Portfolio & Grant Accountant

Yale University; New Haven (CT); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Yale University is seeking a Portfolio & Grant Accountant in New Haven to oversee a portfolio of sponsored and non‑sponsored funds, manage budgets and financial reporting, and guide faculty and staff in financial planning. You will mentor staff, coordinate with OSP and SPFA, and ensure compliance with sponsor requirements and Yale policies.

Requirements include a bachelor’s degree and at least four years of related financial experience, with strong Excel skills and data analysis capabilities.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated understanding of continual process improvement and data‑driven process monitoring and decision‑making.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to cultivate and maintain strong working partnerships and communicate effectively with faculty and staff.
• Ability to work independently and be self‑motivated. Strong attention to accuracy and confidentiality is essential.

Responsibilities

• Financial Analysis and Reporting: Develop and maintain large, complex portfolios with budget, actuals and forecast data and provide insights to stakeholders.
• Compliance and Risk Management: Ensure adherence to Yale policies and sponsor requirements; maintain fiscal integrity of the portfolio.
• Proposal Management and Oversight: Manage multiple awards, review sponsor documents, and file post‑award reports as required.
• Collaborative and Strategic Finance Partner: Work with internal offices and external sponsors to optimize funding and allocations.

Skills

Process improvement

Communication skills

Independence

Financial analysis

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Excel

Job description

Working at Yale means contributing to a better tomorrow. Whether you are a current resident of our New Haven-based community, eligible for opportunities through the New Haven Hiring Initiative, or a newcomer, interested in exploring all that Yale has to offer, your talents and contributions are welcome. Discover your opportunities at Yale!

Overview

Reporting to the Post Award Manager in the Yale School of Public Health (YSPH), the Portfolio & Grant Accountant will be responsible for the financial management and oversight of a portfolio of accounts, including financial reporting and analysis, budgeting, planning and compliance. This portfolio may include global/international components of sponsored awards. The incumbent will be expected to apply expertise to a portfolio for sponsored research projects and provide direction to aid the faculty and direct staff in making informed, strategic decisions. The position will operate as a mentor for others and may supervise M&P and/or C&T staff.

Position Focus: Provide financial expertise in support to the faculty and administrative staff for the Yale School of Public Health. The position will support the research mission on sponsored and non-sponsored funding sources, including grants, contracts, subawards, gifts & endowments. Responsible for complex modeling for PI’s portfolio of funds to develop long and short‑term resource and spending plans. Creates and updates financial plans and financial reporting. Cultivates working partnerships and communications with faculty, PIs, OSP, SPFA YCCI, and departmental leadership. Manages all aspects of work activities to ensure the highest quality of customer service, financial reporting and compliance with accounting principles, sponsor requirements and Yale University policies and procedures.

Monthly Financial Reporting and Compliance – Extracts, consolidates and analyzes data from a variety of sources for use in communicating budget, actuals and forecast. Responsible for aspects of the monthly financial review checklist for the research mission, inclusive of corrective actions determined necessary because of the review.

Required Skill And Abilities

• Demonstrated understanding of continual process improvement and data‑driven process monitoring and decision‑making.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills. Ability to cultivate and maintain strong working partnerships and communicate effectively with faculty and staff.
• Ability to work independently and be self‑motivated. Strong attention to accuracy and clear understanding of confidentiality is essential. Exhibits and maintains a positive attitude and works well as part of a team.
• Well‑developed financial analysis and data mining skills and an understanding of financial models.
• Demonstrated proficiency with PC‑related software including advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel. Strong background in finance and financial analysis.

Preferred Experience And Skills

• Prior experience with Grants & Contract Administration, the use of Workday Financials and/or the Yale Budgeting Tool (YBT), in addition to other University financial tools, reports and programs.
• Experience as an accountant or as a financial professional.
• Experience and/or interest in mentoring and advising staff.

Principal Responsibilities

• Financial Analysis and Reporting: Present financial information and recommendations through data analysis and reporting in the development and maintenance of large, complex portfolios. Identify and influence strategic opportunities within the portfolio to stakeholders. Research issues, evaluate the entire situation, identify policies, procedures, and guidance material relevant to resolution and propose a recommendation or solution. Responsible for all financial analysis and budget activities, which includes multiple budgets with various funding levels, staggered budget periods and end dates, varying overhead rates, differing policies regarding allowable costs, and management of the acquisition and loss of sponsor funding.
• Compliance and Risk Management: Monitor and certify policy adherence for all financial activity within the portfolio by incorporating the policies of Yale and various funding agencies into the financial planning and review of expenditure activities. Advise faculty and clients of the appropriate financial policies. Maintain the fiscal integrity of the portfolio and department. Reviews and approves all expenditures with both sponsor and Yale policies and regulations in mind and ensures proper documentation and support exists to substantiate charges made to sponsored awards.
• Proposal Management and Oversight: Plan, prioritize actions and provide direction across multiple awards and portfolios. Provide oversight counsel and expertise relative to significant impact at the business unit level. Provide a more strategic direction in the management of accounts and collaboration with account holders. Review and interpret sponsor documents (i.e., applications, award notices, and terms and conditions). Handle all activities for assigned portfolios in managing sponsored awards, ensuring the proper and timely filing of sponsor documents, including submissions, modifications, extensions and all post‑award required reports (financial, technical, etc.).
• Collaborative and Strategic Finance Partner: Collaborate with other Business Offices, Central Offices, external institutions and sponsoring agencies to ensure the proper management of sponsor funds. Based on the funding and activities of the faculty member or client, identify and propose alternatives for allocating effort, spending pattern adjustments, and allocation methodologies.
• May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree required. Four years of related financial experience required. Demonstrated application of financial, accounting and economic concepts.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

The University is committed to basing judgments concerning the admission, education, and employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities and seeks to attract to its faculty, staff, and student body qualified persons from a broad range of backgrounds and perspectives. In accordance with this policy and as delineated by federal and Connecticut law, Yale does not discriminate in admissions, educational programs, or employment against any individual on account of that individual’s sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, disability, status as a special disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam era, or other covered veteran.

Yale University is a tobacco‑free campus.