Account Create Team Financial Specialist

Department

Provost URA: Post-Award Support

About the Department

University Research Administration has the responsibility to review and provide institutional endorsement for all proposals to federal and other external sponsors (excluding gifts), assuring compliance with University policies and sponsor terms and conditions. URA is the institutional authority for the negotiation and acceptance of financial support or other contractually-binding obligations in the form of a contract, grant, or agreement, including material transfer agreements and clinical trials.

Job Summary

The job executes a range of activities to support the functional areas of University Research Administration. Supports research, training, and other sponsored activities at the University, building upon knowledge of the University, processes, and customers. Assists in the development of research compliance education programs.

The Award Intake Team Specialist is responsible for activities associated with intake, review, and establishment of sponsored awards at the University of Chicago. The individual in this position is responsible for establishing advance accounts, monitoring for incoming sponsored awards, reviewing for unilateral versus bilateral and processing accordingly. Additionally, they are responsible for insuring compliance measures are in place (COI, CITI, IRB, IACUC, IBC) and identifying potentially detrimental terms and conditions. Successful candidates will have the analytical skills necessary to review a sponsored award agreement, determine the type of award, payment terms, reporting requirements, budget limitations, and establish accordingly per departmental guidelines. This individual will be self-motivated and have the ability to exercise sound judgement in prioritizing tasks.

Requires knowledge and experience in own discipline; still acquiring higher-level knowledge and skills. Builds knowledge of the organization, processes and customers. Solves a range of straightforward problems. Analyzes possible solutions using standard procedures. Receives a moderate level of guidance and direction.

Responsibilities

• Responsible for insuring compliance measures are in place (COI, CITI, IRB, IACUC, IBC) and identifying potentially detrimental terms and conditions.
• Intakes and processes all unilateral awards, all amendments and modifications. Intakes and collaborates with URA Post Award Research Administrators on all bilateral awards.
• Reviews all advance account requests by local departments and in accordance with URA business processes and assigns to team members. All accounts are created in Oracle.
• Prioritize work to complete assignments on a timely basis.
• Complete Award Summary document, ensuring that all appropriate attributes are noted and established correctly within university system.
• Partner with Post Award Research Administrators, and business units/departments regarding all activities associated with award intake in a timely and fiscally responsible manner.
• The individual is a member of a Team and must contribute to the team effort, as needed. This will involve timely service to departments, units, and sponsors as needed, and collaboration with Post Award Research Administrators. As needed, this individual will perform back-up duties during vacation or sick leaves of other Award Intake Team staff.
• Run weekly reports to monitor accuracy and ensure awards are being processed in a timely manner. This includes ad hoc reports and data cleanup as needed.
• This individual will recommend business process improvements and will actively participate in continued process improvements related to account creation.
• Maintain appropriate data entry into institutional database for all account creations and modifications, ensuring data quality and documentation of any institutional risk.
• Gain and maintain thorough understanding of university and sponsor regulations. Continuously seek to improve the award intake process for sponsored projects.
• Participate in institutional training specific to award intake as requested by the Associate Director of Post Award Support Services.
• Through interaction with a variety of federal and non-federal funding agencies, faculty, and staff, provides professional assistance with the administration and coordination of proposals and awards in research and training.
• Maintains correspondence between the agency and University community to obtain and process necessary pre- and post-award information. Reviews and processes various pre- and post-award activities.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.

Work Experienc