LDA Research Accountant 1 - Division of Research Administration

LDA Research Accountant 1 - Division of Research Administration-24000000ZJ

Description

Title : ResearchAccountant1

Department : DivisionofResearchAdministration(DRA)officeasapartoftheOfficeofResearch, Innovation and Economic Development

This is an LDA - Limited Duration Appointment position.

JobSummary / EssentialJobFunctions

This position serves as an Accountant Level I in the Division of Research Administration (DRA).This department provides financial administrative service to the research community for post-award functions as part of the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development.

• Sponsored project and agency fund expenditures financially reported and collected by this unit totaled $468M in FY2023. Accountants within DRA are responsible for the financial management of millions of dollars per individual portfolio;
• financial compliance reviews; submitting financial reports; providing financial guidance to Principal Investigators, Business Managers, Budget Directors, and others within UT departments;
• serving as financial point of contact with outside sponsors; and accounts receivable collections.This is a very fast-paced, high volume environment in which one must be able to manage multiple deadlines;
• exercise good judgment and decision making skills; apply knowledge of UT fiscal policy, federal regulations, and sponsors’ terms and conditions;

and conform to those requirements to reduce the riskoflossoffundsforthe University.TheAccountant LevelIhassubstantialaccountability, independent decision making capabilities, and handles numerous sponsors.

This position performs financial taskswithminimal supervision, hasextensivelatitude for the useofinitiativeandindependent judgment, and draws conclusions on financial and compliance-related issues.

Research Accountants provide exceptional service to faculty, staff, administrators, and sponsors regarding the fiscal management of sponsored funds;

the mitigation of potential compliance risks and liability; the navigationofresearchadministrationtoolsandsystems;andandtheoverallmanagementofsponsored accounts.

This position is part of the career path program within DRA involving increasing levels of responsibilities from Accountant Level I, to Accountant Level II, to Accountant Level III, to Manager.

Dutiesand Responsibilities

Post-AwardFinancialAdministration

• ProvidesguidanceandoversighttoResearchers,BusinessManagers,BudgetDirectors,andothers within UT departments in the fiscal management of sponsored funds.
• InterpretsandappliesfiscalregulationsandguidelinestoensureallFederal,State,University,and private sponsor requirements are met for effective financial reporting purposes.
• Evaluatesallowabilityandallocabilityofcostsbasedonfederalregulations,sponsorterms,fiscal policies, and other applicable guidelines to report to sponsors.
• Analyzesandeffectivelyresolvesproblemsrelatedtoallaspectsoffinancialcompliance.
• Evaluates sponsors' financial terms and conditions; departmental and sponsors' budgets and correspondingjustifications;andfinancialreportingrequirementsofawardsforefficientandcompliant account management.
• Monitorssponsorbudgets,costshare,subawards,guidelines,andexpensesforallowabilityand compliance.
• Managesnumerousandcompetingdeadlinestoensurecontractualtermsandconditionsaremetand the University is not exposed to financial liability due to missed deadlines.
• Proficiently utilizes anarrayof secureweb-basedfederal, state,andprivate sponsor systemsfor financialreporting,letterofcreditdraws,andreimbursementrequestspersponsorrequirements.
• MonitorsaccountsreceivabletomaximizetheUniversity'scashflow.Recommendsreferralof delinquent accounts to UT Legal Counsel.
• Preparesreportsquarterly,semi-annually,andannuallyforfederalagenciesandsponsorsasrequired.
• AnnuallyreviewsfundbalancestoproperlyclassifyrevenuesforUniversityfinancialstatements.
• Develops,prepares,andmaintainsthecloseoutofreports,financialdocumentation,SchedulesofFinal Charges, and related work papers that accurately represent financial expenses to sponsors per University fiscal policy and sponsor guidelines.

Work papers detail adjustments, reconciliations, justifications, cost share information, program income and all other facets involved in the accurate reporting of a sponsored project.

Compliance

• Conductsandmonitorscomplianceactivitiesandaccuratelyappliesrelevantfiscalpoliciesandsponsor requirements to mitigate the risks of financial liability that could result from Federal, State, University, and private audits.
• Analyzesexpendituredocumentationtodetermineifallowable,allocable,andconsistentlyapplied.
• Interpretsandenforcesawardtermsandconditionstoensurefinancialcompliance.
• Monitorsapplicablesalarycaprestrictions,timelyeffortcertification,potentialhigh-riskexpenditures, and directs departments on corrective resolutions.
• Reviewscostshareexpenditures,thirdparty,andin-kindcostsharetoensurecompliancewith sponsor requirements.
• Participatesandassistswithinternalandexternalauditrelatedissues.
• MonitorslimitationoffundsrequirementsandadvisesResearchers,BusinessManagers,Budget Directors, and others within UT departments when to contact sponsors for additional funding.
• Stays abreast of Federal, State, and University regulations related to research issues by researching materialsandattendingconferences,amongothermethods,toadvanceknowledgeandunderstanding of complex compliance risk-assessment and mitigation.

