Careers

Finance Professional 3GR
Unit: Clinical Neuroscience Administrative Center
Classification & Title: 8223GR, Finance Professional 3
Working Title: Sponsored Award Accountant
Percent Time: 100%
Work Schedule/Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:00am - 4:30pm

Overview:
This Finance Professional position is a member of the Clinical Neuroscience Administrative Center's finance team which collectively supports the departments of Neurology, Neurosurgery, PM&R and Psychiatry. This position will be the subject matter expert providing financial, accounting, and analytical expertise for a set of awarded sponsored projects from one or more departments. This position will have three core areas of responsibility:

Partner (30%)
• Partnering with principal investigators, administrative/lab staff, and other accounting staff providing guidance and counsel regarding financial services and practices.
• Provide data and recommendations regarding account balances, budgeting practices, and accounting functions.
• Liaise between the principal investigator, Sponsored Projects Administration, Sponsored Financial Reporting, and department staff by interpreting and explaining policy and procedural requirements.
• Understand and communicate sponsor and University restrictions regarding PI/staff eligibility, cost sharing, sponsor restrictions, award terms, etc.
• Provide support and recommendations regarding administrative requests to the sponsor such as submission of re-budget requests, no-cost extension letters, changes to key personnel, requests for carryover of unspent funds, budget short falls/overruns, as well as subaward activity (e.g. contract set up and amendments). 
• Advise, draft, or review communications sent on behalf of the principal investigator to ensure and financial integrity.

Report (30%)
• Prepare ad hoc, monthly, and annual reports of assigned grants/projects/programs for principal investigators including detailed financial analysis to identify areas of concern, provide documentation for audit purposes.
• Recommend course of action to resolve any issues. 
• Facilitate meetings with principal investigators as necessary/requested to discuss award status and advise on related accounting matters. 

Monitor (20%)
• Communicate regularly with principal investigators regarding necessary distribution changes and cost transfers.  Process necessary corrections in a timely fashion. 
• Coordinate effort certification for assigned faculty and grants.
• Monitor awards for compliance concerns (FCOI, RCR, Other Support documentation, use of human subjects or vertebrate animals, etc.).
• Monitor, audit and approve/deny expenditures on assigned sponsored and non-sponsored accounts based on administrative requirements of the University and sponsor.

Responsibilities not listed above include (less than 20% in total):
• Manage data in the awards database; run reports and queries as needed.
• Represent the Center on various committees to share expertise, aid in decision making and communicate information back to the team.
• Continue professional development by engaging with relevant courses, workshops, seminars, and training opportunities to stay abreast of evolving practices and policies.
• Special assignments and projects as assigned by the Finance Manager or Finance Director.

All required qualifications must be documented on application materials

Required Qualifications

• BA/BS with major in accounting, finance or business administration plus at least four years of accounting/ administrative experience, or related education and experience to total eight years. 
• Strong technical, problem solving and process improvement skills.
• Analysis skills; ability to gather, organize and present data in a meaningful way.
• Demonstrated ability to provide excellent customer service.
• Must have excellent critical thinking, decision-making, and communications skills.
• Ability to interact with people of all responsibility levels within and external to the U of M.
• Proficiency with relevant computer programs including Word, Excel and Adobe. 

Preferred Qualifications:
• Current or past grant-related work in an academic setting.
• Familiarity with federal and University regulations governing research.
• Experience as a certified approver.
• Familiarity with University systems such as PeopleSoft HRMS, EFS, UM Reports, ECRT and EGMS.