Senior Post Award Financial Accountant

UNC Charlotte; 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

• The finalist will be subject to a Criminal Background Check and/or a Motor Vehicle Report.
• The Search Committee will not contact references without first verifying permission with the finalist.
• Please ensure your resume reflects the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences to support your answers to the supplemental questions.

8:00 am – 5:00 pm; Monday – Friday with occasional evening and weekend hours required, as necessary.

Hours per week 40

FLSA Status

FLSA Status Exempt

Division

Research

Department

Div of Research (Adm)

Work Location

Salary Range

Salary Range

Salary Range $63,000 - $73,891

Primary Purpose of Department

The Office of Sponsored Research Administration ( OSRA ) is the central administrative and financial backbone of UNC Charlotte’s thriving research enterprise as a premier Carnegie R1 institution. Acting as the university’s Authorized Organizational Representative ( AOR ), OSRA manages the institution’s externally funded research portfolio and serves as the official liaison between investigators and global funding sponsors, including federal agencies, state partners, foundations, and industry leaders.

OSRA supports faculty, staff, and institutional partners through the entire grant lifecycle by ensuring excellence in research stewardship, administrative management, and complete fiscal compliance:

• Pre-Award: Facilitates proposal and budget development, ensures adherence to sponsor guidelines, and manages the official institutional proposal submission process.
• Award Acceptance & Negotiation: Reviews, negotiates, and executes legally binding contracts, grants, subawards, and related research agreements on behalf of the university.
• Post-Award Management: Oversees non-financial award modifications, no-cost extensions, personnel actions, scope changes, and institutional compliance tracking. In addition, works with PIs and departments on financial tracking of sponsored projects.
• Non-Federal Sponsor Invoicing: Manages the preparation, verification, and timely submission of invoices and billing milestones to corporate, foundation, municipal, and state sponsors to ensure steady funding streams.
• Research Accounting & Financial Compliance: Manages financial award setup and budget entry, monitors transaction allowability and cost-share reporting, prepares fiscal reports for sponsors, oversees subrecipient monitoring, and directs the final financial closeout and audit readiness of sponsored funds.

Primary Purpose of Position

Serves as a Senior Post Award Financial Accountant on the Research Accounting and Financial Compliance team within the Office of Sponsored Research Administration. Under the direction of the Associate Director, Post Award Research Accounting, this position provides advanced financial administration and oversight for an assigned portfolio of sponsored awards from financial award setup through closeout. The position monitors sponsored project financial activity for compliance with applicable federal, state, local, sponsor, and university requirements and collaborates with the OSRA Award Management team to support effective financial management and stewardship of sponsored funds.

Summary of Position Responsibilities

• Provide high-level financial administration and oversight for assigned sponsored projects, including budget verification, labor distributions, expenditure allowability, and cost sharing. Maintain oversight of financial records for each award.
• 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.
• Provide backup support for subrecipient invoice review and related financial activities, as needed.
• 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.

Financial Compliance and Technical Expertise

• Serve as a subject matter expert on federal regulations (including 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance), state rules, sponsor guidelines, and university accounting policies.
• Provide technical guidance and consultation to the Award Management team regarding sponsored accounting procedures, allowable costs, and budget management.
• Recommend and help develop internal accounting controls, operating procedures, and business practices that strengthen institutional compliance and audit readiness.
• Support the accuracy and integrity of sponsored-project financial records through ongoing monitoring, reconciliation, and compliance review.

Audit Readiness and Problem Solving

• Independently analyze and resolve complex accounting issues, budget variances, and compliance exceptions within assigned portfolio.
• Meet with the Award Management team to address compliance concerns, budget adjustments, and operational accounting challenges.
• Support audit preparation and respond to financial documentation and information requests associated with internal and external audits, sponsor reviews, and the University’s Single Audit.
• Collaborate with teams across OSRA to streamline post-award financial operations.
• Partner with the Award Management team to address identified financial compliance issues and implement appropriate corrective actions.

Communication & Stakeholder Relations

• Maintain effective working relationships with the Award Management team, other OSRA teams, and appropriate university partners to support sponsored-project administration. Promote and maintain close, effective working relationships between the teams within the Office of Sponsored Research Administration.
• Work with colleagues and team members to jointly address questions and challenges in daily work, respond to inquiries in a timely, professional manner, and provide consistently excellent support.

Other duties as assigned.

• 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.
• Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills and Experience

• Master’s Degree
• 7+ years of post-award research accounting experience at a Carnegie R1 higher education institution.
• 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 scenario analysis) and experience working with enterprise financial systems (e.g., Banner) and electronic research administration (eRA) tools.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, and priorities.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills with a proven track record of managing complex financial portfolios, tight deadlines, and competing priorities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial regulations to non-financial stakeholders.

Necessary Certifications/Licenses

N/A

Preferred Certifications/Licenses

• Certified Research Administrator ( CRA ) or Certified Financial Research Administrator ( CFRA )

Special Notes to Applicants

• The finalist will be subject to a Criminal Background Check and/or a Motor Vehicle Report.
• The Search Committee will not contact references without first verifying permission with the finalist.
• Please ensure your resume reflects the knowledge, skills, abilities, and experiences to support your answers to the supplemental questions.

If time-limited please indicate appointment end date

Contact Information

Posting Specific Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
  • UNC Charlotte Website
  • HERC Job Board
  • Inside Higher Education
  • Mitratech Circa (formerly known as Local JobNetwork)
  • Another Website
  • Agency Referral
  • Advertisement/Publication
  • Personal Referral
  • Other
• Where did you learn about this posting?

  (Open Ended Question)

• * Do you have a bachelor’s degree with 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, or an equivalent combination of education and experience?
  • Yes, at least a bachelor's degree and the required 5+ years of direct experience as stated above.
  • Yes, an associates degree and 7+ years of direct experience as stated above.
  • Yes, a high school diploma/GED and 9+ years of direct experience as stated above.
  • No

Required Documents

• Resume / Curriculum Vitae
• Cover Letter / Letter of Interest
• Contact Information for References

Optional Documents

9201 University City BlvdCharlotte, NC 28223