Director, Sponsored Project Accounting

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 limited direction of the Senior Director, the Sponsored Projects Accounting unit is responsible for the fiscal management of over $1 billion in annual sponsored expenditures associated with, on average, 8,000 plus projects and the cash management of sponsored programs, including billing and collections, financial reporting, oversight of all closeout functions.

The Director assists the Sr. Director and Executive Director in the development and implementation of short and long range planning for the Sponsored Project Accounting unit and helps to set the direction of sponsored program administration for the campus. The Director also provides accounting expertise to faculty and staff in the financial administration of sponsored project accounts. The Director is called upon to engage external constituents in conversations regarding audit and other fiscal compliance related issues. The Director of Sponsored Project Accounting oversees the day-to-day operations related to post award financial management.

The Director is responsible for supervising and mentoring a team of accounting professionals (3 Managers who each supervise 4-8 Sponsored Project Accountants) that provide support, advice, and fiscal services to the UNC Research community. Provides support to deans, department chairs, center directors, faculty and staff regarding sensitive, critical and/or highly complex issues, and interprets a broad range of sponsor policies and government regulations. Manages staff financial review of sponsored programs and awards. Interacts with a variety of campus and system-wide offices to facilitate the fiscal management, administration and conduct of sponsored programs.

The Director is focused on service excellence, continuous improvement and compliance with policies, processes and regulations. Provides quality control over the work output of the unit by clarifying and enforcing standard operating procedures, staff accountability and quality standards. Monitors and reports on team productivity and status as required or requested by OSP leadership and the UNC Research community. Manages relationships, expectations and interactions with the UNC research community while serving as a liaison for OSP’s internal clients (Principal Investigators, Academic Departments and other administrative offices) and external clients, including both federal and non-federal sponsors.

Serves as a subject matter expert, advising OSP staff and the broader research community on a variety of areas impacted by or relating to financial administration, including responsibility for the grants accounting activities related to restricted and/or categorical funding; accounting, budget, financial reporting, forecasting, analysis and other related grants accounting services in post award management through closeout. 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.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Masters with 2+ yrs supervisory experience and 7+ years of relevant experience; or Bachelors with 4+ yrs supervisory experience and 7+ years of relevant experience

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

Selected candidate must demonstrate the following:

• Ability to provide effective leadership to a team of professional staff in a multi-functional, dynamic, fast-paced and ever-changing environment, including: training; evaluating and managing the performance of employees; establishing individual and team goals; providing constructive and timely feedback regarding job performance; and developing and monitoring professional development plans; is able to handle significant stress and a large workload.
• Advanced ability to identify highly complex problems and implement appropriate solutions.
• Advanced ability to rapidly review and accurately analyze policies, procedures, regulations, statutes, and complex documents.
• Advanced ability to interpret and explain policies, procedures, regulations, statutes and their underlying principles to a variety of audiences; including faculty, department chairs and deans, managers, staff, and external sponsors.
• In-depth knowledge of the organization’s operational, personnel, and financial transactions and systems related to the fiscal administration of contracts and grants.
• Knowledge of research administration policies, procedures, and practices of federal and non-federal sponsors.
• Demonstrated knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and practices, and applicable Codes of Federal Regulations (including 2 CFR Part 200).
• Experience in the use, development and implementation of management information systems.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment across organizational units and at all levels, including faculty, deans, central administration and senior institutional officials.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Customer-focused; dedicated to providing optimum service to internal and external customers.
• Highest level of professional and personal integrity.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
• Master of Business Administration or other relevant advanced degree.