Director, Research Finance & Operations

Overview

The Director of Research Finance & Operations (Fiscal Services) provides leadership and supervision of Grants financial management of Research Administration and ensures compliance with federal/state federal laws and other regulations/requirements.

The Director will maintain the Center's financial/information systems to support the Center's research activities and provides financial analysis/support for the Center's Research Division.

As a health care organization, we have the responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. We require that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) and COVID-19 as a condition of employment.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for analyzing, monitoring and evaluating the Center's post-award sponsored research activities including all federal and non-federal sponsored projects and contracts.

• Maintain the Center's financial systems - general ledger, cross applications/purchasing, fixed assets - to provide the accounting structure needed to support the Research Division.

• Create and amend all research projects in the GL and Research Administration Systems and maintain detailed logs of all updates to sponsored funding including manual creation of financial deliverables.

• Provide financial analysis, monthly reports and accounting support for the Center's Research Division. Presents findings and recommendations to management.

• Manages two Research Finance Analysts serve as a general accounting resource to other Fiscal Services staff members.

• Review and approve all non-personnel Cost Transfers. Ensures the efficient, cost effective, administration and financial management of grants and contracts throughout the Center in compliance with internal and external policies and procedures.

• Create tracking tools (expiring grants, deficit reports) to manage and forecast financial operations to prevent award overspending.

• Meets monthly with Research Administrators (RA) to review research portfolio, upcoming deliverables, identify problem accounts and/or deficits, and work with RA to eliminate deficits.

• Facilitate resolving grant account discrepancies and closing accounts for completed projects/grant years. Monitor monthly financial statements for research division to ensure sponsored project expenditures are within the pre-established budget.

• Prepare, initiate, certify, and reconcile the draws on the Center's various letters of credit through DHHS payment management system.

• Manage the research monthly close of the Center's general ledger, ensuring journal entries are reviewed and complete by the Research Finance Analysts.

• Prepare and certify reports to external entities and individuals, including Federal Financial Reports and non-Federal Financial Status Reports.

• Monitor and work to ensure the Center's compliance with relevant government regulations and the stipulations of the various grant awards and also responsible for sub-recipient monitoring of federal awards.

• Primary contact with the auditors on the Center's annual A-133 audit. Responsible for preparing Schedule of Federal Expenditures and also provide schedules and backup required, for the audit selections. Ensures compliance with grant sponsors and University policies and regulations.

• Responsible for preparation budget templates and incentive calculations for Individual PI's and closely monitor the budget preparation of the Research Division.

• Responsible for ensuring expenditures are allowable and allocated to funds. Provides leadership and guidance to the OSR Administrators on issues related to Research Finance.

• Works closely with the Office of Sponsored Research to create a compliant, efficient, sponsored accounting operation.

• Works on special projects in the center under the direction of the Controller as assigned.

• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• BA or BS degree in Accounting, Business, Finance or other relevant degree; MBA preferred

• 5-7 years of high level responsibility in a financial office

• Accounting experience in a research/academic environment

• Experience with sponsored programs administration and/or broad knowledge of higher education research administration is preferred and highly desirable

• Experience managing people preferred

• Extensive accounting skills and a thorough understanding of financial principles, practices, systems and procedures

• Knowledge of regulatory environment for sponsored programs, OMB circulars, and federal funding agency grant policies

• Interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral)

• Ability to manage multiple tasks

• Advanced skill level in Excel, Word, Access; Excellent computer skills

• Excellent attention to detail

• Advanced math skills and superior analytical skills