Senior Research Accountant 1
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Description

Title: Senior Research Accountant 1

Department:  Division of Research Administration (DRA) office as a part of the Office of Research, Innovation and Economic Development

·         Salary will be based on experience and qualifications. Pay grade TBD. 

 

Job Summary/Essential Job Functions

This position serves as an Accountant Level I in the Division of Research Administration (DRA).  This department provides financial administrative service to the research community for post-award functions as part of the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development.  Sponsored project and agency fund expenditures financially reported and collected by this unit totaled $468M in FY2023.  Accountants within DRA are responsible for the financial management of millions of dollars per individual portfolio; financial compliance reviews; submitting financial reports; providing financial guidance to Principal Investigators, Business Managers, Budget Directors, and others within UT departments; serving as financial point of contact with outside sponsors; and accounts receivable collections.  This is a very fast-paced, high volume environment in which one must be able to manage multiple deadlines; exercise good judgment and decision making skills; apply knowledge of UT fiscal policy, federal regulations, and sponsors’ terms and conditions; and conform to those requirements to reduce the risk of loss of funds for the University.  The Accountant Level I has substantial accountability, independent decision making capabilities, and handles numerous sponsors. This position performs financial tasks with minimal supervision, has extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment, and draws conclusions on financial and compliance-related issues. Research Accountants provide exceptional service to faculty, staff, administrators, and sponsors regarding the fiscal management of sponsored funds; the mitigation of potential compliance risks and liability; the navigation of research administration tools and systems; and and the overall management of sponsored accounts. This position is part of the career path program within DRA involving increasing levels of responsibilities from Accountant Level I, to Accountant Level II, to Accountant Level III, to Manager.

Duties and Responsibilities

Post-Award Financial Administration

• Provides guidance and oversight to Researchers, Business Managers, Budget Directors, and others within UT departments in the fiscal management of sponsored funds.

• Interprets and applies fiscal regulations and guidelines to ensure all Federal, State, University, and private sponsor requirements are met for effective financial reporting purposes.

• Evaluates allowability and allocability of costs based on federal regulations, sponsor terms, fiscal policies, and other applicable guidelines to report to sponsors.

• Analyzes and effectively resolves problems related to all aspects of financial compliance.

• Evaluates sponsors' financial terms and conditions; departmental and sponsors' budgets and corresponding justifications; and financial reporting requirements of awards for efficient and compliant account management.

• Monitors sponsor budgets, cost share, subawards, guidelines, and expenses for allowability and compliance.

• Manages numerous and competing deadlines to ensure contractual terms and conditions are met and the University is not exposed to financial liability due to missed deadlines.

• Proficiently utilizes an array of secure web-based federal, state, and private sponsor systems for financial reporting, letter of credit draws, and reimbursement requests per sponsor requirements.

• Monitors accounts receivable to maximize the University's cash flow.  Recommends referral of delinquent accounts to UT Legal Counsel.

• Prepares reports quarterly, semi-annually, and annually for federal agencies and sponsors as required.

• Annually reviews fund balances to properly classify revenues for University financial statements.

• Develops, prepares, and maintains the closeout of reports, financial documentation, Schedules of Final Charges, and related work papers that accurately represent financial expenses to sponsors per University fiscal policy and sponsor guidelines. Work papers detail adjustments, reconciliations, justifications, cost share information, program income and all other facets involved in the accurate reporting of a sponsored project.   

Compliance

• Conducts and monitors compliance activities and accurately applies relevant fiscal policies and sponsor requirements to mitigate the risks of financial liability that could result from Federal, State, University, and private audits.

• Analyzes expenditure documentation to determine if allowable, allocable, and consistently applied.

• Interprets and enforces award terms and conditions to ensure financial compliance.

• Monitors applicable salary cap restrictions, timely effort certification, potential high-risk expenditures, and directs departments on corrective resolutions.

• Reviews cost share expenditures, third party, and in-kind cost share to ensure compliance with sponsor requirements.

• Participates and assists with internal and external audit related issues.

• Monitors limitation of funds requirements and advises Researchers, Business Managers, Budget Directors, and others within UT departments when to contact sponsors for additional funding.

• Stays abreast of Federal, State, and University regulations related to research issues by researching materials and attending conferences, among other methods, to advance knowledge and understanding of complex compliance risk-assessment and mitigation.

Collaboration External to Department

• Provides exceptional service to faculty, staff, administrators, and sponsors regarding the fiscal management of sponsored funds; the mitigation of potential compliance risks and liability; the navigation of research administration tools and systems; and and the overall management of sponsored accounts. Assists in pro-actively identifying, proposing solutions, and working towards resolution of complex matters.

