Cost Accounting/Central Effort Manager

One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community.

University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) partners with the research community to support and advance the University’s research mission by providing leadership and expertise in research administration. OSP facilitates and manages all aspects of sponsored research administration for over $1B in sponsored awards each year while developing and maintaining strong relationships with campus partners and external sponsors. OSP is responsible for the following primary functions: (1) proposal review and submission, (2) award negotiation, (3) award management, (4) financial reporting and cash management, (5) F&A rate development, negotiation, and review, (6) cost analysis and research service center (recharge) rate development, (7) monitoring and oversight of time and effort reporting, (8) oversight of regulatory compliance, (9) training and development for research administration personnel, and (10) Project closeout and final reporting requirements. OSP provides complete sponsored project life cycle support (sometimes known as pre-award and post-award services) to faculty and staff.

There are four functional areas of responsibility within the Office of Sponsored Programs, which have the following types of positions: (1) program administration; (2) accounting, financial reporting, and cash management; (3) data management reporting and analysis; and (4) financial compliance, effort reporting, cost studies, and cost accounting standards (CAS).

OSP serves as the official institutional signatory for the Chancellor and is responsible for reviewing and authorizing proposal submissions, as well as negotiating and administering awards on behalf of the University. These activities include monitoring institutional compliance for research and training activities, pre-award services, billing and financial reporting, cash management, cost analysis and compliance of research-related activities, verification of technical report and patent & invention report submissions by principal investigators (PIs), award closeout, and the implementation of information technology into research administration activities. OSP’s centralized administrative functions facilitate the development and implementation of standardized policies & procedures across the University. They also provide training opportunities to improve University-wide efficiencies and communication to increase the quality of research administration.

Position Summary

Under the supervision of the Director of Cost Analysis and Compliance (Director), the Cost Accounting/Central Effort Manager will have responsibility for the University’s (research) cost accounting and the overall effort reporting functions in the Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP). The Manager’s responsibilities include:

• Supervision of five Accountants (three Journey (SHRA) and two Accountant 2 (EHRA))
• Monitoring the review and approval of all electronic payroll actions impacting sponsored research activities.
• Managing the overall effort certification function at UNC-CH, using the Effort Certification & Reporting Technology system (ecrt), to ensure the University is in full federal compliance with Uniform Guidance and institutional effort reporting operating standards.
• Preparation of the University’s Facilities and Administrative (F&A) cost rate proposal ensuring that it is prepared and submitted in a fashion that complies with federal guidelines yet maximizes overhead cost recovery for the University.
• Assist the Director in conducting special cost reporting analysis and communicating employee fringe benefits rates for sponsored agreement budgeting as required to support the research division.

The Manager works closely with campus constituents including faculty, deans and department chair offices, administrators and effort coordinators, certifiers, and other institutional compliance functions.

This position must ensure that all work has a high level of accuracy. Anything less than 100% accuracy has a potential negative impact on future awards, revenue, and audit disallowances. Errors resulting in failure to exercise required accuracy would have a grave financial impact and ultimately would erode the credibility of the Office of Sponsored Programs as well as cause irreparable harm to the University.

This position is a 100% remote work arrangement, consistent with System Office policy. UNC Chapel Hill employees are generally required to reside in North Carolina, within a reasonable commuting distance of their assigned duty station.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Mid- to late-career with Masters and 2- 4 yrs experience; Bachelors and 3-5 yrs experience

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

• Ability to lead, train, and mentor others.
• Position requires strong knowledge of Microsoft products and demonstrated ability to adapt quickly to new applications and various computer tools. Position requires extensive knowledge of MS Excel.
• Selected candidate must demonstrate excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Selected candidate must be well-organized, highly flexible, detail-oriented, and demonstrate an independent work initiative.
• Demonstrates ability to establish operational objectives, work plans, and delegate to team members.
• Candidate must possess strong analytical and creative troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Must be able to manage multiple tasks and have flexibility to adjust to changing priorities.
• Must have the ability to work effectively under deadline pressures/ time constraints.
• Mastery of core research competencies including federal (Uniform Guidance) and sponsor guidelines, compliance issues related to time and effort reporting, audit standards, cost sharing, and other areas of financial and non-financial research compliance.
• Experience with data tracking and report preparation.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

Preferred candidate will possess previous experience working with:

• Effort administration on sponsored agreements.
• PeopleSoft Financials ERP system.
• Facilities and Administrative (F&A or Indirect Cost) rate proposal development.
• Strong preference will be given to candidates with previous experience using ecrt (effort reporting software) and/or CRIS (F&A rate development software).
• Two or more years’ experience managing staff is a plus.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.