Under general direction of the Contracts & Grants Accounting Assistant Director, manages the daily operations for all financial post-award functions involving Sponsored Research, Sponsored Instruction, and Other Sponsored Activities for a team within CGA. Provides central-level support for the University's research mission by ensuring compliance with federal regulations, state law, and university policies and procedures.
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1. Plans, organizes, directs, and monitors completion of the work of the team's professional staff to facilitate the effective and efficient management of awards in the team's portfolio. Provides ongoing training, discussion, feedback, and problem-solving leadership to team members. Contributes significantly to hiring and pay recommendations and independently evaluates and prepares annual performance documents. Reviews and monitors the activities of the staff and addresses efficiencies and productivity. Identifies staff training and development needs and seeks opportunities and resources to meet the needs.
2. Performs detailed financial analysis for sponsored projects and cost share accounts. Submits financial reports in accordance with terms of the sponsored agreements for internal use and/or external agencies (e.g. sponsors, government). Assumes responsibility for the most complex awards assigned to the team. Obtains secure, user-restricted access to multiple external sponsor billing platforms which are solely accessed by CGA.
3. Reviews all terms and conditions, including non-financial sections, of new sponsored agreements to ensure CGA has the information needed to satisfy financial reporting and compliance requirements. Creates and enters into Banner all necessary sponsored, cost share, third party, or program income FOPs as dictated by agreement packages. Ensure that all data elements in Banner are accurate and reliable for internal, external, and regulatory reporting.
4. Reviews documentation and analyzes detailed transaction data for compliance with University policies and procedures, legal and cost accounting standards, federal and state regulations, and other applicable guidelines. Also monitors and communicates changes to sponsor financial compliance or reporting requirements, identifies potential risk areas, and makes decisions in order to mitigate risks of non-compliance.
5. Conducts reviews to substantiate individual transactions and, with oversight from the CGA Director, works with external and internal auditors on annual or scheduled audits. Processes adjusting entries or refunds when necessary. Reviews transactions for conformity with procedures or limitations. Updates Banner records for expired awards. Communicates with stakeholders regarding additional support needed for audit of transactions or closeout of awards, actions required by the responsible unit, and potential risks to the University of non-compliance.
6. Provides advanced-level training, support, and/or guidance to other positions on campus responsible for sponsored projects and financial administration including, but not limited to, federal regulations, university business processes & forms, university policies & procedures, navigating the multiple offices involving research administration, project or sponsor-specific requirements, limitations or restrictions, and general Q&A.
7. Recommends and implements improvements to accounting practices, systems, and procedures. Seeks input from their team at the recommendation phase and during implementation to ensure changes are efficient and effective for all stakeholders. Provides input during the pre-award phase for matters regarding billing/reporting terms and costing/budgeting as requested.
8. Assists in the management of awards by coordinating and processing change orders, time extensions, budget reallocations, and monitoring and reporting from inception to close-out. Communicates the importance of and ensures the consistency of adherence to university processes, data collection requirements, and sponsor guidelines and reviews, investigates, and corrects errors and inconsistencies in financial entries, budget forms, documents, and reports. Frequently interacts with departmental, college, or central offices and relevant staff to obtain or clarify information to allow for timely award processing.
9. Reviews cost transfers for expired funds to ensure alignment with project period and final invoice amount. Communicates with departmental staff to ensure sound and compliant award management at the local level.
10. Ensures the consistency of and adherence to guidelines and reviews, investigates, and corrects errors and inconsistencies in financial entries, documents, reports, and Banner records. Determines and communicates changes that are required to satisfy financial reporting requirements, accounting standards, university reporting to unit or senior leadership, or regulatory mandates.
11. Receives escalated problems from within the team and represents the team in discussions with sponsors, internal colleagues, and/or senior management. Serves as liaison or primary point of contact for sponsors to resolve financial reporting questions or concerns, collaborating with responsible campus units where necessary for resolution. Communicates timely with staff regarding sponsor concerns and resolutions found.
Supervisory Responsibility
Full supervisory responsibility for other employees is a major responsibility and includes training, evaluating, and making or recommending pay, promotion or other employment decisions.

Education:
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance or a degree plus a CPA, MBA, CIA, CFE, CME or formally recognized professional finance or accounting designation.
Experience:
5 years experience in accounting services, financial services or auditing services.
Indicated education and experience is required; no substitutions allowed.

1. Knowledge of accounting and budget principles & practices, university policies & procedures, governing regulations (e.g. federal, sponsor, state, public law), and the analysis of financial data.

2. Strong knowledge of contract and grant procedures and ability to apply policies and accounting practices.
3. Ability to independently diagnose and determine the proper channel of contact using sound judgment. Ability to make decision, provide guidance and directions staff to follow.
4. Skilled to independently analyze complex accounting transactions, and interpret agreements with difficult restrictions using various tools.
5. Excellent customer service skills. Working collaboratively with different process partners, departments, within the organization to achieve best possible outcomes.

None Required.

1. Preferred experience in accounting services involving post-award and sponsored research activities.

Auburn University is committed to an inclusive and diverse campus environment. Women, underrepresented groups, individuals with disabilities and veterans are encouraged to apply.
AUBURN UNIVERSITY IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION/EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. It is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities for all individuals without regard to race, sex, religion, color, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by applicable law.