• Coordinates with departments, Principal Investigators, Controller's Office, Treasurer's Office, General Counsel, and DRA Proposal and Awards teams for the accurate, timely, and compliant completion of closeout documents.

• Serves as liaison with sponsoring agencies regarding fiscal and administrative matters. 

• Assists in the preparation of related training materials and the organization of workshops to provide guidance to Principal Investigators, Business Managers, and other departmental staff.

Collaboration Internal to Department

• Instrumental in the testing and implementation of innovative digital processes regarding research projects which will position DRA to more closely align with the University's goal to be a Top 25 public research organization and to become more environmentally conscious and cost-efficient.

• Provides input and collaborative support to streamline operations, automate processes, formalize procedures, enhance customer service, and facilitate departmental goals. 

• Serves as a mentor to newly-hired Accountants to guide their professional development.

• Collaborates to develop internal training materials to provide guidance.

Required knowledge, skills, and abilities

*Ability to communicate effectively, including active listening skills, plus the ability to work with a diverse group of faculty, staff, administrators and other stakeholders.

*Ability to prioritize and manage a high-volume of complex projects simultaneously to meet constant deadlines in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.

*Ability to be detail-oriented with strong organizational and problem-solving skills.

*Ability to be flexible, have sound judgment with an open and collaborative style of work that encourages teamwork and cooperation. 

*Ability to provide excellent customer service with a commitment to exceptional quality.

*Ability to think analytically, quantitatively, creatively, and strategically and to work with ambiguity.

*Skill to be an independent thinker with professional skepticism.

*Ability to be a team player who works well collectively and collaboratively with colleagues to achieve common goals.

*Knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Preferred knowledge, skills, and abilities

*Knowledge of research administration issues including financial management and the ability to interpret and communicate federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to research administration operations, policies, and procedures.

*Knowledge of UT fiscal, human resource, and research policies

*Knowledge of Uniform Guidance, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and granting agency requirements.

*Experience with IRIS, Cayuse, and PowerBI

Qualifications

Required level/type of experience and/or years of experience

Bachelor's Degree and three years of accounting-related work experience and minimum of six hours of accredited college accounting courses

Preferred level/type of experience and/or years of experience

Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or business-related field

Experience working with grants and contracts in a University setting

Certified Research Administrator or Certified Public Accountant

 

Other Conditions of Employment required to perform essential functions of this position (i.e. the employee would lose their job if at some point they didn’t meet these conditions.)

• It is essential that the employee in this position obtains access to sponsors’ portals for financial reporting and billings.  Access to sponsor portals may require creating personal accounts using personal information.

Additional Information

Please attach the following electronic documents to the application:  Cover letter, resume, and the names, addresses (postal and electronic), and telephone numbers of at least three references.

Websites

https://research.utk.edu/oried/

https://research.utk.edu/research-administration/

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UT) is a research institution on the rise.  After setting a new institutional record for research expenditures in fiscal year 2023, we are responding to these increases and preparing a sustainable plan to meet our future staffing needs by adding multiple research accountants in the Division of Research Administration (DRA) within the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development (ORIED).

Are you a research administrator looking to grow your career?  If so, please consider joining our team!  We are proud that UT is considered one of America’s best employers, especially for women and working parents.  UT also proudly earned certification as a Great Place to Work.  Whether you want to work remotely or move to

our beautiful hometown, UT wants to be the place where you take the next big step in your career.

Why UT?

ACHIEVE YOUR POTENTIAL.  DRA’s established career path provides many opportunities to grow your career and your compensation.  With realistic timelines and milestones for promotion, as well as significant funding for staff development through professional organizations like NCURA and SRAi, DRA continues to build and strengthen team experience to support the UT research enterprise while allowing each individual to craft their own unique career trajectory.

FIT YOUR LIFESTYLE.  DRA offers flexible work schedules and locations for all team members.  Whether you want to work exclusively from the comfort of your own home in a fully remote position, come to campus for the complete UT experience, or enjoy a perfect hybrid of remote and in-person work—the choice is yours!  No matter where you are, DRA’s unmatched team support and leadership are available to help you.

FIND YOUR PURPOSE.  Come work where you can make a difference, and where the important work you do is recognized and appreciated—by your leadership, your team members, and the faculty you support.

If a position with a fully remote option and a defined career path, at an institution who is committed to personal and professional growth, sounds intriguing, please check out our posting!

Job: Other Professional
Primary Location: US-Tennessee-knoxville
Organization: Financial Management & Compliance
Schedule: Full-time
Job Posting: May 3, 2024, 8:15:14 PM

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