Research Accounting Manager
- Employer
- Colorado School of Mines
- Location
- Colorado, United States
- Salary
- Salary Not Specified
- Date posted
- May 17, 2022
View more
- Position Type
- Administrative, Academic Affairs, Research Administration, Business & Administrative Affairs, Financial Affairs, Grants & Contracts, Student Affairs, Financial Aid
- Employment Level
- Administrative
- Employment Type
- Full Time
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Position Title Research Accountant Manager The Opportunity
The position of Research Accountant IV (Research Accountant Manager) will be responsible for the expense management of research grants and contracts in the Office of Research Administration (ORA). This position is a key member of the research team and serves as a resource to faculty and administrators in the financial administration of sponsored research awards. Essential duties include the set-up of new awards in the financial system, expense and account monitoring, financial reporting, financial closeout and other post-award financial analysis and support for sponsored awards.
The Research Accountant IV interprets federal, state and School terms and advises Mines’ research community on their application. This position requires critical thinking skills to apply regulatory interpretation to sponsored activity. This position will also be responsible for independently compiling, analyzing, and presenting financial data. In addition, they will be required to work with campus constituents including faculty and staff to manage and reconcile sponsored activity.
This is a hybrid work environment with work-from-home options for a portion of the week. Employees must reside in Colorado and be able to commute to campus as needed.
Responsibilities
The departments on campus are assigned a complexity rating by the Office of Research Administration. A department's complexity rating is assigned based on sponsor, sponsor type, expense volume, award volume, awards that consist of multiple subcontractors, and awards that consist of multiple PI-s. The set of criteria determine the level of involvement and knowledge that is required to support the department.
Award set-up and modifications
- Create new research accounts and amend existing accounts in the School’s financial system and ORA’s enterprise project tracking system. Utilize information obtained from the legal agreement, proposal documents and other project related documents. Decides appropriate financial codes to input into the School’s financial system to accurately administer and monitor awards in accordance with federal regulations, sponsor terms and conditions, and School policy.
- Recognize gap an develop, improve best practices and standard operating procedure as new policies, terms, clause arise to better perform award setup.
- Provide award setup training to new and existing Research Accountants.
- Monitor, review and reconcile award budgets, balances and expenses. This includes deficit monitoring and expense review both pre-expenditure and post-expenditure. Expenses must be allowable, allocable, and reasonable in accordance with grant terms and conditions, the budget limits and period of performance.
- This position will work with the other ORA staff (i.e. Contract Administrators) to review deficit spending requests (currently, At-Risk Spending Requests) to determine if the financial risk to the School is acceptable under current policy and practices.
- Review, approve and perform salary redistributions and journal entries as needed to ensure proper expenditure accounting.
- Identify, investigate and resolve discrepancies or errors found within research accounts. Resolution will require coordination with the applicable faculty members, ORA staff members, other departments and/or project sponsor, as applicable.
- When allowed under the terms and conditions of the agreement, the Research Accountant will approve faculty requests for no-cost time extensions, budget deviations, and pre-award spending.
- Assist the Property Manager in the Controller’s Office to ensure all equipment is titled, accounted and tagged properly within School systems and per regulations.
- Develop and/or update ad-hoc reports using data from Banner, Cognos or other database applications for tracking, diagnostic and financial analysis of sponsored activity. Develop templates to improve and expedite financial administration of awards (i.e., tuition proportionate to salary calculation, re-budgeting, closeout workbook, etc.)
- Recognize gaps and develop, improve effective business practices, standing operating procedures as it relates to award financial monitoring.
- Serve as subject expert on the financial monitoring of awards and provide training to staff on their applications.
- Generate and Analyze ad-hoc financial reporting to leadership (award expenditure volume, subrecipient volume, sponsor type volume, etc) and make recommendation on work assignments.
- Perform quality control reports to identify financial errors and resolve errors.
- Prepares and accurately submits required financial reports within sponsoring agency timeframes. This position will analyze the financial statements, supporting documentation and other necessary information for each research account to ensure accurate financial reports are submitted.
- Prepares and accurately submits required non-financial reports within sponsoring agency timeframes. This includes Property Reports, Patent Reports, Cost Share reports, etc.
