Research Finance Assessment Lead

AlphaX; United States; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

AlphaGov is seeking an experienced Sponsored Research Finance Assessment Lead to evaluate the financial and operational practices supporting the university's sponsored research enterprise.

You will lead the assessment, work directly with university stakeholders, and translate findings into practical recommendations that strengthen financial oversight, improve research administration, and support effective grant management.

Qualifications

• Seven years of experience in sponsored research finance, sponsored programs administration, or research administration finance.
• Experience completing at least two comparable assessments, audits, or consulting engagements for universities or academic research institutions within the past five years.
• Strong knowledge of the full grants lifecycle: budgeting, award management, accounting, subrecipient monitoring, closeout.
• Working knowledge of Uniform Guidance, federal cost principles, personnel expense documentation, and F&A rate structures.
• Ability to assess financial controls and the underlying operational processes.
• Experience presenting findings to senior leaders, including CFOs and VPs for research.

Responsibilities

• Lead an end-to-end assessment of sponsored research finance, including pre-award and post-award processes, grants accounting, cost allocation, and financial reporting.
• Evaluate processes and controls for compliance with Uniform Guidance and federal requirements.
• Review the grants lifecycle from proposal budgeting to closeout and subrecipient monitoring.
• Interview stakeholders to map practices, responsibilities, and challenges.
• Document workflows, identify gaps, and propose improvements.
• Benchmark against peers and established research administration practices.
• Develop findings report and implementation roadmap with estimated costs and resources.
• Present findings to senior university leadership and outline required actions.

Skills

Analytical skills

Writing skills

Interviewing skills

Project leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Sponsored research finance

Job description

AlphaGov is assembling a consulting team for a university engagement and seeks an experienced Sponsored Research Finance Assessment Lead to evaluate the financial and operational practices supporting the institution’s sponsored research enterprise.

You will lead the assessment, work directly with university stakeholders, and translate findings into practical recommendations that strengthen financial oversight, improve research administration, and support effective grant management.

What you’ll do

• Lead an end-to-end assessment of sponsored research finance, including pre-award and post-award processes, grants accounting, cost allocation, and financial reporting.
• Evaluate processes and controls supporting compliance with applicable federal requirements, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), documentation of personnel expenses, cost allowability, and facilities and administrative (F&A) cost recovery.
• Review the grants lifecycle, from proposal budgeting and award setup through subrecipient monitoring and closeout.
• Interview research administration, finance, and departmental stakeholders to understand current practices, responsibilities, and operational challenges.
• Document workflows, identify control gaps and bottlenecks, and assess opportunities to improve coordination.
• Benchmark operations against relevant peer institutions and established research administration practices.
• Develop a clear findings report and implementation roadmap with prioritized recommendations, sequencing, estimated costs, and resource needs.
• Present findings to senior university leadership and help stakeholders understand the decisions and actions required.

• At least seven years of experience in sponsored research finance, sponsored programs administration, or research administration finance.
• Experience completing at least two comparable assessments, audits, or consulting engagements for universities or academic research institutions within the past five years.
• Strong knowledge of the full grants lifecycle, including proposal budgeting, award management, grants accounting, subrecipient monitoring, and closeout.
• Working knowledge of Uniform Guidance, federal cost principles, personnel expense documentation, and F&A rate structures.
• Ability to assess both financial controls and the operational processes behind them.
• Experience presenting findings and recommendations to senior leaders, including chief financial officers and vice presidents for research.
• Strong analytical, writing, interviewing, and project leadership skills.

Preferred background

Consulting or advisory experience is preferred. University research administration and finance leaders with relevant assessment experience are also encouraged to apply.

This is a project-based consulting opportunity supporting an anticipated university engagement. Work may be performed remotely, with periodic on-site sessions based on project needs. Final scope, schedule, compensation, and start date will be confirmed as the engagement is finalized.