Finance is one of the four main service areas of the PEAK Initiative.

The Finance Operations Center was established as part of PEAK to create a more efficient, equitable, and consistent way to deliver and receive services at the University. The center provides individual contributors the benefits of working on a team surrounded by other specialists who are finance professionals. There are defined levels within the teams and pathways for advancement within the center.

Positions in the Finance Operations Center focus on:

  • Accounting and payroll accounting
  • Accounts receivable and billing
  • Purchasing
  • Accounts payable

Opportunities are created through clearly defined roles, standardized job responsibilities (across similar job titles), and classifications.

Director of the Finance Operations Center

Meet the Director of the Finance Operations Center, Rahfat Hussain

The Finance Operations Center leadership and team members are working with/through the PEAK Initiative to fully staff the operation as we work through each phase of PEAK. The team has created and continues to enhance service requests and related processes. Please reach out Rahfat Hussain through email with any feedback or questions you may have.

Finance Resources are listed below.


The Finance Operations Center

The Finance Operations Center includes purchasing, accounts payable, accounts receivable/billing, payroll accounting, and general accounting work. Job descriptions for opportunities in the Finance Operations Center will be shared with units in each phase as part of the Expression of Interest process. 

A service request process has been designed, along with instructions to assist people with getting the work completed. Details will be available for units in each phase as we work through the process of transitioning to the new service model. The people who work in the departments supported by FinOps will receive detailed instructions on how to connect with the center.

Work within the Operations Center 

The Finance Operations Center includes purchasing, accounts payable, accounts receivable/billing, payroll accounting, and general accounting work. Job descriptions for opportunities in the Finance Operations Center will be shared with units in each phase as part of the Expression of Interest process.

How will individual roles change? 

It depends on the individual and which role they will be moving into, whether they remain in their department or transition to the FinOps Center. Let’s take Ramon for example. Right now, Ramon performs a variety of finance tasks. They perform journal entries, enter purchasing requisitions, monitor accounts receivable activity, and miscellaneous finance tasks. They recently helped a faculty member complete some travel expense reimbursements. 

When Ramon joins the Finance Operations Center, they will be able to focus on an area of specialty, receive the latest updates on process right away, have the support of peers working on similar things, and there will be backup to ensure services continue to be provided when Ramon is out of the office. 

Not all individuals experience the same challenges as Ramon, but there is variation in how campuses/ colleges/units are resourced and there is potential for more consistency in Finance work.

How is the Work Changing?

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Finance Work Today

  • Lack of experience with processes to complete certain tasks, leading to delays 
  • Different levels of support depending on campus/college/unit
  • Limited opportunity to develop expertise in a subject area
  • Compliance risks

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Finance Work Tomorrow

  • Clear roles and responsibilities 
  • Streamlined processes to complete tasks
  • Consistent, equitable support for departments
  • Consistent backup for Finance Operations Center team members when out of office
  • Opportunity to train and develop expertise in a certain subject area
  • Less compliance risk


Finance Questions

Specific Finance questions have been archived. Current general PEAK questions can be found on the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Finance questions have been archived as of June 30, 2023.


Finance Resources

March 2023

Implementation Phase 1 - Milestone 3 Town Hall

November 2022

Implementation Phase 1 - Milestone 2 Informational Meeting


Contacts

Finance

If you have Finance specific questions, please use the Resource Responsibility Center contact list to connect directly with people.

More information is also available about the Finance Operations Center on the Senior Vice President for Finance and Operations website. You may also email the center directly with additional questions. 

Sponsor & Transition Teams

View the PEAK Initiative Sponsors. 

As each area moves through the PEAK milestones, the leadership of the campus/college/administrative unit forms transition teams. When your area is actively engaged in the process, you will be able to find your representative on the list of transition team members from Finance, Human Resources (HR), Information Technology (IT), and Marketing and Communications (Marcom).

PEAK Office

Email us at [email protected], or use the PEAK contact form to contact the PEAK office.