Associate Vice President Grant Accounting and Sponsored Programs
Jefferson Health Plans
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Thomas Jefferson University’s SPAO unit is seeking a senior leader to oversee post-award financial operations for sponsored programs. The role partners with ORSS, investigators, and academic leadership to ensure accurate accounting, reporting, and compliance with federal and sponsor requirements.
The position reports to corporate finance and will drive internal controls, audits, and process improvements while mentoring SPAO staff in a complex healthcare/academic environment.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
- 7+ years progressive experience in accounting, audit, research finance, or related financial management functions.
- 7+ years leadership experience managing professional staff.
- 7+ years healthcare/academic or research experience.
- Proficiency in Word/Excel/PowerPoint; Workday ERP familiarity; AI awareness.
- Strong knowledge of GAAP.
Responsibilities
- Direct and manage all SPAO operations including post-award financial administration, accounting, reporting, invoicing, cash collections, effort reporting support, and closeout activities.
- Lead financial administration and oversight of grants, contracts, and externally sponsored programs.
- Ensure compliance with Uniform Guidance, federal regs, sponsor terms, and policies.
- Prepare and submit sponsor financial reports, invoices, federal draws, effort reporting, cost share accounting, and closeout docs.
- Develop F&A rate proposals and employee benefit rate calculations; support negotiations with federal agencies.
- Establish internal controls to safeguard sponsored funds and ensure financial integrity.
- Coordinate audits and responses with stakeholders; implement corrective actions as needed.
- Monitor receivables, cash collections, unbilled accounts, deficits; drive performance improvements.
- Collaborate with ORSS, investigators, administrators, and Finance to resolve issues.
- Advise ORSS leadership, department admins, and PIs on post-award financial management and regulatory compliance.
- Support VP Corporate Finance in strategic initiatives and process improvements.
- Set departmental goals, metrics, and plans aligned to Corporate Finance.
- Lead SPAO staff development and foster accountability and collaboration.
- Partner with Financial Systems on system implementations and optimization.
- Other duties as assigned.
Skills
Education
Tools
Job description
1
Provides operational leadership and oversight for the Sponsored Program Accounting (SPAO) function across Thomas Jefferson Health System. Responsible for the financial administration, accounting, reporting, billing, collections, and compliance activities associated with sponsored research, grants, and contracts funded by federal, state, foundation, industry, and other external sponsors.
Leads the day-to-day management of the post-award financial operations and ensures compliance with Uniform Guidance, sponsor regulations, and institutional policies. Partners with Office of Research Support Services (ORSS), principal investigators, academic leadership, and finance leadership to support Thomas Jefferson’s mission through effective stewardship of sponsored funding and sound financial management practices. Supports the Vice President of Corporate Finance in executing departmental objectives, maintaining financial compliance, and advancing operational excellence within SPAO
Provides operational leadership and oversight for the Sponsored Program Accounting (SPAO) function across Thomas Jefferson Health System. Responsible for the financial administration, accounting, reporting, billing, collections, and compliance activities associated with sponsored research, grants, and contracts funded by federal, state, foundation, industry, and other external sponsors. Leads the day-to-day management of the post-award financial operations and ensures compliance with Uniform Guidance, sponsor regulations, and institutional policies. Partners with Office of Research Support Services (ORSS), principal investigators, academic leadership, and finance leadership to support Thomas Jefferson’s mission through effective stewardship of sponsored funding and sound financial management practices. Supports the Vice President of Corporate Finance in executing departmental objectives, maintaining financial compliance, and advancing operational excellence within SPAO
- Direct and manage all Sponsored Programs Accounting operations, including post-award financial administration, accounting, reporting, invoicing, cash collections, effort reporting support, and award closeout activities.
- Lead the financial administration and oversight of grants, contracts, cooperative agreements, clinical trial support, and other externally sponsored programs to ensure accurate accounting and stewardship of sponsored funds.
