Research Finance Assessment Lead

Overview

This project-based consulting role supports an anticipated university engagement focused on evaluating financial and operational practices supporting the institution’s sponsored research enterprise. The Sponsored Research Finance Assessment Lead will lead an end-to-end assessment and translate findings into practical, prioritized recommendations.

Responsibilities

• Lead an end-to-end assessment of sponsored research finance, including:
  • Pre-award and post-award processes
  • Grants accounting
  • Cost allocation
  • Financial reporting
• Evaluate processes and controls supporting compliance with applicable federal requirements, including:
  • Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200)
  • Documentation of personnel expenses
  • Cost allowability
  • Facilities and administrative (F&A) cost recovery
• Review the grants lifecycle, including:
  • Proposal budgeting
  • Award setup
  • Subrecipient monitoring
  • Closeout
• Interview research administration, finance, and departmental stakeholders to understand current practices, responsibilities, and operational challenges
• Document workflows, identify control gaps and bottlenecks, and assess opportunities to improve coordination
• Benchmark operations against relevant peer institutions and established research administration practices
• Develop a findings report and implementation roadmap, including:
  • Prioritized recommendations
  • Sequencing
  • Estimated costs
  • Resource needs
• Present findings to senior university leadership and support stakeholder understanding of required decisions and actions

Requirements

• At least seven (7) years of experience in one or more of the following:
  • Sponsored research finance
  • Sponsored programs administration
  • Research administration finance
• Experience completing at least two comparable assessments, audits, or consulting engagements for universities or academic research institutions within the past five (5) years
• Strong knowledge of the full grants lifecycle, including:
  • Proposal budgeting
  • Award management
  • Grants accounting
  • Subrecipient monitoring
  • Closeout
• Working knowledge of:
  • Uniform Guidance
  • Federal cost principles
  • Personnel expense documentation
  • F&A rate structures
• Ability to assess both financial controls and the operational processes behind them
• Experience presenting findings and recommendations to senior leaders, including chief financial officers and vice presidents for research
• Strong analytical, writing, interviewing, and project leadership skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Consulting or advisory experience is preferred
• University research administration and finance leaders with relevant assessment experience are encouraged to apply

Compensation & Benefits

• Final scope, schedule, compensation, and start date will be confirmed as the engagement is finalized

Location

• Work may be performed remotely, with periodic on-site sessions based on project needs