Research Finance Manager

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory; Cold Spring Harbor (NY); On-site; USD 130,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory seeks a hands‑on Manager, Research Finance to oversee budgeting, accounting, and audits for sponsored research. You will lead a core team, enforce 2 CFR Part 200 compliance, and drive improvements in financial reporting and Workday usage.

The role requires seven years in advanced sponsored‑research accounting, strong leadership, and expertise in budgeting, reporting, and internal controls. A CPA/CMA/MBA/CRA is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• CPA, CMA, MBA, CRA, or another relevant credential preferred.
• Seven+ years in sponsored‑research accounting or related finance roles.
• Experience managing federal and non‑federal awards life cycle, including closeout and audits.
• Experience with 2 CFR Part 200 and sponsor/audit documentation.
• Supervisory experience and ability to lead professional staff.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day‑to‑day work of the Research Finance team and delegate tasks.
• Ensure compliance with sponsor terms, 2 CFR Part 200, and federal requirements.
• Maintain audit‑ready records and support annual financial statement audits.
• Prepare and maintain laboratory budgets and related reports.
• Review sponsored awards and accounts, investigate variances and data issues.
• Other duties as requested.

Skills

Sponsored-award accounting

GAAP

Internal controls

Excel

Workday Financials

Workday Grants Management

ERP systems

Budgeting and forecasting

Data reporting

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/business

CPA / CMA / MBA / CRA (preferred)

Tools

Workday Financials

Workday Grants Management

ERP systems

Excel advanced

Job description

Position Description

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Manager, Research Finance is a hands‑on leader responsible for overseeing the financial administration and accounting of CSHL’s sponsored research portfolio, as well as the development and management of laboratory budgets.

This role leads a dedicated core team and plays a key role in ensuring the financial health and compliance of CSHL’s research operations.

The Manager will oversee grant accounting, strengthen financial controls and processes, and ensure compliance with sponsor requirements and 2 CFR Part 200.

The role is also responsible for maintaining audit‑ready financial records, supporting successful financial audits, and delivering accurate, timely laboratory budgets and financial reporting.

The Manager will be instrumental in optimizing CSHL’s use of Workday to enhance financial reporting, improve data accuracy, and advance automation and efficiency across research finance operations.

Position Responsibilities

• Manage the day‑to‑day work of the Research Finance team, including assignment of responsibilities, review of work, deadline management, staff development, cross‑training, and backup coverage
• Ensure compliance with sponsor terms, CSHL policies, and federal requirements, including but not limited to 2 CFR Part 200
• Maintain audit‑ready records and supporting documentation; coordinate financial schedules, sample support, responses, and corrective actions for the annual financial statement audit, Single Audit, sponsor audits, and other reviews
• Prepare and maintain laboratory budgets and related financial reports using current award, gift, endowment, institutional‑support, personnel, commitment, and spending data; validate inputs and deliver accurate, timely budgets for review
• Participate in regular reviews of sponsored awards and laboratory accounts; investigate variances, deficits, aging items, unusual transactions, and data‑quality issues and ensure timely resolution
• Other duties as requested

Position Requirements

EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field. CPA, CMA, MBA, master's degree, Certified Research Administrator (CRA), or another relevant credential is preferred

Experience:

• Minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored‑research accounting, grants accounting, higher‑education finance, academic medical center finance, nonprofit accounting, or a comparable research environment
• Hands‑on experience managing the financial lifecycle of federal and non‑federal awards, including setup, reconciliations, financial reporting, billing or drawdown support, audit support, and closeout
• Demonstrated experience applying federal award requirements, including 2 CFR Part 200, and preparing documentation and schedules for financial statement, Single Audit, sponsor, or internal audit review
• Experience supervising professional staff, reviewing accounting work, setting priorities, coaching performance, and maintaining accountability for deadlines and results
• Experience in a biomedical research institution, research university, academic medical center, or other organization with a complex sponsored‑research portfolio is preferred

Skills:

• Strong sponsored‑award accounting and financial administration skills, including cost allowability and allocability, indirect costs, cost transfers, salary and effort allocation, reconciliations, billing, receivables, financial reporting, and closeout
• Working knowledge of 2 CFR Part 200, sponsor terms, GAAP, internal controls, nonprofit or fund‑accounting concepts, and audit documentation standards
• Ability to prepare and review laboratory budgets and financial reports using multiple funding sources, personnel costs, commitments, actual spending, and available balances
• Workday Financials and Workday Grants Management experience is strongly preferred; comparable ERP experience must include strong data, reporting, control, and workflow capabilities
• Advanced Excel skills and experience with modern reporting, dashboards, business‑intelligence tools, data validation, or process automation
• Demonstrated ability to identify root causes, question inefficient legacy practices, and design practical, well‑controlled process and reporting improvements
• Strong people leadership, organization, judgment, and written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain accounting and compliance matters clearly to non‑finance colleagues

Supplemental Information

Environment:

Founded in 1890, CSHL has helped shape contemporary biomedical research and education with today’s research endeavors encompassing cancer, neuroscience, plant biology and quantitative biology. CSHL is a private, not‑for‑profit institution in New York and has been home to eight Nobel Prize winners. Today, CSHL’s multidisciplinary scientific community is bolstered by more than 600 researchers and its Scientific Meetings & Courses Program, which hosts more than 9,000 scientists from around the world each year on its campus.

Compensation and Benefits:

Our employees are compensated in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, time off, a range of recognition, wellness programs, and access to an affordable and licensed on‑site childcare center. Visit our CSHL Benefits site to learn more. The salary range for this role is $130,000-$140,000 per annum. The salary range listed is a good faith determination of potential base compensation that may be offered to a successful applicant for this position at the time of this job advertisement and may be modified in the future. When determining a base salary and/or rate, several factors may be considered as applicable (e.g., years of relevant experience, education, credentials, and internal equity).

For more information about CSHL, please visit us at www.cshl.edu.

CSHL is an EO Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability or protected veteran status. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Our employees are compensated in many ways for their contributions to our mission, including competitive pay, exceptional health benefits, retirement plans, paid time off, a Wellness Center and access to an affordable and licensed on‑site childcare center. Visit our