Director of Sponsored Accounting and Cost Analysis

Stevens Institute of Technology • Hoboken, NJ, United States • $200k - $250k / year • 4w ago

Job Description

The Office of Sponsored Accounting and Cost Analysis manages the post-award accounting, billing, and financial reporting and analysis of sponsored research grants and expenditures throughout the life of the awards. The Director of Sponsored Accounting and Cost Analysis leads a team responsible for all matters related to managing sponsored grant agreements, including account set-up, transaction document review, accounting, invoicing, collection, and financial reporting on sponsored awards. The Director is responsible for the calculation and application of the F&A, employee benefit, and service center indirect cost recovery rates, compliance, as well as the space and capital inventories. The Director works closely with all members of the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), Finance, Research Administration, and others throughout the University to ensure smooth, efficient, coordinated, accurate, and compliant financial processes for all sponsored activities.

The Director provides leadership and oversight for the functions and staff related to financial post-award and cost analysis. Research expenditures have increased significantly and will be approximately $58 million in the current fiscal year. The university is also currently negotiating additional research awards that will significantly increase expenditures moving forward over the next five to ten years. This is a predominantly remote position which reports directly to the Associate Vice President for Finance.

Responsibilities:

Provide leadership and guidance to the Sponsored Accounting and Cost Analysis team of eight professionals.
Make recommendations on organizational structure and work with the Associate Vice President for Finance to implement adjustments as research expenditures increase.
Responsible for effective post-award account management and reporting; rate calculations for F&A, employee benefits, and service centers; and equipment and space inventories.
Work with other members of the OSP, Research Administration, and Finance teams to develop and deliver policies, procedures, workflows, training programs, and reference guides for all aspects of Sponsored Accounting and Cost Analysis.
Serve as the liaison to the University’s federal cognizant agency (ONR) and the federal auditor (DCAA). Work with the Associate Vice President for Finance on the negotiation and audits of the F&A rates and the employee benefit rates.
Partnering with the University Executive Director of Finance and Controller to compile the documentation and schedules for the annual Single Audit including the preparation of the SEFA/SESA.
Mediate cost allowability issues to ensure all compliance requirements are strictly adhered to during the review and approval of all sponsored transactions.
Create performance metrics analysis reports for senior management.
Facilitate and lead training sessions on key topics related to research administration.
Oversee the F&A and fringe rates federal proposal processes.
Responsible for service center rate development and compliance monitoring.
Monitor all sponsored accounts receivable, design and develop collection methods and identify collection risks.
Oversee effort reporting and monitor cost sharing.
Monitor and approve cost transfers.
Provide leadership and support for any audit activities involving sponsored awards.
Monitor key agencies (OMB, NIH, NSF, DOD, etc.) to stay abreast of new and/or revised regulations.
Work on special projects as requested by senior management.
Build effective partnerships throughout the University.
Ensure optimum service to all internal and external partners in response to all requests for service and information.
Other duties as assigned.

Required education and experience:

At least 10 years of experience in post-award research administration and/or grant accounting at a higher education or not for profit institution performing similar job functions.
Demonstrated success in a position of similar responsibilities in a large, decentralized, research organization.
Fluency in Uniform Guidance cost principles and the reporting requirements of the Single Audit.
Experience supervising and developing staff.
Advanced degree in related field or bachelor’s degree with experience commensurate to an advanced degree, such as industry presentations, committee membership or publications.
Experience with large, distributed award management and financial systems.
Impeccable communication and interpersonal skills with all members of the higher education community: faculty, staff, deans, directors, auditors, etc.
Excellent qualitative and quantitative skills.