Research Administrator Senior / Intermediate

Job Title

Provide high level post-award research administration and financial support in the execution of project grant budgets, financial planning, analysis and long-range forecasting.

Responsibilities

Reconcile and analyze project grant budgets and expenditures in eReconciliation and M-Reports; review expenditures, investigate and resolve discrepancies.

Assists in the analyzing and monitoring of accounting, budgeting and collection/billing activities.

Troubleshoot procurement and vendor payment problems.

Evaluate and provide interpretation of financial analyses to faculty and division administrators; meet with them on a regular basis to review their accounts.

Monitor expenditures on grants and contracts to ensure expenses are appropriate according to sponsors guidelines and complying with Uniform Guidance standards.

Assess changes in revenue and expenditures to ensure sponsored funds are being spent by the deadline without overspending; proactively anticipate changes in effort and gaps in funding.

Prepare short and long-term financial forecasting to aid Principal Investigators in making future spending plans.

Effort planning responsibilities, including tracking faculty and staff effort to minimize retroactive appointment changes, initiate and submit Personnel Action Requests (PARs/DBE changes).

Work closely with Sponsored Programs to coordinate budget allocations, review financial statements, FSRs, and other compliance reports before being submitted to sponsors; assist in closing out projects.

Submit Award Change Requests (ACRs) to coordinate with ORSP on the processing of externally sponsored project award notices/amendments and request other project changes.

Initiate and process journal entries as needed, complying with 120-day federal guidelines.

Assist in the preparation grant proposal and renewal budgets as requested.

Analyze, compare and evaluate various courses of action with authority to make independent decisions within the scope of responsibilities, with little oversight or direction from Financial Intermediate Manager.

Coordinate accounting matters and collaborate with other departments, divisions, and campus.

Work with Research Administration Manager and Department Administrator as needed for department reports.

Utilize M-Reports, M-Pathways, Business Objects to initiate and process financial activities.

Act as a mentor to lower-level research administrators in the department, providing guidance, leadership and workflow expertise.

Supervision is received from the Research Administration Manager and/or Division Administrator(s). Staff members in this classification are expected to work independently and regularly exercise judgement in setting priorities, resolving operational problems, and the application of policies, procedures, and methods, while maintaining the strictest of confidentiality at all times.

Required Qualifications

Senior Level:

• Bachelors degree in business, accounting, finance or equivalent work experience.
• 5+ years of post-award research administration experience is required, with proven high performance and a thorough understanding of the job responsibilities.
• Retain a high sense of ownership and accountability for workload; be flexible and resilient in the face of change.
• Provide excellent customer service; exercise outstanding independent judgement with the ability to multi-task and manage competing priorities and deadlines.
• Exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Must possess excellent written and oral communication skills, with high attention to detail.

Intermediate Level:

• Bachelor's degree in business, accounting, finance or equivalent work experience.
• 3+ years of post-award research administration experience is required, with proven high performance and a thorough understanding of the job responsibilities.

Desired Qualifications

• Masters degree in business, accounting, finance.
• Advanced Excel skills, Business Objects, M-Reports, and M-Pathways skills.
• Experience managing projects from a wide variety of sponsors including National Institutes of Health, American Heart Association, industry contracts, and clinical trials.
• Experience tracking effort and requesting effort changes on research projects, initiating journal entries, processing re-budget requests.
• Possess a strong understanding of University procurement policies, including business travel and hosting expense guidelines.
• Advanced understanding of post-award research administration and policies, including Uniform Guidance restrictions and experience ensuring compliance with expenditures on research projects.

Modes of Work

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

Underfill Statement

This position may be underfilled at a lower classification depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

Background Screening

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings. Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Application Deadline

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. The review and selection process may begin as early as the eighth day after posting. This opening may be removed from posting boards and filled any time after the minimum posting period has ended.

U-M EEO Statement

The University of Michigan is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.