Academic Affairs

Academic Affairs Financial Management Academy

NOTE: The Financial Management Academy will not be offered in 2011-12. Please check back in April 2012 for information about the 2012-13 offering.

The Academic Affairs Fiscal Officers Advisory Group (FOAG) has developed a new training program designed for fiscal staff in Academic Affairs. The Financial Management Academy (FMA) is designed to supplement existing courses taught through Staff Education and Development and will provide fiscal staff with a solid foundation of knowledge of a broad range of UCSD financial functions.

Please feel free to contact Kathy Farrelly, Linda Thai Schlossman or any of the other members of the advisory group to provide any feedback about the program or to ask questions.

Goals of Program

  • To assist in professional development and target career advancement as a financial manager
  • To broaden the base of financial knowledge of fiscal staff in Academic Affairs
  • To teach the concepts behind financial processes and requirements
  • To transfer foundational knowledge, preparing staff to confidently manage multiple fund sources and complex funding situations

Program Design

  • Classroom setting, combination of lectures and activities, some out-of-class activities
  • Small group of approximately 20 participants
  • Meet once per month, 2-4 hours, depending on topic, about 9 meetings
  • Instructors from Academic Affairs and central offices
  • Does not duplicate training from Staff Development
  • Some Staff Development courses may be recommended as prerequisites
  • Emphasis on the “why” and “why not” of various financial practices
  • Emphasis on best practices of financial management in Academic Affairs units
  • Participants apply, endorsed by supervisor

Curriculum Topics

  • Chart of Accounts – Fund Sources and Uses
  • Accountability and Controls
  • Financial Transactions and Ledger Reconciliation
  • Financial Reporting
  • General Funds Management
  • Sponsored Research Management
  • Managing Self-Supporting Activities
  • Managing Private Gifts and Endowments

Eligibility Criteria and Application

To be eligible to participate in the Financial Management Academy, you must be a career staff member actively employed at UCSD who:

  • has at least one year of experience with UCSD fund management,
  • has passed probationary period,
  • is committed to long-term employment at the University of California, and
  • has achieved an overall rating of at least "Solid" on the most recent performance evaluation

First consideration will be given to those applicants who have one to five years of financial experience and are at PSS Grades 4 through 6 (or equivalent). The Office of the Executive Vice Chancellor, Academic Affairs will prescreen all applications to determine that applicants meet minimum eligibility requirements. Final consideration will be given to selecting a group that represents a diversity of staff from various position titles, breadth of experience and divisional areas.

Eligible and interested staff will apply for the program via an online application module. Applications completed by the employee will be automatically routed through the employee’s supervisor for approval of release time to participate in the program. Applicants must also upload a current resume (Word or PDF format preferred) via the application module.

The Financial Management Academy will select up to 20 participants annually to maximize the effectiveness of the program exercises and to support a positive learning environment

FMA Sharepoint Site (users are registered by the FMA Program Coordinator):