Grants Specialist II (Remote) - Sponsored Projects Accounting

Scheduled Hours

37.5

Position Summary

The Grants Specialist II provides guidance and technical expertise to the University’s research community in areas such as: Reporting, Invoicing, Transactional Approval and Regulatory Compliance. This position works independently, enforces compliance and provides expert advice and training to faculty and administrators related to internal University/School and external agency procedures and policies related to research administration.

Job Description

*THIS IS AN ENTRY LEVEL ROLE. THE SALARY RANGE AVAILABLE IS $53,000-$58,000 ANNUALLY.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of the regulatory and legal framework and vast compliance rules affecting federal and non-federal sponsored research agreements.
• Interprets external agency guidelines and provides advice to administrators and faculty regarding the allowability and allocability of direct costs to grants, contracts and sub-agreements.
• Provides detail-oriented review, timely and accurate preparation and submission of interim, annual and final financial reports and invoices.
• Reviews salary and stipends for compliance with grant requirements and maintain confidentiality in regards to the data.
• Processes complex adjusting entries and budget carryover entries.
• Monitors and coordinates multiple reporting due dates and focus activities on the reports for complex projects (multiple PI, subcontracts, training grants…).
• Closes out accounting records for expiring grants. Follows up with departments on outstanding issues that pertain to the report and/or invoice submission and closing process. Maintains documentation on correspondence with departments and external sponsors.
• Reviews expenditures for adherence to Federal regulations, agency requirements, award conditions and University policies.
• Reconciles accounting records to ensure that all costs are included on the financial report and/or invoice and close out accounting records for expiring grants and contracts.
• Communicates and follows up with departments and/or faculty members on outstanding issues that pertain to the FFR submission or invoice and closing process. Maintains documentation on correspondence with departments and sponsoring agencies.
• Analyzes awards received from external funding agencies for required actions, terms, accuracy of dollars and active assurances (animals, humans, conflict of interest, etc.).
• Exercises sound judgment regarding financial information in order to accurately create and approve accounts in University Account Profile System (APS) for department expenditures (payroll, purchasing, etc.).
• Reconciles monthly exception reports to maintain accuracy of profile data required for all financial reporting needs related to sponsored projects at the University and School levels.
• Processes project activation documents for pre award costs and no-cost extensions.
• Maintains RMS award/decline data to coincide with profile data used for OSRS, Departments, School, University and external reporting.
• Reviews and approves all non-payroll transactions related to assigned grant portfolio to ensure compliance with University and sponsor guidelines. Primary issues involve: sufficient justification, date of discovery, reasonableness, timelines and department approvals.
• Transactions will be reviewed at daily scheduled intervals. Approval/disapproval should be initiated within one business day.
• Contacts and communicates with departments to resolve compliance issues regarding these transactions.
• Develops and maintains ad hoc reports to catch exceptions.
• Monitors monthly exception reports.
• Reviews and approves Administrative Cost Exception forms.
• Assists with gathering detail support for audits as needed.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, master’s degree or Certified Public Accountant certification.
• Experience with Sponsored Research administration in a large university environment.
• Experience with Uniform Guidance and regulatory requirements for grant accounting.
• Experience with University accounting and reporting systems.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion and tact.
• Ability to function effectively under tight deadlines and high volume.
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks/requests/assignments and manage multiple priorities.
• Working knowledge of standard accounting procedures.
• Ability to utilize computerized systems – accounting, word processing, e-mail, internet, etc.
• Ability to maintain a detail-oriented workload.