Financial Specialist - VolCard and Vending - UTK

Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at University of Tennessee
Anderson Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation at University of Tennessee

Accounting & Finance

Knoxville, TN, USA

USD 50k-53k / year

Posted on Jul 14, 2026

This position provides comprehensive financial and operational support by leading advanced reconciliations across multiple institutional ledgers, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and strong internal controls. The role monitors financial performance through variance analysis, manages daily transaction balancing across systems, and resolves complex discrepancies to maintain data integrity. Responsibilities include developing and enhancing financial reporting tools, overseeing cash management and deposit processes, and supporting transparency and audit readiness. Additionally, the position serves as backup to the VolCard Supervisor, assists staff, and handles credential-related functions, while contributing to budgeting, forecasting, and year-end close activities in alignment with organizational and strategic financial objectives.


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!

Provides financial and operational support through reconciliations, variance analysis, transaction balancing, reporting, cash management, supervisor backup, credential processing, budgeting, and year-end close to ensure accuracy, compliance, and audit readiness.

Required Qualifications

  • Education/Experience:

    • 3 years of progressively responsible financial/accounting experience

    • OR an associate's degree with 1 year of experience.

  • Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

    • This position is required to have advanced Microsoft Office Suite knowledge, specifically in Excel, Outlook, and Teams.

    • Needs the ability to evaluate data in Excel by creating formulas and analyzing formulas that are already in place.

    • Must have the ability to learn DASH Reporting and Entry, and the ability to make sound decisions on the needs of staff, faculty, and students.

    • Has the ability to identify and resolve accounts payable and receivable discrepancies.

    • Needs knowledge of current and previous phone operating systems.

    • Ability to maintain focus in open-concept office with frequent interruptions.

Preferred Qualifications

  • Education/Experience:
    Prefer a bachelor's degree in business/accounting with experience in a campus environment.

  • Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:
    Extensive knowledge of Excel. Preferred knowledge of Banner, LDAP, Campus Gold, ID Production, and DASH. Preferred knowledge of reconciling ledgers. Campus Environment knowledge. This position will need strong Accounting Skills.

Work Location

  • Location: Knoxville, TN

  • Onsite

Compensation and Benefits

  • UT market range: MR07

  • Anticipated hiring range: $50,000 - $53,000

  • 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. To be assured of full consideration, completed applications with all requested materials should be submitted on or before 7/20/2026

  • Resume

  • Cover Letter

About The College/Department/Division The VolCard serves as the passport to campus. A campus identification and access credential for students, staff, and faculty, the VolCard is accessible via mobile devices. The VolCard grants entry to housing facilities, dining services, academic buildings, and campus events such as graduation. It includes a declining balance account that can be used at vending machines, on-campus meal locations and POD stores, off-campus merchants including grocery stores, and at VolShop locations. The VolCard Office oversees the issuance and management of the credential, ensuring smooth and reliable service. Additionally, the office is responsible for managing vending services across campus.


Financial Reconciliation and Account Oversight

Independently perform advanced financial reconciliations across multiple institutional ledgers within the DASH system, ensuring accuracy, integrity, and compliance with GAAP and internal control standards. Serve as a key point of accountability for financial oversight by conducting detailed variance analysis and monitoring ledger-to-budget performance for Campus Vending revenue and expense accounts, VolCard Office returned checks, and doubtful accounts, identifying trends, assessing financial risk, and recommending corrective actions to support informed decision-making.

Daily Transaction Reconciliation and Discrepancy Resolution

Perform daily reconciliation and balancing of Meal Plan and Stored Value Card (SVC) transactions between Campus Gold and the Meal Plan Manager system, investigating variances and implementing timely resolutions to ensure data integrity across platforms. Conduct in-depth research and analysis to identify, troubleshoot, and resolve complex financial discrepancies.

Financial Reporting and Cash Management

Design, develop, and continuously improve financial tracking and reporting tools, including complex spreadsheet models for VolCard accounts, to enhance transparency, audit readiness, and decision-making capabilities. Oversee and execute daily cash management functions, including the accurate entry of deposits into ORT (Online Receipting Tool), ensuring strict adherence to established internal controls, documentation standards, and policy-driven deadlines.

Operational Support, Credential Processing, and Customer Service

Acts as the designated backup to the VolCard Supervisor. In the Supervisor’s absence, this position supports front-line staff and student employees as needed, ensures the accuracy of data, and provides resource materials to management upon request. Responsibilities also include performing credential-related functions such as processing DASH documentation, managing billing, producing credentials, and completing reconciliation activities. Participates in a secondary rotation supporting VolCard front-line operations, including responding to phone inquiries and providing direct customer service.

Budget Development and Year-End Financial Reporting

Play a critical role in the annual budgeting cycle by providing data related to annual expenses on various accounts and preparing supporting documentation that informs budget development and resource allocation decisions. Identify and question expenditures that are out of the ordinary. Maintain accountability to the Budget and Finance Office and Controller’s Office by managing year-end financial close activities related to assigned accounts, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.