AVP - Post Awards Finance

Advocate Health; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 140,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Advocate Health in Milwaukee seeks a senior leader to oversee post-award financial administration across the enterprise. You will guide strategy, ensure compliant management of sponsored awards, and build a scalable framework for grants and clinical trials.

The role requires deep knowledge of sponsored research, federal/state regulations, and strong leadership of large, matrixed teams. Collaboration with investigators and finance partners is essential for successful lifecycle management.

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge of sponsored research administration and post-award financial management.
• Strong understanding of federal grant regulations, sponsor requirements, financial controls, and compliance standards.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, complex, matrixed teams and initiatives.
• Excellent analytical, financial, operational, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and collaborate across organizational boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and oversight for all post-award financial administration activities across the Enterprise.
• Establishes strategic direction, service delivery standards, and operational priorities for the post-award function.
• Leads and develops managers, analysts, accountants, and research administration professionals supporting sponsored programs.
• Builds organizational capabilities and infrastructure to support growth in sponsored research, grants, and clinical trials.
• Oversees financial management of sponsored awards including federal grants, state grants, foundation awards, and industry-sponsored clinical trials.
• Ensures awards are established, administered, monitored, and closed in accordance with sponsor requirements and organizational policies.
• Directs invoicing, reporting, reimbursement tracking, cash management, and financial reconciliation activities.
• Provides oversight of financial performance, portfolio trends, and funding utilization across the sponsored research portfolio.
• Serves as the organizational subject matter expert for post-award financial compliance requirements.
• Ensures compliance with sponsor regulations, award terms and conditions, institutional policies, and applicable federal and state requirements.
• Establishes and maintains internal controls to protect sponsored program assets and reduce compliance risk.
• Leads audit preparation, sponsor reviews, corrective action planning, and regulatory responses.
• Partners with investigators, faculty, research administrators, operational leaders, and finance teams to provide guidance throughout the post-award lifecycle.
• Collaborates with pre-award administration, research operations, compliance, legal, clinical trials, and finance teams to ensure seamless handoffs and efficient administration of sponsored programs.
• Serves as a trusted advisor regarding award management, financial oversight, compliance requirements, and sponsor expectations.
• Develops and implements standardized post-award policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, service delivery, financial controls, and reporting capabilities.
• Leads projects focused on system optimization, process redesign, and operational scalability.
• Supports integration and standardization efforts across academic, research, and enterprise finance function

Skills

Sponsored research

Leadership

Financial analysis

Regulatory compliance

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

System optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or related field

Tools

Grants management systems

Enterprise financial systems

Job description

Major Responsibilities:

• Provides leadership and oversight for all post-award financial administration activities across the Enterprise.
• Establishes strategic direction, service delivery standards, and operational priorities for the post-award function.
• Leads and develops managers, analysts, accountants, and research administration professionals supporting sponsored programs.
• Builds organizational capabilities and infrastructure to support growth in sponsored research, grants, and clinical trials.
• Oversees financial management of sponsored awards including federal grants, state grants, foundation awards, and industry-sponsored clinical trials.
• Ensures awards are established, administered, monitored, and closed in accordance with sponsor requirements and organizational policies.
• Directs invoicing, reporting, reimbursement tracking, cash management, and financial reconciliation activities.
• Provides oversight of financial performance, portfolio trends, and funding utilization across the sponsored research portfolio.
• Serves as the organizational subject matter expert for post-award financial compliance requirements.
• Ensures compliance with sponsor regulations, award terms and conditions, institutional policies, and applicable federal and state requirements.
• Establishes and maintains internal controls to protect sponsored program assets and reduce compliance risk.
• Leads audit preparation, sponsor reviews, corrective action planning, and regulatory responses.
• Partners with investigators, faculty, research administrators, operational leaders, and finance teams to provide guidance throughout the post-award lifecycle.
• Collaborates with pre-award administration, research operations, compliance, legal, clinical trials, and finance teams to ensure seamless handoffs and efficient administration of sponsored programs.
• Serves as a trusted advisor regarding award management, financial oversight, compliance requirements, and sponsor expectations.
• Develops and implements standardized post-award policies, procedures, and best practices.
• Identifies opportunities to improve efficiency, service delivery, financial controls, and reporting capabilities.
• Leads projects focused on system optimization, process redesign, and operational scalability.
• Supports integration and standardization efforts across academic, research, and enterprise finance function

Education Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Research Administration, or related field.

Work Experience Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, Research Administration, or related field.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required:

• Extensive knowledge of sponsored research administration and post-award financial management.
• Strong understanding of federal grant regulations, sponsor requirements, financial controls, and compliance standards.
• Demonstrated ability to lead large, complex, matrixed teams and initiatives.
• Strong analytical, financial, operational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to influence senior leaders and collaborate effectively across organizational boundaries.
• Experience with enterprise financial systems, grants administration systems, and reporting tools.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.