CollaborationExternaltoDepartment

Provides exceptional service to faculty, staff, administrators, and sponsors regarding the fiscal management of sponsored funds;

the mitigation of potential compliance risks and liability; the navigationofresearchadministrationtoolsandsystems;andandtheoverallmanagementofsponsored accounts.

Assists in pro-actively identifying, proposing solutions, and working towards resolution of complex matters.

• Coordinateswithdepartments,PrincipalInvestigators,Controller'sOffice,Treasurer'sOffice,General Counsel, and DRA Proposal and Awards teams for the accurate, timely, and compliant completion of closeout documents.
• Servesasliaisonwithsponsoringagenciesregardingfiscalandadministrativematters.
• Assistsinthepreparationofrelatedtrainingmaterialsandtheorganizationofworkshopstoprovide guidance to Principal Investigators, Business Managers, and other departmental staff.

CollaborationInternaltoDepartment

• Instrumental in the testing and implementation of innovative digital processes regarding research projectswhichwillpositionDRAtomoreclosely alignwiththeUniversity'sgoalto beaTop25 public research organization and to become more environmentally conscious and cost-efficient.
• Providesinputandcollaborativesupporttostreamlineoperations,automateprocesses,formalize procedures, enhance customer service, and facilitate departmental goals.
• Servesasamentortonewly-hiredAccountantstoguidetheirprofessionaldevelopment.
• Collaboratestodevelopinternaltrainingmaterialstoprovideguidance.

Requiredknowledge,skills,andabilities

• Abilitytocommunicateeffectively,includingactivelisteningskills,plustheabilitytoworkwitha diverse group of faculty, staff, administrators and other stakeholders.
• Abilitytoprioritizeandmanageahigh-volumeofcomplexprojectssimultaneouslytomeetconstant deadlines in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Abilitytobedetail-orientedwithstrongorganizationalandproblem-solvingskills.
• Abilitytobeflexible,havesoundjudgmentwithanopenandcollaborativestyleofworkthat encourages teamwork and cooperation.
• Abilitytoprovideexcellentcustomerservicewithacommitmenttoexceptionalquality.
• Abilitytothinkanalytically,quantitatively,creatively,andstrategicallyandtoworkwithambiguity.
• Skilltobeanindependentthinkerwithprofessionalskepticism.
• Abilitytobeateamplayerwhoworkswellcollectivelyandcollaborativelywithcolleaguestoachieve common goals.
• KnowledgeofMicrosoftOffice.

Preferredknowledge,skills,andabilities

• Knowledgeofresearchadministrationissuesincludingfinancialmanagementandtheabilityto interpret and communicate federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to research administration operations, policies, and procedures.
• KnowledgeofUTfiscal,humanresource,andresearchpolicies
• KnowledgeofUniformGuidance,FederalAcquisitionRegulations,andgrantingagencyrequirements.
• ExperiencewithIRIS,Cayuse,andPowerBI

Qualifications

Requiredlevel / typeofexperienceand / oryearsofexperience

Bachelor'sDegreeandthreeyearsofaccounting-relatedworkexperienceandminimumofsixhoursof accredited college accounting course

Preferredlevel / typeofexperienceand / oryearsofexperience

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or business-related field ExperienceworkingwithgrantsandcontractsinaUniversitysetting Certified Research Administrator or Certified Public Accountant

OtherConditionsofEmploymentrequiredtoperformessentialfunctionsofthisposition(i.e.theemployee would lose their job if at some point they didn’t meet these conditions.)

It is essential that the employee in this position obtains access to sponsors’ portals for financial reportingandbillings.

Accesstosponsorportalsmayrequirecreatingpersonalaccountsusingpersonal information.

AdditionalInformation

Pleaseattachthefollowingelectronicdocumentstotheapplication : Coverletter,resume,andthe names, addresses (postal and electronic), and telephone numbers of at least three references.

Websites

Other Professional

Primary Location

US-Tennessee-knoxville

Organization

Financial Management & Compliance

Schedule

Full-timeCampus / InstituteKnoxville

Job Posting

Jun 10, 2024, 3 : 00 : 32 PM