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  5. Financial Systems Specialist Frequently Asked Questions

Financial Systems Specialist Frequently Asked Questions

General

The length of the Financial Certification Program depends on the Specialty. Participants in the Financial Systems Specialist, the Procure to Pay Specialist, and the Certified Payroll Representative have six (6) months to complete the course work and all course exams. The final Certification Exam can be taken outside the six month window; however an individual is not certified until he/she passes the final exam.

Each of the individual Certification Programs offers comprehensive training to strengthen skills and to ensure depth of knowledge in an area of expertise. Certification will enhance your ability to ensure financial compliance and accountability, skills vital to the Duke University financial environment. Raising your job skills effectively should then favorably impact your performance evaluations. Certification in a chosen career path provides a credential recognized and respected in the Duke community.

The Financial Certification Program is designed to train individuals who are currently in financially related roles at Duke. If you are interested in a career in financial services, you should seek a job with financial responsibility and then enroll in the FCP.

  • Candidates preregister for a FCP Specialty of interest (e.g. Financial Systems, Human Resources/Payroll, etc.).
  • Curriculum Leader assesses eligibility.
  • Curriculum Leader sends a Contract of Enrollment to the candidate and his/her listed supervisor. Also provided are expectations for both employee and supervisor.
  • Supervisor and Participant sign Contract of Enrollment for program participation. Submission of signed contract verifies confirmation of registration information and agreement to terms of participation.
  • Curriculum Leader enrolls candidate in FCP and sends confirmation notification to candidate and supervisor.
  • Participant is emailed a verification notice and commitment expectations reminder

** Enrollment is not guaranteed until a candidate has received a Confirmation of Enrollment from the Curriculum Leader of the FCP Specialty of interest

Employees may complete two tracks at one time. However, each Specialty is demanding and is condensed into a short time frame. Therefore, participants enrolling in two Specialties at once need to be fully cognizant of their time commitments and the Failure to Attend Charge.

Course evaluations are available online to provide anonymity. Duke University Financial Services welcomes and appreciates all feedback in an effort to continue to provide excellent programming. We wish to protect your identity in an effort to solicit honest and thoughtful reflection of the course content, delivery and value.

Your certificate will be mailed to you upon successful completion of the Certification Exam.

The Financial Certification Program is open to any Duke University employee who fulfills the following qualifications:

  • Full time employee of Duke University
  • Employed by Duke University for a minimum of six (6) months
  • Has relevant professional responsibilities at Duke, i.e. technical component of job and access to SAP for FSS certification, and payroll rep or back-up payroll rep for Certified Payroll Representative certification
  • Has approval of their supervisor to participate

Attendance, Disruptions & Length of Program

You will be in danger of losing your Certification status if you do not meet the recertification requirements. Please speak to the Curriculum Leader of your Specialty to make arrangements if you cannot make the update class.

You may complete the courses you need if there is space in the classes. Preference is given to those individuals on pace in their respective Certification tracks. Once those seats are reserved, you may register space permitting.

All participants have six (6) months to complete the program. If you are unable to do so, you must register again and start the program over.

The FCP Curriculum Leaders will make eligibility decisions on an individual basis. Family medical leave is excused; therefore the Curriculum Leaders will work with you to resume your Certification schedule.

Courses, Exams & Testing Out

You will be in danger of losing your Certification status if you do not meet the recertification requirements. Please speak to the Curriculum Leader of your Specialty to make arrangements if you cannot make the update class.

A participant who scores above 50% competency but below 80% competency may attempt to take the End of Course Exam a second time without taking the entire course. If you do not pass the exam with 80% competency on the second try, you will need to retake the class.

Classes taken within one year of FCP enrollment may be grandfathered in for credit. You must pass the End of Course exam with 80% competency to gain credit for this class. If you do not pass, you may take the exam one more time. If you still do not pass, you must take the course over.

You should schedule an appointment with your Curriculum Leader. Based on your scores and your areas of deficiency, your Curriculum Leader may recommend you retake the exam or direct you toward the courses you need to repeat to boost your knowledge for that particular area.

The Certification Exam will be offered at various times per month in a designated computer lab. The Certification Exam schedule will be posted on our course calendar and is open to all certification tracks.

End of Course exams will be available at the end of your classroom course delivery and also online through the Financial Certification Program website. You may take the online test at your discretion.

Yes. Participants can use class material along with the Financial Services/Corporate Payroll websites and SAP during the Certification Exam. Participants will not be allowed to use material for end of course quizzes. Participants will have three hours to complete the exam. After three hours, unanswered questions will count against the participants final score.

The One Time Test Out option was a one-time only option during the first six months of the FCP. Please contact the Curriculum Leader for more information.

You may complete the courses you need if there is space in the classes. Preference is given to those individuals on pace in their respective Certification tracks. Once those seats are reserved, you may register space permitting.