Grants and Financial Specialist - Abacus Service Corporation

The Grants and Financial Specialist independently manages all matters pertaining to grants administration, both financial and administrative, and has financial oversight and administrative responsibility for the sponsored projects. This position provides high-level comprehensive pre- and post- award management, subcontract administration, and financial analysis. This position is the administrative liaison between the administrative core, the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP), collaborating institutions, sponsoring agencies, and principal investigators (PIs). The incumbent has a broad scope and knowledgeable of research administration and financial matters.

Financial Management (40%)

Independently manages grant portfolio and acts as a resource/mentor to the administrative team. Uses financial analytics and develops tools and reports for faculty. Develops detailed reports for faculty on the financial status of awards, including but not limited to forecasting of expenditure rates and personnel management strategies, to guide faculty in short-term and long-term planning. Interacts with faculty to develop financial strategies to expend available funding in keeping with budgetary constraints and sponsored agency cost rules and regulations. Advises PIs on research funding matters such as proposal preparation and maintaining appropriate stewardship of funds received from external sponsors and donors. Prepares financial closeouts.

Proposal Administration (40%)

Provides high-level sponsored project and proposal services to the administrative core for proposals submitted by all faculty. Independently prepares budgets and all submission documents. Independently creates budgets and gathers other required documentation from co-PIs, collaborators, and from sub-contracting institutions. Keeps informed of changes in proposal systems by attending system users group meetings, University sponsored trainings and information sessions, and by studying agency specific proposal guidelines.

Award Management (20%)

Communicates directly with subcontractors in order to obtain yearly budgets, statements of work, spending plans, and justifications. Monitors spending rates. Resolves spending rate issues. Spearheads, monitors, and resolves the transfer of award issues with the Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP). Oversees submission of materials and or other compliance matters.

Location of Position: If Remote, please specify exact working address:

121 South Main Street, 6 ^th floor, Providence, RI 02912

Position Classification: Onsite, Hybrid and Remote

Onsite for first 2-3 months for training and then can discuss possible hybrid schedule but still required to be onsite for training.

Name of Timesheet Approver(s):

Tiffany Amaral

Is this a new role or a backfill?

backfill

What is the reason/justification for this need?

Departure

What is the estimated duration for this business need?

3 months

FLSA: exempt or non-exempt?

non-exempt

What is the desired Start Date?

ASAP

What is the expected End Date?

3 months from start date
May get extended

What are the daily hours (schedule) for this role? (i.e.: 9-5, 8-5)? If part time/per diem, please specify approximately how many hours.

M-F, 8:30am-5pm

Type of experience needed?

Grants/Financial

Number of years of experience needed?

1-2 years

2-4 years of experience in research administration or accounting/financial/budgeting experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience with proposal preparation with federal and non-federal grants and using InfoEd/Coeus grants management (or similar) system. Familiarity with eRA Commons, NSF Fastlane, Research.gov and/or Grants.gov preferred. Higher-Education or non-profit work experience preferred, or equivalent combination of education/experience.

Minimum education requirement?

Bachelor's or equivalent experience

Education: A degree in Accounting, Finance or related field is preferred.

Are there any specific tools the resource will need to know how to use?

Workday, excel, google

What is the ideal personality for someone in this role?

Attention to detail, organized, good time management skills

Must the resource be bilingual? If so, in what language?

no

Provide the TOP 3 "must have” skills?

grant experience, experience processing transactions

Which skills are "nice to haves”?

Workday experience

Any Additional Information?

Pre-award focused: draft budgets, work with central office, email communications
need attentiont to detail, CS experience and good communication skills.
prefer someone with grant and research admin experience. Would look at someone with strong admin in higher education background.