Katie Brown
Chicago,Illinois
Summary
Experienced financial assistant specializing in budget management and grant administration at Northwestern University. Skilled in financial reporting, account reconciliation, and enhancing team efficiency. Committed to maintaining policy compliance and delivering excellent customer service.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
Financial Assistant – Business Operations Support
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Evanston, IL
01.2023 - Current
- Managed accounts payable and receivable transactions and journal entries, ensuring accuracy and compliance.
- Organized department budget reconciliation and produced summary financial reports for fiscal management.
- Prepared detailed analyses of accounts, budgets, costs, and expenditures to support decision-making and maintain policy compliance.
- Facilitated grant submissions by preparing financial data and assisting with budget development.
- Provided post-award grant administration, including budget modifications, subcontract processing, and expenditure approvals, per agency guidelines.
- Delivered customer service by efficiently addressing inquiries about financial policies and procedures.
- Assisted with the annual budget cycle, including fiscal year opening/closing activities and preparation of related documentation.
- Created and delivered financial training for staff on practices, procedures, and university policies.
- Collaborated with vendors and internal stakeholders to resolve discrepancies and ensure accurate payment processing.
- Supported administrative duties such as organizing meetings, coordinating facility maintenance, and onboarding/training new team members.
Library Assistant 3 – Acquisitions
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Evanston
09.2015 - 01.2023
- Supervised one full-time employee. Monitor assignments, conduct performance excellence reviews, and provide staff training.
- Work closely with the head of Acquisitions and fellow supervisors to coordinate operations.
- Authored, reviewed, and updated departmental documentation and procedures.
- Liaised with the Transportation Library to answer questions and solve problems. Ordered, processed, and paid invoices for transportation materials. Manage the distribution of transportation gifts for processing.
- Performed acquisitions, ordering, and receiving functions for all formats, quickly cataloged physical items, and created and pay invoices.
- Assisted library patrons, faculty, and staff with queries regarding acquisitions, ordering, and collection information, specializing in Transportation, Art, and Africana.
- Tracked fund code encumbrances throughout the fiscal year to ensure resources are available for important materials requests.
- Processed expense reports for corporate credit card purchases.
- Liaised with the business office to reconcile invoices and billing matters per university policies and applicable laws.
- Loaded records, purchase orders, and invoices from multiple vendors. Troubleshoot errors. Monitor funding.
- Coordinated monthly schedules for the book mail and eBook activation teams.
Serials Acquisitions Specialist – ARC Department
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Evanston
05.2013 - 08.2015
- Supervised three full-time employees. Monitored assignments, identified goals, conducted performance excellence reviews, and trained staff.
- Coordinated and directed print serials receiving, invoicing, and claiming. Solved problems arising from placement, receipt, or payment of subscriptions.
- Worked closely with the head of the Acquisitions and Rapid Cataloging Department and other supervisors to coordinate work activities and departmental procedures.
- Liaised with subject specialists to answer questions and solve problems involving serial orders, claims, and receipts.
- Assisted in the preparation and maintenance of written documentation of departmental policy.
Senior Acquisitions Assistant and Bibliographic Editor – ARC Department
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
Evanston
09.2001 - 04.2013
- Managed a variety of complex ordering, receiving, and copy cataloging assignments.
- Loaded new vendor files and resolved problems.
- Managed ordering, cataloging, record and invoice loading, and shipping for Qatar Library.
- Trained staff and revised work.
- Located and cataloged requests for uncataloged materials.
- Implemented streamlined workflow for processing art materials.
- Created cataloging and acquisition documentation.
Studio Intern
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS
Detroit, Michigan
06.1999 - 08.1999
- Aided and taught studio art classes.
- Prepared and organized educational materials for classes.
- Assisted with the development of Institute art courses.
- Organized and maintained the museum’s art studio.
Multimedia Project Assistant
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS
Detroit, Michigan
06.1998 - 08.1998
- Assisted in creating a database of the museum’s collection.
- Color-corrected and created images for database and other Education Department projects.
- Scanned slides, entered data, images, and formatted layout of the database.
- Performed research and translated French text for education projects.
Reference Assistant
KALAMAZOO COLLEGE LIBRARY
Kalamazoo, Michigan
09.1996 - 06.1997
- Assisted students and patrons in searching the library catalog and locating materials.
- Shelved reference books.
- Performed online research and provided digital resource recommendations for the Reference Department's website.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Art and Art History
Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo, Michigan06.2000
Skills
- Financial reporting and data analysis
- Budget management and grant administration
- Account reconciliation
- Customer service and policy compliance
- Accounts payable and receivable management
- Procurement card management
- Vendor coordination
- Financial training and development
- Fiscal year-end processes
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Financial Assistant – Business Operations Support
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
01.2023 - Current
Library Assistant 3 – Acquisitions
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
09.2015 - 01.2023
Serials Acquisitions Specialist – ARC Department
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
05.2013 - 08.2015
Senior Acquisitions Assistant and Bibliographic Editor – ARC Department
NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY
09.2001 - 04.2013
Studio Intern
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS
06.1999 - 08.1999
Multimedia Project Assistant
DETROIT INSTITUTE OF ARTS
06.1998 - 08.1998
Reference Assistant
KALAMAZOO COLLEGE LIBRARY
09.1996 - 06.1997
Bachelor of Arts - Art and Art History
Kalamazoo College
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