Director, Grants and Contract Accounting

Overview

Job Summary

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Director, Grants & Contracts Accounting (GCA) will lead a professional staff in the post award management of MUSC’s robust sponsored research portfolio valued in excess of $300 million dollars. The Director will lead a collaborative effort to continually develop and refine policies and procedures supporting MUSC’s administration and management of grants, sub-awards and contracts; as well as refine the grants management operations to ensure compliance with federal, state and sponsor regulations and requirements across programs. To minimize compliance risk, the Director will lead ongoing training and development efforts to ensure those responsible for any facet of a sponsored grant/contract understands the applicable governing regulations. The Director engages in collaborative efforts with the Vice President for Research, Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, Departmental Chairs, Principal Investigators and Business Managers to seek efficiencies in research processes and procedures.

Job Competencies

Committed to fostering a workplace culture of belonging, where diversity, equity and inclusion are celebrated and are core values.

Thorough knowledge of the Federal Uniform Guidance regulations, National Institutes of Health policies practices, and terminology of sponsored research accounting and budgeting preferred.

Highly proficient and experienced working in a complex ERP environment

Independent decision-maker, problem solver, with focus to remove barriers and support successful outcomes

Ability to proficiently interpret and apply federal, state and university regulations and policies to ensure compliance while maintaining collaborative interaction with university staff and external sponsors.

Proficient in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint skills.

Highly proficient in gathering data, analyzing facts and preparing reports.

Highly effective communicator both verbally and in writing.

Job Requirements

Direct grants and contracts experience in higher  education and/or at an academic medical center.

Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 10 years’ experience from an accredited college/university in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or other related field.

Master’s degree and a minimum of 8 years’ experience preferred.

Minimum of 5 years’ experience in a leadership role.

Job Responsibilities:

Include the Leadership and oversight of:

1. GCA administrative and financial functions, including departmental budget, personnel and procurement. (15%)
2. Internal controls, by developing and maintaining departmental systems, processes, policies and procedures supporting, for GCA (15%)
3. GCA special projects, upon request of CFO. (10%)
4. Sponsored Financial Reporting team, which conducts the post-award functions related to sponsored grants and contracts (i.e. award setup, auditing expenditures for compliance, preparing and filing financial status reports). (10%)
5. Cost Accounting team, with responsibilities for preparation of the Facilities and Administrative Rate proposal, Fringe Benefits Rates proposal, Annual Sponsored Programs Report, Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), Cost Accounting Disclosure Statement, Affiliate Salary Billing, Service/Recharge Centers, Subaward Contracts module(invoicing and monitoring), external surveys. (10%)
6. Cash Management team, which conducts Letter-of-Credit (LOC) cash draws, preparing invoices to federal and non-federal sponsors, cash and expenditure reconciliations, and track sponsored project receivables and initiate collection communication. (10%)
7. GCA IT functions, in conjunction with the MUSC Sustainment team, to direct the design, development, implementation and maintenance of GCA's sponsored programs financial reporting systems, billing/invoicing systems, and other information systems utilized by the staff.  (10%)
8. Review and negotiation of the university’s Facilities and Administrative rates with the Federal government. (10%)
9. Coordination, support, and resolution for any sponsored research audits. (10%)