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Great tech jobs in Knoxville, Tennessee

Financial Specialist: Department of Biomedical Engineering - UTK

University of Tennessee Athletic Marketing Department

University of Tennessee Athletic Marketing Department

Accounting & Finance
Knoxville, TN, USA
USD 60k-65k / year
Posted on Feb 3, 2026

Reporting to the Senior Business Manager, the Financial Specialist performs financial management, human resources support, and administrative duties that contribute to the effective operations of the department. This position ensures compliance with university and departmental policies, provides guidance to faculty and staff regarding fiscal procedures, and maintains accurate financial documentation. The role supports a wide range of activities that directly impact departmental functions and service to students, faculty, and staff.

The Financial Specialist supports departmental business operations by processing financial transactions, preparing and reviewing documentation, assisting with human resources workflows, and maintaining fiscal records. The position provides guidance to faculty and staff regarding financial policies and procedures, assists with budget related processes, and supports daily administrative activities. This role requires accuracy, professionalism, and a strong understanding of financial procedures to maintain compliance with university standards.


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!

Reporting to the Senior Business Manager, the Financial Specialist performs financial management, human resources support, and administrative duties that contribute to the effective operations of the department. This position ensures compliance with university and departmental policies, provides guidance to faculty and staff regarding fiscal procedures, and maintains accurate financial documentation. The role supports a wide range of activities that directly impact departmental functions and service to students, faculty, and staff.

Required Qualifications

Education:

  • High school diploma or GED

Experience:

  • 5 years of accounting, business administration, and HR management experience

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Knowledge of financial procedures and documentation requirements.
  • Knowledge of university level fiscal policies.
  • Skill in completing financial forms and maintaining accurate records.
  • Ability to understand and follow established procedures.
  • Ability to communicate professionally and work with faculty and staff.
  • Ability to organize work and complete tasks accurately.

Preferred Qualifications

Education:

  • Associate with 4 years of accounting and HR or business management experience, or a bachelor's degree in with 3 years of accounting and HR or business management.

  • Other licenses/certificates related to accounting, HR, or business.

Experience:

  • Experience in an academic environment.

  • Financial work history at a comprehensive research university

  • Experience with SAP/IRIS, Cayuse, Banner

  • Supervisory experience

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

  • Knowledge of State and federal contract and grant financial requirements.

  • Working knowledge of UT fiscal and HR policies and procedures.

  • Knowledge of financial / personnel management applications such as Oracle/DASH.

  • Knowledge of personnel maintenance processes incl. hiring, I-9 e-verification, and USCIS (visa) processes.

Work Location

  • Location: Knoxville, TN
  • Onsite

Compensation and Benefits

  • UT market range: MR09
  • Anticipated hiring range: $60,000 - $65,000
  • 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.

  • Resume
  • Cover Letter
  • List of 3 Professional References

About The Department

The Biomedical Engineering in the Tickle College of Engineering located at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), invites applications for a full-time Financial Specialist. Additional information regarding the department may be viewed here. UTK is recognized by Forbes magazine as one of America’s best places to work and offers competitive benefits that can be reviewed here: UT Benefits


The Financial Specialist performs financial duties that include processing transactions, preparing financial documentation and reports, maintaining accurate fiscal records, monitoring accounts, and ensuring compliance with university policies. The role reviews financial information, supports procurement activity, monitors balances, and assists with budget related tasks. The position contributes to departmental financial operations by managing transaction preparation, reviewing fiscal accuracy, and submitting documents for approval.

Human resources responsibilities include supporting personnel document preparation such as I-9s and visas, assisting with employee related workflows, and providing guidance to faculty and staff regarding required HR procedures. The Financial Specialist supports recruitment-related documentation, personnel updates, and general HR administrative tasks and data entry. This role will also assist with faculty tenure and promotion activities, effort certification processes, serve on search committees, and manage faculty searches.

The position provides administrative support by maintaining records, time tables, preparing reports, assisting with office processes, and ensuring smooth daily operations. The role supports departmental leadership by assisting with documentation needs, responding to inquiries, preparing forms, and contributing to efficient workflow coordination.