Senior Post-Award Finance Lead for Sponsored Research

University of North Carolina; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 63,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

UNC Charlotte's Office of Sponsored Research Administration is seeking a Senior Post Award Financial Accountant to oversee financial administration for sponsored awards from setup to closeout.

You will ensure compliance with federal and university guidelines, collaborate with the Award Management team, and support audit readiness; requires 5+ years in post-award accounting and a Master’s degree.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of direct experience in post-award grant accounting, financial administration of sponsored projects, or research administration in higher education or a complex non-profit environment.
• Thorough, practical knowledge of 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), direct/indirect costing principles, and sponsor-specific financial policies.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (advanced formulas, pivot tables, complex financial modeling) and experience with Banner and eRA tools.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial regulations to non-financial stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-level financial administration and oversight for assigned sponsored projects, including budget verification, labor distributions, expenditure allowability, and cost sharing.
• Review award budgets for alignment with University, sponsor, and regulatory costing requirements; establish sponsored project grant and fund numbers in the university financial accounting system.
• Notify the Award Management team, department, and PI when sponsored project accounts have been established and are available for use.
• Monitor revenue and expense transactions for compliance with Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), agency-specific guidelines, and institutional policies.
• Review and approve expenditure requests, requisitions, personnel actions, and other sponsored-project financial transactions submitted through applicable university systems to ensure costs are allowable, allocable, reasonable, consistently treated, and in accordance with sponsor requirements and university policies.
• Review and approve cost transfers and applicable budget reallocations for compliance with sponsor requirements, institutional policies, appropriate documentation, and fund availability.
• Provide backup support for subrecipient invoice review and related financial activities, as needed. Monitor, verify, and reconcile Facilities & Administrative (F&A) indirect cost distribution and employee benefit charges to projects.
• Perform routine account reconciliations, identify and monitor project deficits to ensure resolution before financial closeout, and communicate applicable financial information and end-date alerts to the Award Management team.
• Manage financial closeout activities for expiring awards in coordination with the Award Management team, ensuring applicable financial transactions, cost-share commitments, and ledger activity are finalized in accordance with sponsor requirements and institutional closeout procedures. Complete financial fund closeout in the university financial system.

Skills

Post-award accounting

Financial administration

2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance

Excel

Education

Master’s Degree

Tools

Banner

eRA tools

Job description

UNC Charlotte's Office of Sponsored Research Administration is seeking a Senior Post Award Financial Accountant to oversee financial administration for sponsored awards from setup to closeout.

You will ensure compliance with federal and university guidelines, collaborate with the Award Management team, and support audit readiness; requires 5+ years in post-award accounting and a Master’s degree.