T32 Research Administrator (Finance and Accounting Analyst 2)

Accountabilities:: Independently manage the financial administration and post-award activities for sponsored projects and institutional research award programs. Develop and maintain award budgets, spending forecasts, financial projections, and ongoing financial plans. Monitor expenditures, analyze budget-to-actual variances, identify potential issues, and recommend appropriate corrective actions. Prepare and distribute recurring financial reports to Principal Investigators, faculty, administrators, and leadership. Process salary allocations, labor distributions, effort adjustments, revenue tracking, reconciliations, and related financial transactions. Monitor labor distributions and make appropriate adjustments, including addressing unallowable OPE and other expenditure issues. Track stipends, XTrain appointments and terminations, GAP coverage, insurance and benefit allocations, and other specialized award activities. Support effective spend-down of awards by monitoring expenditures and communicating financial status and recommendations to Principal Investigators. Administer financial reporting requirements, Other Support documentation, Just-in-Time submissions, and sponsor deliverables. Collaborate with subcontract institutions and internal administrative teams to resolve budgeting, invoicing, financial management, and compliance matters. Ensure sponsored-project activities comply with GAAP, federal regulations, NIH requirements, sponsor guidelines, and institutional policies. Serve as a knowledgeable resource for NIH Training (T), Fellowship (F), and Career Development (K) mechanisms and their post-award requirements. Support internal and external audits by preparing documentation, responding to inquiries, and ensuring financial records are accurate and complete. Perform complex financial analysis, forecasting, trend analysis, and ad hoc reporting to support operational and strategic decision-making. Use financial and research administration systems, including Oracle Discoverer, Grants Accounting, Labor Distribution, and related applications, to support financial oversight. Provide pre-award support through Other Support review, budget preparation, personnel reporting, RPPR financial information, and prior approval requests. Cross-train and mentor colleagues while providing guidance on sponsored-project financial administration and compliance. Contribute to process improvement initiatives, strategic projects, departmental policies, procedures, and operational efficiency efforts. Build collaborative relationships with faculty, administrators, finance teams, and institutional partners while promoting accountability, service excellence, and responsible stewardship of sponsored funds. Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field from an accredited college or university. At least 2 years of progressively responsible relevant professional experience. Experience performing financial analysis related to operational improvements, business cases, or similar organizational initiatives, preferably within an academic health center or comparable complex environment. Strong knowledge of financial reporting concepts, including cost accounting and net present value analysis. Intermediate spreadsheet skills, including complex formulas, functions, formatting, and financial analysis in Microsoft Excel or comparable tools. Experience working with relational databases and strong proficiency with computers, database applications, and spreadsheet software. Strong analytical, forecasting, reconciliation, and problem-solving capabilities. Ability to interpret complex financial information and translate findings into practical recommendations and guidance. Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines, financial transactions, reporting requirements, and stakeholder requests simultaneously. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with faculty, Principal Investigators, administrators, finance professionals, and other institutional partners. Ability to work independently while also contributing effectively to a collaborative research administration team. Advanced knowledge of NIH T, F, and K mechanisms and associated post-award requirements is strongly preferred. Expertise in sponsored-project financial management, compliance, labor distribution, and effort reporting is preferred. Experience working in a complex academic research environment and partnering with faculty and institutional stakeholders is advantageous. Familiarity with systems such as XTrain and InfoEd, or willingness to learn new research administration technologies, is preferred. Commitment to continuous process improvement, customer service, operational excellence, and responsible stewardship of sponsored funds. Benefits: Salary: $44.13–$60.61 per hour, with offers based on experience, education, and internal equity. Healthcare: Medical coverage for full-time employees covered at 100%, with dependent coverage provided at 88%. Life insurance: $50,000 in term life insurance provided at no cost to the employee. Retirement: Choice of two pension plans. Vacation: Up to 200 hours per year, depending on length of service. Sick leave: Up to 96 hours per year. Paid holidays: 9 paid holidays annually. Work flexibility: Telework schedule arranged with the manager; employees may also reserve an on-campus office if desired, although campus work is not mandatory. Transportation: Substantial TriMet and C-Tran discounts. Employee support: Employee Assistance Program. Family support: Childcare service discounts. Education: Tuition reimbursement opportunities. Employee discounts: Access to discounts from participating local and national businesses. Professional development: Opportunities to develop expertise in sponsored research administration, financial analysis, NIH awards, compliance, and institutional finance. Research environment: Exposure to complex academic research programs and collaboration with faculty, administrators, and institutional finance and research teams.