Financial Analyst, Post-Award, Office of Sponsored Projects

University of Texas at Austin; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully remote

Medical coverage

Retirement contributions

Vacation and holidays

Job summary

The University of Texas at Austin is seeking a Financial Analyst, Post-Award, Office of Sponsored Projects in Austin, TX. The role provides data-driven financial management and analytical support for sponsored programs within the Grants Financial Management team.

You will perform variance analysis, LOC processing, receivables handling, and automation-driven improvements to increase accuracy and efficiency. Strong Excel, Tableau/Power BI skills, and US work eligibility are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• At least 5 years of finance or accounting experience with planning, forecasting and financial analysis.
• Experience in research administration and governmental or commercial accounting.
• Experience with costing allocations and large data analysis.
• Ability to review and interpret terms and conditions of research grants and contracts.
• Advanced Excel skills for complex spreadsheets, formulas and data models.
• Strong organizational and communication skills with attention to detail.
• Eligible to work in the United States for full-time employment.

Responsibilities

• Assist with Funds Management and workflow improvements.
• Conduct financial and operational trend analyses and reporting.
• Escalate financial issues and update on analytics deliverables.
• Process weekly LOC draws, prepare draw reports, and reconcile balances.
• Assist with refunds on sponsored funds and maintain status logs.
• Monitor sponsored receivables, aging reports and incoming payments.
• Support program reviews, audits, and identify efficiency opportunities.
• Perform other related functions as assigned.

Skills

Excel proficiency

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Attention to detail

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree in finance or related field

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Looker

Power Automate

Power Query

VBA/macros

Job description

Financial Analyst, Post-Award, Office of Sponsored Projects

Hiring Department

Office of Sponsored Projects

Position Open To

All Applicants

Weekly Scheduled Hours

40

FLSA Status

Exempt from FLSA

Earliest Start Date

Immediately

Position Duration

Expected to Continue

Location

AUSTIN, TX

Job Details

The Office of Sponsored Projects(OSP) serves as the coordinating office for externally funded research and sponsored projects at The University of Texas at Austin. The mission of OSP is to assist faculty and professional research staff in their efforts to secure and ensure proper stewardship of external funding. We do that by assisting research faculty and staff with the following: proposal review, authorization, and submission; award negotiations and acceptance; account management; close-out, reports, audits, collection; professional development and education; export control, and research compliance.

UT Austin offers a competitive benefits package that includes:

• 100% employer-paid basic medical coverage
• Retirement contributions
• Paid vacation and sick time
• Paid holidays
• Fully remote

Please visit our Human Resources (HR) website to learn more about the total benefits offered.

Purpose

This position is responsible for the financial management and analytical support of sponsored programs within OSP Post-Award's Grants Financial Management team. The Financial Analyst conducts data-driven reporting and variance analysis and assists with key financial processes including LOC draws, receivables, refunds, and payment reconciliation. This role serves as an analytical and operational resource for the team, leveraging reporting and automation tools to improve financial accuracy and efficiency across the sponsored programs portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Assists with Funds Management within the Office of Sponsored Projects, reviewing processes for efficiencies and contributing to tools that improve workflow.
• Conducts financial and operational analysis, including trend analysis, variance reviews, and reporting, leveraging manual and automated reporting tools to enhance financial decision-making.
• Escalates and communicates financial issues, providing timely updates on analytics deliverables and receivables activity.
• Processes weekly Letter of Credit (LOC) draws, including preparation of draw reports, creation of supporting vouchers, review of LOC account balances, and income adjustments. Ensures appropriate fund placement for sponsored projects and conducts post-draw reconciliation to verify accurate fund application and maintain correct project balances.
• Assists with processing refunds on sponsored funds by preparing required documentation and coordinating submission through appropriate systems. Maintains status logs to support timely completion.
• Assists with day-to-day sponsored receivables activities, including monitoring outstanding balances, preparing aging and status reports, and tracking incoming payments such as wire transfers, ACH claims, and cash transfers. Research routine discrepancies, including delayed or misapplied funds, compiles supporting documentation for review, and initiates routine collection communications with university departments and external agencies. Maintains related records.
• Supports program reviews and operational audits, identifying efficiency opportunities and recommending workflow improvements.
• Other related functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible experience in finance or accounting with experience in planning, forecasting and financial analysis.
• Experience in research administration and governmental or commercial accounting.
• Experience with costing allocations, reporting and analyzing substantial amounts of data.
• Ability to review and interpret the terms and conditions of research grants and contracts.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including building and maintaining complex spreadsheets, formulas, and data models.
• Strong organizational skills, ability to prioritize multiple ongoing responsibilities with accuracy, diplomacy, and discretion.
• Exceptional attention to detail and ability to hold masterful communication skills that allow high-level interactions with a varied research administration community.
• Demonstrated analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills.
• Excellent teamwork skills; Positive and enthusiastic attitude.
• Eligible to work in the United States for any employer on a full-time basis.

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in finance, Accounting, or Business Administration.
• Advanced degree in a related field with 5+ years of experience in one or more areas of preparation, processing, negotiation, and management of grant and contract proposals and awards.
• Experience with Power BI or similar data visualization platforms (Tableau, Looker) for dashboard development and stakeholder reporting.
• Familiarity with Power Automate, Power Query, macros (VBA) or other automation tools within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.
• Ability to work independently with limited supervision and collaboratively within a team environment.
• Knowledge of federal guidelines pertaining to institutions of higher education.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA).
• Experience working in a Sponsored Projects Office.

Salary Range

$60,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• May work around standard office conditions
• Repetitive use of a keyboard at a workstation
• Occasional weekend, overtime and evening work to meet deadlines
• In person participation bi-annually for OSP Summit

Required Materials

Please mark "yes" on the application for required materials. Failure to attach all additional materials listed may affect candidates being considered for the position.

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Employment Eligibility

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

Retirement Plan Eligibility

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

Background Checks

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

Pay Transparency

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information.

Employment Eligibility Verification

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form. You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States. Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment. Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

E-Verify

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

Compliance

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act) ... (continued text of compliance paragraphs).