Grant and Contract Finance Administrator

University of Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 56,000 - 72,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, life, and flexible spending

Tuition benefits

Retirement plans

Flexible work hours

Wellness resources

Professional development

University resources

Discounts and services

Home ownership assistance

Adoption assistance

Job summary

The University of Pennsylvania is seeking a Grant and Contract Finance Administrator to manage sponsored program administration, post-award activities, and financial reporting within the Division of Finance. This role interfaces with investigators, business administrators, and sponsors to ensure compliance with federal requirements and university policies.

The position requires collaboration across departments, meticulous attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 3 years to 5 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Certified Research Administrator preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of sponsored programs, post-award administration, and related federal policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Ability to work collaboratively as well as independently, handle varied work assignments, prioritize tasks, and demonstrates strong written and verbal communication skills and customer service orientation.
• Knowledge of university systems including PennERA, BEN, and Data Warehouse preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, verbal, and presentation skills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be flexible, show effective judgement and discretion in the handling of confidential financial matters.
• Work effectively in a highly matrixed and decentralized environment with the ability to navigate ambiguity and demonstrate a commitment to fostering a culture of belonging, respect, and collaboration in a constantly evolving academic and higher education environment.

Responsibilities

• Serve as liaison between the University and funding sponsors and as an intermediary between Business Administrators (BA's), Principal Investigators (PI's), and sponsors.
• Initiates the sponsored programs reporting and closeout process, prepares financial statements and billings using university and sponsor reporting systems according to sponsor terms and deadlines; performs a review of general ledger (GL) activity to ensure compliance with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) requirements and sponsor terms and conditions, including allowability, allocability, and reasonableness expense reviews, spending limits, corrected costs, revenue, benefit and indirect cost expense, special terms and conditions, payment management system (PMS) activity, and billed and unbilled accounts receivable.
• Reviews and monitors award modifications including relinquishments, terminations, re-budgeting requests, carryover requests, no-cost extensions, and non-financial closeout requirements.
• Provides guidance to the University community on sponsored programs administration issues. Prepares, reconciles, and closes journal entries upon closing and disabling fund accounts. Updates and audits award fund account parameters to ensure accuracy.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Skills

Sponsored programs

Post-award admin

Communication skills

Budgeting

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

PennERA

BEN

Data Warehouse

Job description

Grant and Contract Finance Administrator

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer inPhiladelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research,and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranksamong the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & WorldReport survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provideopportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education,all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach toscholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been rankednationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbeswho named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city ofPhiladelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urbancampus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, andrecreational activities. With its historical significance andlandmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety ofatmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home forwork and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includesexcellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and theirfamilies, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety ofprofessional development opportunities, supportive work and familybenefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources,and much more.

Posted Job Title

Grant and Contract Finance Administrator

Job Profile Title

Grant and Contract Finance Administrator

Job Description Summary

In the Division of Finance, we recognize that fostering a cultureof belonging and inclusive excellence is paramount to a positiveand thriving work environment; it is a business imperative. We arecommitted to cultivating a workplace where individuals feel valued,respected, and empowered to contribute, supporting our research,development, and operational efforts throughout the Division ofFinance. This role will be critical in supporting those efforts anddemonstrating behaviors and competencies that reflect Penn'svalues.

We take pride in the many perspectives, experiences, andbackgrounds that strengthen our community, enrich our curriculum,and enhance the cultural and social life of our campus. Penn'scommitment to fostering a culture of belonging is ultimately acommitment to creating a more vibrant university where ourgraduates are inspired and empowered to shape a better world.

As a Grant and Contract Administrator, the role will serve as aliaison between the University and funding sponsors. The role willprovide service, consultation and work as intermediary betweenInvestigators, Business Administrators and other Universitydepartments to ensure proper administration and compliance withterms and conditions of sponsored program awards for assignedportfolio of departments, Schools and Centers.

The role will review general ledger reconciliations, preparefinancial statements and billings, provide guidance to theUniversity community on grant accounting, operations andcompliance; The role will also review sponsored program activityfor compliance with federal circulars and University policies andprocedures.

Job Description

• Serve as liaison between the University and funding sponsors and as an intermediary between Business Administrators (BA's), Principal Investigators (PI's), and sponsors.
• Initiates the sponsored programs reporting and closeoutprocess, prepares financial statements and billings usinguniversity and sponsor reporting systems according to sponsor termsand deadlines; performs a review of general ledger (GL) activity toensure compliance with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200)requirements and sponsor terms and conditions, includingallowability, allocability, and reasonableness expense reviews,spending limits, corrected costs, revenue, benefit and indirectcost expense, special terms and conditions, payment managementsystem (PMS) activity, and billed and unbilled accountsreceivable.
• Reviews and monitors award modifications includingrelinquishments, terminations, re-budgeting requests, carryoverrequests, no-cost extensions, and non-financial closeoutrequirements.
• Provides guidance to the University community on sponsoredprograms administration issues. Prepares, reconciles, and closesjournal entries upon closing and disabling fund accounts. Updatesand audits award fund account parameters to ensure accuracy.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 3 years to 5 years of experience orequivalent combination of education and experience isrequired.
• Certified Research Administrator preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of sponsored programs, post-awardadministration, and related federal policies, procedures, andregulations.
• Ability to work collaboratively as well as independently,handle varied work assignments, prioritize tasks, and demonstratestrong written and verbal communication skills and customer serviceorientation.
• Knowledge of university systems including PennERA, BEN, andData Warehouse preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, verbal, and presentationskills with strong attention to detail and accuracy.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities andcompeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Must be flexible, show effective judgement and discretion inthe handling of confidential financial matters.
• Work effectively in a highly matrixed and decentralizedenvironment with the ability to navigate ambiguity and demonstratea commitment to fostering a culture of belonging, respect, andcollaboration in a constantly evolving academic and highereducation environment.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Division of Finance

Pay Range

$55,962.00 - $72,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications,experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to therequirements of the position, and in alignment with salary rangesbased on external market data for the job's level. Internalorganization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer.Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race,color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin(including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenshipstatus, age, disability, veteran status or any class protectedunder applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements

Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer ismade. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to therequirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts: Pennoffers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health,dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and yourfamily's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spendingaccounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent careexpenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition: Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuitionbenefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can gettuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are alsoeligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans tohelp you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, andSupplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on apre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investmentoptions through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with asubstantial amount of time away from work during the course of theyear. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personalaffairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time withfamily-whatever your personal needs may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with GenworthFinancial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible familymembers) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of thecosts of long-term care services received at home, in the communityor in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, youwon't have to provide proof of good health or be subject tounderwriting requirements. Eligible family members must alwaysprovide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources: Penn is committed tosupporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competingdemands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a widevariety of programs and resources to help you care for your health,your family, and your work-life balance.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides anarray of resources to help you advance yourself personally andprofessionally.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community,you have access to a wide range of University resources as well ascultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of theUniversity's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit ourarboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on atPenn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latestmusic or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the PennRelays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a memberof the Penn community, you're right in the middle of theexcitement-and you and your family can enjoy many of theseactivities for free.
• Discounts and Special Services: From arts andentertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find greatdeals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts andcultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admissionand memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoysubstantial savings on other goods and services such as new carsfrom Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movietickets, and admission to theme parks.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offercreative approaches for completing work while promoting balancebetween work and personal commitments. These approaches involve useof non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or jobstructures.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivableloan for eligible employees interested in buying a home orcurrently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used forclosing costs or home improvements.
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligibleemployees on qualified expenses in connection with the legaladoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for upto two adoptions in your household.

To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay