Finance Assistant II

Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

About Rice:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice's culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community and Excellence.

Position Summary:

The Department of Bioengineering in the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing is a dynamic and fast-paced academic unit known for its world-class faculty, cutting-edge research, and large, engaged student community. The Finance Assistant supports the department's financial operations, including student payroll processing, labor distribution updates, and post-award financial support functions.

This position plays a key role in maintaining accurate financial records, ensuring compliance with university and sponsor requirements, and supporting the smooth execution of departmental business processes. It offers exposure to a broad range of financial activities in a complex, high-impact academic environment—an excellent opportunity for a detail-oriented, proactive professional who enjoys problem solving and continuous learning.

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate is a proactive, organized problem-solver who communicates effectively and thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment. They demonstrate sound judgment, attention to detail, and initiative in resolving issues. Experience with student payroll, labor distributions, and post-award financial support will help them succeed in this role, along with a collaborative mindset and commitment to accuracy and service.

Workplace Requirements: – This position is exclusively on-site, necessitating all duties to be performed in-person. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: This is a full-time (40 hours per week) position with an hourly rate of $25.43.

• Non-Exempt (hourly) positions under FLSA are eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Associate Degree
• 3 + years relevant experience in financial administration.
• In lieu of either the education or experience requirement, additional related experience or education above and beyond what is required may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.

Skills

• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a dynamic environment.
• Excellent attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Sound judgment and ability to handle confidential information responsibly.
• Proficiency in financial and data systems, with aptitude for learning new technologies.
• Collaborative mindset with the ability to build productive working relationships across teams.
• Flexibility and initiative to adapt to changing needs and priorities.

Preferences:

• Experience with financial systems and payroll processes, specifically student payroll, in a complex organization.
• Familiarity with budgeting, expense reconciliation, or grant and project financial management.
• Ability to analyze financial data, identify discrepancies, and recommend solutions.
• Excellent interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other financial or data management systems.

Essential Functions:

• Process student and staff payroll actions, ensuring accuracy and timeliness of entries.
• Prepare and process labor distribution updates and adjustments.
• Provide post-award financial support, including expense reconciliations, transaction reviews, and documentation for reports.
• Process invoices and verify accuracy to ensure timely payments to vendors.
• Maintain organized, up-to-date financial records and support audit preparation.
• Assist with expense tracking, reconciliations, and reimbursement requests.
• Compile financial information to assist in generating reports and forecasts.
• Collaborate with departmental and central staff to ensure financial accuracy and compliance.
• Respond to inquiries and provide excellent customer service to faculty, staff, and students.
• Support compliance by following university policies, procedures, and sponsor regulations.

Rice University HR | Benefits:

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please contact Rice University's Disability Resource Center at or for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.