Accounting - Grants & Finance Manager

Department

SSD Development Economics Center: Staff and Temporary Employees

About the Department

The Development Innovation Lab at the University of Chicago uses the tools of economics to develop innovations with the potential to benefit millions of people in low- and middle-income countries. It was founded and is led by Nobel laureate Michael Kremer.

Job Summary

The job works independently to administer pre-award and/or post-award activities relating to grant and contract proposals/funding within a department or unit.

The job works independently to administer a portfolio of funding, including finance management and post-award activities relating to grant and contract proposals/funding within the Development Innovation Lab and affiliated programs.

The job manages projects in monitoring the operating and budgets within The Social Sciences Division and/or University-wide administrative units. At the instruction of others, performs work that contributes to development of long- and short-term financial goals, business strategies/plans, and financial forecasts/models for major service programs and initiatives. Utilizes knowledge of finance to help coordinate monthly, quarterly and year-end reporting for all funds in the operating budget. The job manages the post award activities within the assigned portfolio including reading proposal guidelines, preparing administrative components of award closeout submissions, preparing reporting, performing funding searches, developing and preparing budgets, and monitoring regulatory compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Analyzes and prepares budgets and monthly forecasts, creates accounts, and works with the financial accounting system to allocate, authorize, monitor, and control expenses.
• Examines financial reports for consistency, accuracy, and compliance. At the direction of the Director of Finance, research staff and PIs, resolve errors and work collaboratively to prevent repeat occurrences.
• Leads the monthly and annual close process.
• Analyzes financial data, ensures account balances are accurate, reviews of errors and inaccuracies, and provides spending analysis and recommendations.
• Approve all transactions charged to restricted and unrestricted accounts so that expenditures agree with account budgets, including travel.
• Approve and transfer payroll and expenditures, monitor invoicing and payments, and reconcile charges using monthly ledgers and Oracle.
• Oversees gift and endowment accounts, departmental operating accounts and faculty unrestricted research accounts.
• Assists in the preparation of financial statements in accordance with university accounting policies.
• Meets with Research Managers, Research Directors and/or PIs to review account portfolios.
• Support the Research Portfolio manager with budget realignments by understanding sponsor formatting guidelines, preparing supporting documents, collecting proposal elements, and processing budget modification requests as needed.
• Primary manager for the procurement process, allocation of expenditures for authorization, and advises on communications with funding agencies, subcontractors, and others at the instruction.
• Provides professional support as a primary account administrator for account owners in an intensive customer service environment.
• Provides specialized support for the research enterprise within a department or unit, including pre- and/ or post- award administration for all sponsored activity. Serves as liaison between PIs, University administrative offices, and external agencies.
• Prepares interim sponsored project financial reports and closeout reports and works with University Research Administration to prepare budget summaries as required for sponsored project reports.
• Coordinates and ensures completion of annual, final, and ad hoc financial requirements and keeps the Principal Investigator informed of progress.
• Interacts with University Research Administration, Faculty, Department Pre-Award Staff, Department Human Resources, Pre/Post Award staff in other departments and Financial Services Office personnel.
• Manages all aspects of post-award administration for the assigned portfolio including award budgeting, award management, award reporting, and award closeout.
• Manages the post-award activities for the assigned portfolio including account creation, regulatory compliance monitoring, salary allocations and effort reporting, lab order processing, invoice preparation, payment processing, cost center charges, cost transfers, summer salary processing, grant projections, grant closing processes and account closing.
• Act as an expert partner to budget leads in navigating the university and project finances; use excellent communication skills to build trust and thoughtful analysis to solve problems.
• Trains and onboard new research staff on financial policies and procedures
• Ensures service and communication to PIs, standardized information, best practices development, and that all faculty and research staff are aware of any new grant policies and changes.
• Analyzes industry trends and remains current with agency and regulatory changes. Monitors department/ unit compliance with University, Divisional and Department policies and procedures and implements corrective actions for issues identified.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Education:

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

Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 5-7 years of work experience in a related job discipline.

Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Experience:

• Advanced degree in accounting, business, finance, or a related field. Bachelor’s degree in related field.

• Work experience in accounting or related field.
• Progressively responsible experience in administering sponsored research, pre and post-award.
• Working with enterprise-wide financial and sponsored research systems.

Technical Knowledge or Skills:

• Demonstrated ability to create verbal and written reports.
• Computer proficiency, including solid working knowledge of MS Office Suite, email, etc.
• Intermediate proficiency with Excel; skilled with spreadsheets and utilizing linked documents, vlookup, pivot tables, and macros.
• Proficiency in University of Chicago systems such as AURA, Oracle, Workday,PECCS, GEMS/Concur, etc.
• Proficiency with various funding agency systems.
• Knowledge of University policies and procedures related to sponsored research administration.
• Knowledge of federal rules and regulations related to sponsored research funding.

Preferred Competencies

• High-level of interpersonal and communication skills, including demonstrated ability to work with a variety of staff, students, faculty, and senior leadership.
• Lead by example in managing a detail-oriented workload, to organize and prioritize workload during high-pressure, high-volume periods, and to remain poised and professional.
• Make decisions independently that will have downstream positive impacts on the management of sponsored projects.
• Analyze data and formulate conclusions.
• Assign and prioritize duties across available resources.
• Work with minimal supervision and interact with faculty and administrators from different institutions and outside entities to make independent decisions.
• Learn new skills, take on new challenges, and effectively interact and collaborate with all levels of University administrators and faculty members.
• Influence and motivate direct reports.
• Embraced continuous improvement of skills, including communication (oral and written), planning, problem-solving, organizational, project management, and customer service.
• Manage and prioritize multiple projects and tasks.
• Communicate both verbally and in writing with all levels of people, internally and externally.
• Self-motivated and exercise sound judgment in prioritizing tasks.
• Exercise sound judgment and absolute discretion regarding confidential matters with professionalism and tact.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References Contact Information (3)(required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.

Job Family

Financial Management

Role Impact

Individual Contributor

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$85,000.00 - $100,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

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