Grant Financial Administrator

University of South Florida; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 58,000 - 63,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Retirement plan

Tuition assistance programs

Generous leave

Employee perks and discounts

Job summary

The University of South Florida (USF) in Tampa seeks a Contracts and Budget Analyst to review, administer, and account for sponsored contracts and awards from external sponsors, ensuring regulatory compliance and alignment with university commitments.

You will assist faculty and staff by providing budget and financial information, guiding expenditure procedures, and supporting project management through accurate data, reporting, and effective financial controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 1 year of professional administrative experience; or a Master's degree.
• Progressively responsible related experience may substitute for the required education on a year for year basis.
• Related experience includes accounting, auditing, research administration, etc.

Responsibilities

• Reviews contract and award terms and conditions to build appropriate and complete data files while maintaining the University's official records of project activity and reporting.
• Manages the sponsor billing and reporting process, establishing cost sharing budgets and expenditure plans within University systems, assisting with modifications to budget and cost sharing plans with related system modifications, facilitating sponsor payments and drawdowns under letter of credit, assuring the sufficiency and allowability of cost sharing, monitoring consistency between financial elements including documentation of expenditure, cost sharing, and effort, and provides financial data to investigators and their staff in support of project management.
• Coordinates accounting functions to assure cash, budget, expenditures, and overall fiscal management in accordance with University policies and management objectives. Serves as a liaison between academic administrators, faculty, the Controller's Office, Payroll, and the Office of Research to resolve financial issues and mitigate risk. Works with sponsoring agencies to assure appropriate coordination and management of inter-entity financial processes such as billing, reporting, and cash management.
• Analyzes and assesses research activities and programs to facilitate collections and develop responses to granting agency inquiries and auditors based on a review of accounting data, award/contract terms and conditions, authoritative guidance (federal, state, and University), and discussions with University faculty and staff. Collects accounting records and substantive documents in support of responses, as needed.
• Miscellaneous administrative duties including preparing special reports that are related to the University's research program.

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Job description

Job Description

This position is responsible for reviewing, administering, auditing and accounting for assigned contracts and awards made to USF from external sponsors (e.g., Federal, state, and private industry). This position monitors sponsored research projects for regulatory and statutory compliance and proper fulfillment of sponsor and University commitments made in the agreement. This position is also responsible for assisting departmental contacts such as faculty, Principal Investigators (PIs), and administrative staff by providing budget and financial information for the sponsored project, giving guidance and direction on proper budget/expenditure procedures and financial control.

Job Description

This position is responsible for reviewing, administering, auditing and accounting for assigned contracts and awards made to USF from external sponsors (e.g., Federal, state, and private industry). This position monitors sponsored research projects for regulatory and statutory compliance and proper fulfillment of sponsor and University commitments made in the agreement. This position is also responsible for assisting departmental contacts such as faculty, Principal Investigators (PIs), and administrative staff by providing budget and financial information for the sponsored project, giving guidance and direction on proper budget/expenditure procedures and financial control.

Responsibilities

The responsibilities for this position include: Reviews contract and award terms and conditions to build appropriate and complete data files while maintaining the University's official records of project activity and reporting. Manages the sponsor billing and reporting process, establishing cost sharing budgets and expenditure plans within University systems, assisting with modifications to budget and cost sharing plans with related system modifications, facilitating sponsor payments and drawdowns under letter of credit, assuring the sufficiency and allowability of cost sharing, monitoring consistency between financial elements including documentation of expenditure, cost sharing, and effort, and provides financial data to investigators and their staff in support of project management. These fiscal management responsibilities require compliance with federal, state, and sponsor guidelines and rules, exceptional customer service delivery, and a focus on maximizing the University's collections and investment earnings.

Coordinates accounting functions to assure cash, budget, expenditures, and overall fiscal management in accordance with University policies and management objectives. Serves as a liaison between academic administrators, faculty, the Controller's Office, Payroll, and the Office of Research to resolve financial issues and mitigate risk. Works with sponsoring agencies to assure appropriate coordination and management of inter-entity financial processes such as billing, reporting, and cash management. (May also assist sponsors in obtaining technical reports, patent information, etc., as needed to complete project). Determines the need for and secures review of those project accounts requiring special approvals, and notifies the appropriate agency.

Analyzes and assesses research activities and programs to facilitate collections and develop responses to granting agency inquiries and auditors based on a review of accounting data, award/contract terms and conditions, authoritative guidance (federal, state, and University), and discussions with University faculty and staff. Collects accounting records and substantive documents in support of responses, as needed.

Miscellaneous administrative duties including preparing special reports that are related to the University's research program.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

The position requires a Bachelor's degree and 1 year of professional administrative experience; or a Master's degree. Progressively responsible related experience may substitute for the required education on a year for year basis. Related experience includes accounting, auditing, research administration, etc.

Degree Equivalency Clause:

Four years of direct experience for a bachelor's degree.

Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree.

Additional Information for Applicants:

This position requires a Level 1 background screening.

Hiring salary range: $57,500 - $62,500, commensurate with experience.

About Us

Working at USF

With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.

About USF

The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu .

Compliance and Federal Notices

This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.

Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.