Senior Post Award Grant Accountant

Overview

Reporting to the Director of Sponsored Programs, this Senior Post Award Grant Accountant provides professional support and guidance in administering grants, contracts, and other sponsored funds for faculty and staff. The role implements financial research administration direction provided by the Office of Sponsored Programs and the Provost’s Office, including policy and other sponsored program business operations.

This position also liaises with the Office of the Controller on financial reporting matters, including compliance with federal award programs and issues related to the annual audit performed in accordance with the Provisions of OMB Uniform Guidance. Strong relationship management skills are essential to maintain high client satisfaction, and flexibility is required in a rapidly evolving unit.

The role may be considered for a remote work arrangement.

Responsibilities

• Advise, guide, and assist faculty and administrators in the management of sponsored awards.
• Serve as the primary source of expertise to ensure awards are managed according to sponsor requirements, regulatory compliance requirements, and University, Federal, and State policies and regulations.
• Prepare and route prior approval requests and progress/financial status reports; ensure required documentation is submitted correctly and in a timely manner to the sponsor.
• Provide post-award transactional support for faculty portfolios, including commitment management, projections, cost transfers, and other grant financial grant management tasks through award close-out.
• Maintain current knowledge of University and Federal policies, and other grant and contract-related regulations.
• Assist faculty and staff in fiscal management of sponsored projects by interpreting award documents, preparing documentation to set up grant/project accounts, and ensuring financial compliance obligations are met.
• Partner with the pre-award/contracts/award team to manage the full grant lifecycle, including crafting projections, identifying risks and delays to spending, requesting budget revisions, amendments, NCEs, and other award modifications.
• Provide Principal Investigators with regular account reports for all sponsored projects and hold quarterly meetings.
• Cultivate and maintain strong customer service and working partnerships with faculty, Principal Investigators, sponsors, and other key stakeholders; maintain effective communications.
• Provide direction, training, and assistance to Principal Investigators and department staff in award management, including budgeting and financial statements, interpretation of sponsor terms and policies, and use of internal financial systems and University policies and procedures.
• Review terms and conditions on award documents as appropriate.
• Collaborate with the pre-award team to negotiate award terms, as necessary, and to facilitate agreements, including subcontracts.
• Prepare effort reports and facilitate the effort certification process.
• Hold regular and quarterly meetings with the Office of the Controller and Finance on sponsored awards.
• Maintain institutional reporting on expenditures, spending activity, and forecasting for sponsored awards.
• Play a key role in the development and continuous improvement of the financial grant management process.
• Review and analyze client interactions and current methods.
• Make recommendations for and participate in the implementation of policy changes as appropriate.
• Analyze and understand complex information from multiple sources—including funding opportunity announcements, funding interest matches, Federal regulations, and sponsor requirements—to manage awards effectively.
• Keep abreast of laws, regulations, and external and internal policies and procedures governing administration of grants and contracts.
• Ensure key personnel are compliant with regulatory, University, and other training mandates.
• Issue outgoing sub-award agreements and perform subrecipient risk assessment and monitoring.
• Perform other duties assigned by the Office of Sponsored Programs and Controller’s Office.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and five years of related experience, or ten years of experience in a business organization or governmental agency performing financial grants and contracts administration and compliance management.
• Thorough knowledge of Federal laws and regulations about financial grant and contract administration.
• Sufficient information technology skills to demonstrate acquisition and use of web-based and other computer-assisted systems and procedures.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or advanced degree in business, accounting, or an appropriate field.
• Direct experience with the grant and contract post-award financial administration process in an institution of higher education.
• Thorough experience using financial grant management systems (specifically Banner).
• In-depth knowledge of OMB Circular A-21 & A-110 (Uniform Guidance).
• Working knowledge of database administration and other related software.
• Knowledge of current trends in research administration and financial compliance.

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary range: $100,000 - $135,000

Location

• Remote work arrangement may be considered.