Research Finance Specialist II-(3293147) - Partners Healthcare System

As a not-for-profit organization, Mass General Brigham is committed to supporting patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community by leading innovation across our system. Founded by Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, Mass General Brigham supports a complete continuum of care including community and specialty hospitals, a managed care organization, a physician network, community health centers, home care, and other health-related entities. Several of our hospitals are teaching affiliates of Harvard Medical School, and our system is a national leader in biomedical research.

We’re focused on a people-first culture for our system’s patients and our professional family. That’s why we provide our employees with more ways to achieve their potential. Mass General Brigham is committed to aligning our employees’ personal aspirations with projects that match their capabilities and creating a culture that empowers our managers to become trusted mentors. We support each member of our team to own their personal development—and we recognize success at every step.

Our employees use the Mass General Brigham values to govern decisions, actions, and behaviors. These values guide how we get our work done: Patients, Affordability, Accountability & Service Commitment, Decisiveness, Innovation & Thoughtful Risk; and how we treat each other: Diversity & Inclusion, Integrity & Respect, Learning, Continuous Improvement & Personal Growth, Teamwork & Collaboration.

The Research Finance Specialist II (RFS II) is an active member of the Mass General Brigham central research management office, and is a primary point of contact for Principal Investigators(PIs) and Department Administrators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and other institutions within the Mass General Brigham. The RFS II is committed to identifying and adhering to best practices in grants and contracts administration, while upholding the highest standards of integrity and fiduciary responsibility. The RFS II will proactively address the demands of research grant administration by providing exceptional customer service to MGB's distinguished research community and collaborators in their pioneering efforts in science and medicine.

The RFS II actively and independently manages the fiscal grant related activity of an assigned portfolio of research departments. As the primary contact for these departments, the RFS II provides guidance, resolves issues, and helps navigate the financial management and closeout of a grant. This includes reviewing and processing journal entries, producing financial status reports in accordance with sponsor deadlines and regulations, as well as producing invoices and ensuring funds are properly closed out in a timely manner. The RFS II will act both independently and as a member of a dynamic group to achieve the goals of the Research Finance team and of Mass General Brigham Research Management overall. The volume and complexity of the work is commensurate with experience; and the opportunity exists to take on a greater and more in-depth workload with successful performance.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• Manage an assigned portfolio of research departments, and serve as the primary Research Finance resource for department administrators and PIs.

• Financial administration of a diverse research portfolio of Non-federal and Federally sponsored grants and contracts of varied requirements and complexity.

• Field inquiries from Department Administrators and PIs. Communicate sponsor and institutional policies, procedures and reporting requirements.

• Provide superior customer service by supporting departments in their financial administration.

• Ensure that awards/accounts are managed in a fiscally responsible manner and in full compliance with all applicable rules and regulations established by both the sponsor and Partners.

• Update records in PeopleSoft to ensure projects are being invoiced on a regular and timely basis.

• Prepare and review monthly, final, and custom invoices in accordance with Sponsor requirements.

• Prepare Financial Status Reports (FSR) in accordance with sponsor requirements.

• Actively monitor grant expenses, receivables and revenue.

• Review and process non-personnel costs transfers.

• Review and approve incoming subcontract invoices to ensure accuracy and compliance with sponsor terms being paid.

• Provide institutional oversight to ensure that all expenses posted to a sponsored project are allowable, and the accurate recording of these expenses in the general ledger in a manner that is consistent with generally acceptable accounting principles (GAAP) and the sponsor’s terms and conditions.

• Assist in the close-out of funds including the preparation of closeout documents and closing entries.

• Continuously review sponsoring agency policies, regulations and other relevant literature to ensure increased familiarity with granting and contracting agency policies and requirements in the financial management accounts.

• Assist management in identifying opportunities to improve processes and achieve optimal efficiency in all aspects.

• Work with Finance Manager or RFS III mentor on complex transactions.

• Use electronic Financial Management System or PeopleSoft queries and reports to measure and manage workflow effectively and efficiently.

• Assist manager in the orientation, training and mentoring of RFS I staff, including the review of RFS I work.

• Assume additional responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent, plus at least three years of related research accounting experience or research administration

• Must possess the ability to thrive in a busy, high-volume, and deadline driven team environment that requires coordination of multiple activities and the judgment and flexibility to reprioritize tasks as needed.

• Must be comfortable working with large databases and multiple computerized financial systems.

• Need to be able to work independently with minimal supervision, and handle complex and confidential information with discretion

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite Excellent problem solving skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

• Requires strong organization and communication skills with a focus in customer service.

Mass General Brigham is an Equal Opportunity Employer. By embracing diverse skills, perspectives, and ideas, we choose to lead. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religious creed, national origin, sex, age, gender identity, disability, sexual orientation, military service, genetic information, and/or other status protected under the law. We will ensure that all individuals with a disability are provided a reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and receive other benefits and privileges of employment.