Post-Award Specialist-College of Education, Health, and Human Science- UTK

Position manages accounting functions for the College of Education, Health, & Human Sciences (CEHHS) with regards to Sponsored Projects Accounting to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and efficiency of post-award fiscal administration.  Works to minimize risk to university and CEHHS from restricted account activity and to maximize cash flow through accounts receivable management. 

Sponsored Projects Accounting

• Analyzes contracts and agreements for spending restrictions, reporting deadlines, etc. 
• Reviews and interprets budget justifications to build GL budget for submission to Contracts & FMC.
• Prepares Schedules of Final Charges for the FMC Accountant to assist in award closeout process.
• Provides guidance to Assoc. Deans and leadership on fiscal allocations and expenditures by interpreting and applying fiscal regulations 
• and guidelines to ensure that all sponsor-specific, federal, state, and university requirements are met for each sponsored project.
• Processes subaward invoices. 
• Monitors subcontracts by reviewing subaward invoices, tracking expenditures, and working with the sub-award's financial office to 
• resolve any discrepancies and / or advise on processes.  Requests additional backup documentation to review or audit as needed. 
• Analyzes financial data and creates ad hoc reports with constructive metrics for Dean, Assoc. Deans, Director of Finance & Admin, Asst. 
• Director of Finance, and PIs, providing insights on trends and improvement opportunities. 
• Serves as a liaison between PIs & UTK's Division of Research Administration to submit post-award 
• budgets, budget revisions, other award actions, schedules of final charges, etc.

 

Financial Risk Oversight

• Works with associate deans & PIs to analyze charges and ensure they stay within agency approved budget categories.
• Collaborates with other colleges and units on joint project fiscal matters, such as budget revisions for joint projects. 
• Advises other colleges or units with Co-PIs on CEHHS Awards on matters related to the budget, compliance, or reporting.  Serves as 
• lead on Award Action items with FMC on cross-functional projects awarded in CEHHS. 
• Monitors sponsored accounts and researches over expenditures or other concerns to determine if the expenses are allowable, 
• allocable, and reasonable, providing guidance to faculty and staff as needed to reduce risks. 
• Ensures compliance across all CEHHS units on fiscal matters, such as but not limited to ledger reconciliation, outside interest 
• disclosures, compliance training, and other financial deadlines.  Provides guidance to faculty and staff on best practices.
• Reconcile ledgers for CEHHS Admin and associated groups as required by UT Policy.

Labor & Effort 

• Coordinates with all CEHHS departments and centers on labor schedules for all employees.
• Manages the email inbox for all CEHHS departments and centers in regards to labor schedule inquiries and adjustments.
• Processes labor schedules college-wide.
• Ensures fiscal compliance on effort certification for CEHHS Admin and associated groups. Review the pre-review document for accuracy with the budgets and labor data, identify and resolve any discrepancies, and send to PI for final submission.

Accounts Payables

• Ensures proper accounts payables entry for standard invoices, contract invoices, procurement cards, miscellaneous reimbursements, etc for CEHHS Admin and associated groups.
• Ensures fiscal compliance on accounts payable.
• Serves as primary contact for CEHHS Admin vendors and provides customer service to guide them through vendor setup and answers payment questions when applicable. 

Accounts Receivables

• Ensures proper accounts receivable entry for most of the college and reconciliation.
• Monitors and manages CEHHS receivables to maximize cash flow. 
• Develops and maintains accounts receivables procedures.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration
• Experience: 3-5 years or related experience
• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 
• Extensive working knowledge of financial and cost accounting standards as well as OMB Uniform Guidance.
• Extensive knowledge of university fiscal policies and procedures.
• Effective communication skills.
• Ability to prioritize and manage a high-volume of complex projects simultaneously to meet deadlines.
• Ability to provide excellent customer service with a commitment to quality and integrity.
• Ability to think analytically, quantitati