- Utilize School systems, such as Banner, Cognos and ORA’s project software, to extract data needed for required reporting. Successfully navigate sponsor reporting systems to submit required reports.
- Serve as subject expert on financial and non-financial reporting and provide training to staff.
- Recognize gaps and develop, improve effective business practices, standing operating procedures as it relates to award reporting.
- Perform quality control reports to identify outstanding and upcoming sponsor reports due.
- Supervise the Research Accountants to meet reporting deadlines.
- Determines and performs all closeout actions required by
sponsoring agency and School policy and procedures, including, but
not limited to:
- Maintain a detailed tracking of closeout activities
- Track all outstanding accounts receivable actions to successfully coordinate the process of financial closeout between the grant sub-ledger and the school’s General Ledger
- Perform final expense review and account reconciliation
- Serve as subject expert of award closeout and provide training to staff.
- Recognize gap and develop, improve standing operating procedures as it relates to Award closeouts
- Perform managerial review of all award closeouts.
- Act as reviewer of award setups. Pull quality control report to review setups performed by the Research Accountants to ensure the correctness of setups within ORA. Work with assigned Research Accountants to resolve any setup issues.
- Pull Quality Control reports to ensure final sponsor reports are complete, work with the research accountants to ensure Sponsor final report correctness and timeliness.
- Act as approver for journal vouchers & salary redistribution performed by the Post Award team at ORA.
- Lead staff training on policies & procedural changes that impact Sponsored Awards.
- Formulate and update Post Award business practices
- Provide direct supervision to the Research Accountant unit. Formal supervision include providing documentation to support recommended corrective and disciplinary actions, second level signature on performance plans and appraisals, and resolving informal grievances.
- Start hiring process, interview applicants, and recommend hire, promotion, or transfer.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
- Participate in Diversity, Inclusion & Access trainings, development, and learning opportunities.
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration or the equivalent in experience
- 7+ years of accounting experience
- Supervisory experience or demonstration of lead role in lieu of experience.
- Working knowledge of federal and other pertinent external research regulations.
- Ability to use spreadsheets, databases, presentation software, and enterprise financial systems
- Demonstrated customer service skills, the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community and ability to meet multiple deadlines
- Analyzation and problem-solving skills including the ability to use independent judgment
- Effective oral and written communication skills
- Higher education, and/or government accounting experience
- Masters Degree in Accounting and/or Business Administration
- Uniform Guidance knowledge
- GASB knowledge and experience
About Mines & Golden, CO
Mines is consistently ranked among the top engineering colleges in the United States and ranks number one as the best public school in the state for best value colleges. Mines is located in the heart of Golden, Colorado, a western suburb of Denver. The campus location offers a small-town ambiance with close proximity to all that the Denver metropolitan area has to offer with an abundance of cultural events, museums, theaters and sporting venues. An arid climate and an average 300 days of sunshine per year make the area an ideal place to live, work and play. We seek individuals who value a diverse and inclusive community – offering different perspectives, experiences, and cultures that enrich the educational and work experience. Equal Opportunity
Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.
Mines’ commitment to nondiscrimination, affirmative action, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a diverse student body and workforce.
Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequity or concerns for safety.
Pay Range
$81,100 - $92,500
Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate’s education, training and experience as well as the position’s scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.
Total Rewards Mines is proud to provide exceptional benefits that include pay, health & wellness and work/life balance offerings. Our portfolio of benefits includes medical, dental, vision, disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, and retirement savings plans. Additionally, Mines employees are eligible for tuition benefits (for employees and dependents), generous paid holidays and leaves and discount programs. For more information, visit Mines benefits . How to Apply Applicants will be asked to complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, references, veterans status) and upload a resume and cover letter (required). References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and you will be informed before that contact is made. Background Investigation Required Yes COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement This position will require documented proof of full COVID-19 vaccination or exemption because of a medical or religious exclusion. New employees will be required to provide attestation to their status with proof of vaccination upon hire. Religious and medical exemptions and reasonable accommodation shall be addressed as required by law pursuant to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s vaccination guidance.
Advertised: May 17, 2022 Mountain Daylight Time
Applications close:
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