ORA Service Center Research Cost Analyst 3 - Full Time - Hybrid

Location: Hybrid Position

The Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship, Office of Research Administration (ORA) has a job opportunity for an ORA Service Center Research Cost Analyst 3 to work at the University of Miami.

CORE JOB SUMMARY

The ORA Service Center Research Cost Analyst 3 plays a critical role in safeguarding the fiscal integrity of the University’s research enterprise. The ORA Service Center Research Cost Compliance Analyst 3 administers a comprehensive billing audit and quality control program for institutional service centers, ensuring that charges to sponsored and non-sponsored projects are accurate, timely, and fully compliant with federal regulations and University policy.

Through full-cycle audits spanning rate development, usage documentation, system interfaces, and final invoice posting, the ORA Analyst 3 mitigates institutional risk, prevents federal disallowances, and ensures equitable and consistent charging practices for all researchers.

CORE JOB FUNCTIONS

 1. Billing Audit and Reconciliation

• Conducts routine and risk-based audits of service center billing activity to verify that charges posted to sponsored projects align precisely with ORA-approved rate sheets.

• Performs detailed reconciliation of billed amounts against documented units of service maintained in laboratory records or electronic usage systems.

• Monitors billing timeliness to ensure charges are posted, identifies and escalates late or stale charges that may contribute to grant overruns or audit exposure.

2. Rate Sheet Quality Assurance

• Audits cost pool inputs used in rate development to confirm accuracy, completeness, and compliance with quality control standards and appropriate salary allocations.

• Reviews tiered pricing structures to ensure correct application of internal versus external rates, with particular attention to ensuring federal sponsors are charged the lowest allowable internal rate.

• Evaluates service centers receiving institutional subsidies to confirm that subsidy funds are properly applied and reflected in reduced costs to internal users.

3. Systems and Data Integrity

• Reviews service center billing and financial data to identify discrepancies, unsupported charges, or systemic issues affecting billing accuracy and compliance.

• Issues formal audit findings to departments and oversees the development and completion of corrective actions, including required journal entries and process improvements.

• Coordinates with departments and ORA stakeholders to resolve identified issues and strengthen internal controls.

 4. Compliance Support and Training

• Maintains official audit documentation for each service center, including approved rate sheets, usage records, and sample invoices, in support of federal Single Audits and other external reviews.

• Provides quality control guidance and training to service center and laboratory managers, emphasizing compliant documentation practices that withstand federal audit scrutiny.

• Serve as a subject matter expert on service center billing compliance, supporting ORA leadership with audit preparation, policy interpretation, and risk mitigation.

• Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.

CORE QUALITIFCATIONS

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or related field required.

Experience:

Minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience with a strong emphasis on financial auditing, forensic accounting, or quality control, preferably within research, higher education, or healthcare environments. Any appropriate combination of relevant work experience and/or education may be considered.

Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes:

• Analytical and Audit Acumen: Demonstrated ability to identify inconsistencies and compliance risks across multiple data sources, such as reconciling laboratory usage records with financial system transactions.

• Technical Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including tools such as Power Query and data validation, with the ability to analyze and audit high-volume transactional data efficiently.

• Communication and Diplomacy: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to present audit findings to faculty and staff in a professional, constructive, and solutions-oriented manner.

• Regulatory Expertise: In-depth knowledge of Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) and OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) related to service center operations and sponsored project billing..