- Ensure compliance with Uniform Guidance, federal regulations, sponsor terms and conditions, institutional policies, and applicable accounting standards.
- Oversee the preparation and submission of sponsor financial reports, invoices, federal draws, effort reporting support, cost share accounting, and final award closeout documentation.
- Manage the preparation, analysis, and supporting documentation for the University’s Facilities and Administrative (F&A) rate proposal and employee benefit rate calculations, and support negotiations with federal agencies.
- Establish, maintain, and monitor internal controls to safeguard sponsored funds, ensure financial integrity, and support compliance with sponsor and institutional requirements.
- Direct sponsored program financial audits in collaboration with General Accounting, sponsor reviews, and compliance examinations; coordinate audit responses and corrective action plans, as needed.
- Monitor sponsored program receivables, cash collections/unapplied cash, unbilled accounts, deficit balances, and other key operations metrics; develop and implement corrective actions to improve financial performance and compliance.
- Partner with ORSS, principal investigators, department administrators, academic leadership, and Finance personnel to resolve financial issues and improve sponsored programs processes and services.
- Serve as key advisor to ORSS leadership, department administrators, and principal investigators regarding post-award financial management, sponsor requirements, and regulatory compliance.
- Support the Vice President of Corporate Finance in implementing strategic initiatives, operational objectives, and process improvements related to sponsored programs accounting and research financial operations.
- Develop departmental goals, performance metrics, and operational plans aligned with the objectives of Corporate Finance and the organization’s mission.
- Provide financial analysis, operations recommendations, and compliance updates to senior leadership regarding sponsor funding, regulatory developments, financial risks, and process improvement opportunities.
- Lead, coach and develop SPAO staff; establish performance expectations, promote professional development, and foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and customer service.
- Partner with Financial Systems on implementations, optimization, and ongoing administration of sponsored programs’ financial systems, reporting tools, and related technology solutions.
- Other duties as assigned.
- Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
- 7 years to 10 years of progressive experience in accounting, audit, research finance, sponsored program accounting, grants administration, or related financial management functions.
- 7 years of leadership experience managing professional staff
- 7 years of healthcare/academic or research experience of healthcare/academic or research experience
- Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint. Proficiency in Workday ERP, and familiar with Artificial Intelligence.
- Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles.
- Demonstrated mastery of GAAP concepts and the ability to apply complex accounting guidance to novel transactions and business models.
- Proven leadership capability to build and lead high-performing accounting teams, including talent development, succession planning, and change leadership.
- Expert ability to design, evaluate, and strengthen internal controls and financial governance, including risk assessment and remediation planning.
- Advanced analytical skills to interpret financial results, identify root causes of variances, and communicate implications clearly to executive stakeholders.
- Strong audit management and stakeholder partnership skills, including the ability to negotiate issues, lead timelines, and ensure high-quality deliverables.
- Deep proficiency with ERP and financial reporting systems and the ability to drive process optimization, automation, and data quality improvements.
- Master’s Degree in accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
- Experience with sponsored programs accounting, federal grants administration, and Uniform Guidance compliance strongly preferred.
Lift and carry 25 lbs. frequent sitting/standing, frequent keyboard use, *patient care providers may be required to perform activities specific to their role including kneeling, bending, squatting and performing CPR.
Job Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require.
Workday Day (United States of America)
Regular
Thomas Jefferson University
1101 Market, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow’s professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students. Jefferson Health, nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals campuses and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.
Jefferson is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap or disability or any other protected group or status.
- Jefferson offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time colleagues, including medical (including prescription), supplemental insurance, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, tuition assistance, as well as voluntary benefits, which provide colleagues with access to group rates on insurance and discounts.
- Colleagues have access to tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full time service or two years of part time service.
- All colleagues, including those who work less than part-time(including per diemcolleagues, adjunct faculty, and Jeff Temps), have access to medical (including prescription) insurance.
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