Manager, Sponsored Program Accounting

Overview

Brandeis University, a medium-sized private research university with global reach, seeks a Manager for Sponsored Program Accounting (SPA Manager). The SPA Manager is a newly created central administration position that will oversee a team of four sponsored program accountants responsible for university wide post award grants and contracts. The Office of Sponsored Program Accounting (SPA) is one of six departments in the Division of Business and Finance.

The SPA manager will direct the day to day management of grants and contracts in accordance with government regulations, sponsor requirements, and university policies and procedures. Additionally, under the guidance of the Director of Sponsored Program Accounting the SPA Manager is responsible for providing functional supervision, leadership, training and development of the SPA team.

The new SPA Manager will also serve as a lead grant accounting liaison between external sponsoring agencies, the University, and the Principal Investigator/Departmental Administrators conducting cutting edge research.   Reporting to, and working closely with, the Director of Sponsored Program Accounting, the new SPA Manager is expected to embrace the customer-centric ethos of the department as it works to provide seamless grant accounting service across Brandeis University’s $60 million research portfolio.

The Brandeis campus is located on 235 picturesque acres in Waltham, Massachusetts, a close suburb of Boston, a well-established hub for higher education and innovation.

This is an exciting management opportunity for an individual interested in advancing their career in a high research activity university dedicated to the advancement of the humanities, arts and social, natural and physical sciences. In addition, as a liberal arts college, Brandeis affirms the importance of a broad and critical education in enriching the lives of students and preparing them for full participation in a changing society, capable of promoting their own welfare, yet remaining deeply concerned about the welfare of others.  

Examples of Key Responsibilities:

• Liaises with peers in the Office of Research Administration (ORA), the office responsible for the review, submission and acceptance of grants and contracts (pre award) for research, education and public service, to ensure that ORA and SPA collaborate effectively to provide efficient reporting and compliance for the full research life cycle.
• Work closely with the Director of SPA to strengthen and refine Grant Accounting support to PIs and Department Administrators in a highly functioning SPA office.
• Manages and executes full award compliance by adhering to sponsor terms and conditions, interpreting pertinent regulations, and applies them to situations encountered in daily interactions with departments and PIs.
• Reviews and approves cost transfers and other financial transactions under their management: post audit of grant expense activity to ensure compliance with regulations. Perform all grant accounting post-award functions according to the terms and conditions of the sponsor including but not limited to budget and expense analysis, monthly invoicing, letter of credit cash draws and quarterly reporting, financial reporting, labor distribution changes, effort reporting, and re-budgeting according to sponsor terms and regulations. Ensures these activities are properly and accurately recorded into the university accounting system in a timely manner.
• Ensures Workday data system integrity and proper set up for cash management and receivable management. Administers cash flow for sponsored accounts. Monitors recovery of F&A and accounts receivable balances.
• In a timely and accurate manner, prepares invoices, follows up on cash collections, projects cash needs and draws cash from federal agencies. Generates financial reports for a variety of reporting requirements and university analysis. Prepares schedules for inclusion in university financial statements. Manages grant closeout process including billing, collection, reporting, and recording data into the university accounting system.
• Provides functional supervision of the SPA team of Grant Accountants. Assign workload and provide input in staff performance management.
• Administers the establishment of new grant and contract awards into the university accounting system (Workday) for assigned portfolio and maintaining the award from initial setup to closeout.
• Responsible for responding to department questions or requests for information, investigating problems and issues that arise with grant data. Supports a positive and constructive relationship between various personnel and departments. Instructs P.I.s and their staff in grant management procedures and university policies and procedures.
• Collaborative partner responsible for interacting with departments in responding to requests, answering questions and working with assisting them in financial compliance.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree plus a minimum of five years accounting or budget analysis experience
• Strong communication skills, both verbal and written are required
• Collegial facilitator and collaborative team player
• Strong attention to detail necessary
• Experience working with research faculty in a higher education and/or hospital setting is preferred
• Experience managing complex grant awards and experience working with a variety of sponsors preferred

Application Information

Please include a cover letter and resume/CV.