Research Finance Specialist

Akron Children's Hospital; Akron (OH); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

Akron Children's Hospital in Ohio is seeking a Research Finance Specialist to provide comprehensive financial support for clinical research operations. The role requires expertise in clinical trial billing, grants, post-award management, regulatory compliance, and financial analysis.

You will work with CR coordinators, PIs, accounting and sponsors, use Epic and OnCore to track billing activity, and ensure billing integrity while aligning with sponsor and federal requirements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Finance, or Accounting, or 8 years of directly related experience.
• 5 years of relevant experience in healthcare billing, revenue cycle, or clinical research administration.
• Advanced knowledge of research billing compliance and contract interpretation.

Responsibilities

• Monitor studies to ensure accurate billing and resolve discrepancies.
• Review protocols, budgets, contracts to determine billing coverage and sponsor responsibilities.
• Ensure compliance with NIH, IRB, Medicare/Medicaid and ACH requirements.
• Review and validate clinical charges for accuracy.
• Monitor grant expenses and support post-award financial management.
• Conduct quarterly and annual revenue and expense analysis.
• Coordinate ordering of study-related supplies per budgets.
• Liaise between CR coordinators, PIs, Accounting, Finance, sponsors, CROs.
• Utilize Epic and OnCore to manage billing activity.

Skills

Analytical skills

Independent decision-making

Research billing compliance

Grant budgeting

EHR/EMR (Epic)

CTMS (OnCore)

Financial systems (Infor/Workday/Strta

Excel proficiency

Stakeholder communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Time management

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration, Finance, or Accounting

High school diploma with 8 years related experience

Tools

Epic

OnCore

Infor

Workday

Strata

Job description

Full-time, 40 hours/week
Days, 8am-4:30pm

Hybrid Remote- onsite required 6-12 days/month

Summary:

The Research Finance Specialist is responsible for providing comprehensive financial support for clinical research operations. This role operates in a highly complex environment and requires advanced expertise in clinical trial billing, grant and post-award financial management, regulatory compliance, and financial analysis. The position involves independent decision-making with direct financial and compliance impact and requires strong analytical capabilities, system proficiency, and subject matter expertise in research billing compliance and contract interpretation. The Research Finance Specialist plays a critical role in ensuring billing integrity, financial accuracy, and alignment with sponsor, federal, and institutional requirements, while supporting the overall success of the research enterprise.

Responsibilities:

1. Monitor assigned studies to ensure accurate billing, timely payment posting, and appropriate resolution of outstanding balances and discrepancies. Investigate and resolve complex or escalated billing and financial issues across multiple systems and stakeholders.

2. Review clinical trial protocols, budgets, contracts, and related study documents to determine billing coverage, payer responsibility, and financial obligations. Analyze study-related procedures to ensure accurate designation of standard of care versus sponsor-funded activities.

3. Ensure compliance with federal regulations, institutional policies, sponsor requirements, and audit standards, including NIH, IRB, Medicare, Medicaid, and ACH requirements. Demonstrate subject matter expertise in research billing compliance and contract interpretation.

4. Review and validate clinical charges to ensure accuracy, identify errors, and coordinate corrections as needed to support billing integrity and financial accuracy.

5. Review grant budgets and funding agreements to determine allowable costs and ensure alignment with sponsor, federal, foundation, industry, and institutional guidelines.

6. Monitor grant-related expenses and support post-award financial management activities, including expense reconciliation, budget tracking, and financial reporting.

7. Conduct quarterly and annual revenue and expense analysis to support operational decision-making, financial oversight, and leadership reporting.

8. Coordinate ordering of study-related supplies and equipment in accordance with approved study budgets, grant funding, and sponsor or institutional requirements.

9. Serve as a liaison between Clinical Research Coordinators, Principal Investigators, Accounting, Finance, sponsors, and Contract Research Organizations (CROs) to support communication, issue resolution, and financial accountability.

10. Utilize EHR/EMR and CTMS systems, such as Epic and OnCore, to manage and track research-related billing activity, financial documentation, and study information.

11. Support the coordination and implementation of research finance systems and related workflows, including collaboration with IS/IT to ensure alignment with departmental needs.

12. Coordinate high-impact financial interactions across departments and external partners, ensuring accountability and resolution of complex financial issues. Perform other duties as required.

Technical Expertise

1. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage high variability
2. Demonstrated ability to make independent decisions with financial and compliance impact
3. Advanced knowledge of research billing compliance, coverage analysis, and contract interpretation
4. Understanding of grant funding mechanisms, allowable costs, and sponsor-specific financial requirements
5. Proficiency with EHR/EMR systems (Epic preferred)
6. Experience with CTMS platforms (OnCore preferred)
7. Familiarity with financial and reporting systems (Infor, Workday, Strata)
8. Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel
9. Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
10. Ability to communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders and manage cross-functional collaboration
11. Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and manage multiple deadlines in a complex environment

Education and Experience

1. Education: Bachelor's degree required in Healthcare Administration, Finance, Accounting, or a related field; or high school diploma/equivalent with 8 years of directly related experience required.

2. Licensure: NA

3. Certification: NA

4. Years of relevant experience: 5years of experience required in one or more of the following areas: Healthcare billing or revenue cycle, Clinical research administration, Research finance or grants management

5. Years of supervisory experience: NA

Full Time

FTE: 1.000000

Status: Fixed Hybrid