Financial Manager

asu; Tempe (AZ); On-site; USD 66,000 - 73,000; Full time

Job summary

Arizona State University is seeking a Financial Analyst 3 within the Research Advancement Team. You will perform intermediate to complex financial analysis and reporting, support the design, maintenance, and improvement of financial systems and reports, and communicate with peers, managers, and ASU senior leadership.

You will oversee post-award financial activities for sponsored projects, collaborate with faculty and offices to monitor expenditures, prepare budgets and forecasts, ensure

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with 5+ years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of experience and/or training.

Responsibilities

• Manage a complex portfolio of sponsored projects and startup accounts; reconcile accounts and prepare analyses and reports.
• Review payroll, budget-to-actual, deficit, personnel, and projection reports to identify trends, risks, and needed actions.
• Prepare budgets, projections, and financial scenarios using university financial systems and forecasting tools.
• Review and approve financial and payroll transactions ensuring expenses are allowable and compliant.
• Prepare, review, and advise on post-award administrative documents, sponsor reporting materials, cost share tracking, and account management requirements.
• Independently identify post-award issues, research options, resolve missing or conflicting information, and recommend solutions.
• Interpret policies and sponsor requirements to determine best course of action and improve processes.
• Lead or contribute to administrative initiatives affecting research administration, financial management, budgeting, or reporting.
• Communicate financial information clearly to faculty, staff, and sponsors and maintain high-quality service.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Job Profile

Financial Analyst 3

Job Family

Budget, Planning and Financial Analysis

Time Type

Full time

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and five (5) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Job Profile Summary

Performs intermediate to complex financial analysis and reporting. Supports the design, maintenance, and improvement of financial systems and reports in support of other financial activities within the institution. Communicates with peers, managers, and ASU senior leadership.

Job Description

Members of the Research Advancement Team provide financial oversight and post-award support for sponsored projects, grants, contracts, and faculty accounts while working closely with faculty who are making impactful advances in solving today's global issues . The Financial Manager partners with faculty, staff, and university offices to monitor expenditures, prepare budgets and forecasts, ensure compliance, and resolve financial issues. The position also advises faculty and post-award staff, supports process improvement, and contributes to team leadership while delivering excellent customer service and clear communication.

Position Salary Range

Salary Range $66,200 - $73,000 per year; DOE

Essential Duties

Financial Account Management

Independently manage a complex portfolio of sponsored projects, faculty discretionary and startup; reconcile accounts, monitor expenditures, and prepare financial analyses and reports.

Review payroll, budget-to-actual, deficit, personnel, sponsor-specific, and projection reports to identify trends, risks, missing information, and needed actions.

Prepare budgets, projections, and financial scenarios using university financial systems and forecasting tools to support faculty and leadership decision-making.

Review and approve financial and payroll transactions, ensuring expenses are allowable, allocable, reasonable, and consistent with sponsor and university requirements.

Prepare, review, and advise on post-award administrative documents, sponsor reporting materials, cost share tracking, and account management requirements

Problem Solving and Process Improvement

Independently identify post-award issues, research options, resolve missing or conflicting information, and recommend appropriate solutions.

Interpret policies, procedures, sponsor requirements, and financial data to determine the best available course of action.

Improve existing post-award processes, reports, tools, or workflows to increase consistency, accuracy, compliance, and service quality.

Lead or contribute to administrative initiatives affecting research administration, financial management, compliance, budgeting, or reporting.

Escalate complex or high-risk issues with clear analysis, recommended next steps, and implications for faculty, sponsors, and the school.

Communication and Collaboration

Advise faculty, staff, and team members on difficult post-award financial matters, including spending plans, projections, compliance issues, and sponsor requirements.

Build effective working relationships with faculty, department staff, central offices, and other university partners to resolve issues and support sponsored project administration.

Communicate financial information clearly in writing and verbally, adapting communication style to faculty, leadership, and sponsors.

Manage competing deadlines and responsibilities while maintaining accuracy, sound judgment, and high-quality service.

Desired Qualifications

• Demonstrated knowledge of policies, procedures, and regulations governing complex grants, contracts, sponsored projects, cost share, and post-award financial management for sponsors such as NIH, NSF, ARO, and other non-profit organizations.
• Experience managing a complex portfolio of sponsored projects, discretionary, and startup accounts in a university or similarly complex environment.
• Experience preparing budgets, financial reports, spending projections, sponsor reports, and budget-to-actual analyses for a high volume of awards or accounts.
• Experience reviewing payroll, personnel, deficit, transactions, and financial reports to identify risks, discrepancies, missing information, and needed actions.
• Demonstrated ability to independently analyze complex proble