reimbursements, requisitions, purchase orders, quotes, pre-approvals, and procurement for technology, equipment, labs, software, subscriptions, and other college needs.
• Monitor and reconcile ledgers, budgets, expenditures, purchasing activity, grant expenses, and other financial records across accounts, grants, contracts, gifts, and restricted funds; identify discrepancies and budget variances and recommend corrective actions to the DFAO.
• Evaluate purchasing requests for appropriate procurement methods, funding sources, account coding, approvals, and compliance requirements; coordinate with Procurement, Contracts, IT, and other university offices and provide financial and purchasing guidance to faculty and staff.
• Support sponsored projects, grants, and contracts by preparing documentation and system entries in Cayuse, Agiloft, and DASH; tracking post-award allowable expenses; and providing administrative support to the Grants Business Manager.

Technology, Inventory & Resource Management

• Coordinate college-wide technology procurement and management of equipment, software, licenses, subscriptions, warranties, service agreements, purchases, and other technology resources in partnership with the CECS IT Technician.
• Manage annual and ongoing IT equipment and space inventories; maintain accurate records of assets, sensitive minor equipment, equipment under $1,500, software, subscriptions, and other college resources.
• Coordinate asset and general surplus activities, research and resolve inventory discrepancies in DASH, and collaborate with IT to maximize the effective use of existing resources.

Travel & Administrative Operations

• Coordinate travel for faculty, staff, and guest travelers, including DASH travel requests, guest setup, travel arrangements and itineraries, expense reports, and reimbursements, ensuring accurate account coding, documentation, compliance, and timely processing.
• Provide responsive customer service to students, faculty, staff, and guests; monitor CECS shared email accounts; and maintain organized electronic records in SharePoint, OneDrive, and other college systems.
• Provide backup support to the Grants Business Manager, Executive Administrative Assistant, and HR Administrative Associate and assist the DFAO with special projects, initiatives, and other operational priorities.

Compliance, Judgment & Professional Development

• Perform responsibilities with a high degree of independence, sound judgment, confidentiality, accuracy, and fiscal stewardship while proactively resolving issues, monitoring deadlines, and identifying opportunities to improve processes and efficiency.
• Maintain current knowledge of university and ORIED financial, procurement, travel, grants, and administrative policies; communicate relevant requirements to college stakeholders and complete all required training.
• Proactively pursue professional development and training to strengthen financial, technical, and operational knowledge and skills.
• Perform other duties and special assignments as assigned.