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Location: Raleigh, NC
Essential Job Duties:
As the Fiscal Manager, you will provide senior-level financial management, analysis, and regulatory oversight for sponsored research awards across NC State University. Reporting to the Office of Post-Award Financial Services, you will ensure the financial integrity, compliance, and accurate revenue cycle management of federal, state, and private contracts, grants, and cooperative agreements. In this role, you will independently interpret complex award guidelines, approve financial transactions, submit official sponsor financial reports and invoices under delegated authority, and serve as a primary post-award financial subject matter expert and collaborative partner to college and departmental research administrators and principal investigators across the University.
Key Responsibilities:
Professional Knowledge
- Apply extensive knowledge of federal and state research administration requirements, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), OMB Circulars, Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), GAAP, and COSO internal control frameworks, to interpret and execute post-award requirements across the University.
- Evaluate award documents, proposals, and RFPs to establish project setups and determine appropriate financial attributes, including purpose and budget codes, billing frequency, indirect cost rates, cost-share requirements, and closeout parameters.
- Monitor sponsored research financial activity for compliance with federal, state, sponsor, and University requirements and identify potential audit risks.
- Maintain current expertise in evolving research administration regulations and contribute to professional development and institutional process improvement initiatives.
- Design and deliver training for central post-award staff and college and departmental research administrators to strengthen financial and compliance knowledge.
- Manage financial analysis, revenue management, and accounting controls throughout thelifecycle of sponsored research awards.
- Manage system-generated and manual invoicing, accounts receivable, letter-of-credit draw-down analyses, and debt collection activities to support effective revenue management and institutional cash flow.
- Prepare, reconcile, and submit complex financial reports, cost-share reports, and billing statements under delegated authority, ensuring alignment with sponsor requirements, technical performance, and reporting deadlines.
- Conduct detailed account reconciliations, analyze expenditure trends, investigate discrepancies, and process budget reallocations, cost transfers, and accounting adjustments.
- Oversee award lifecycle transitions, including setup reviews, prior approval requests, carryover and budget modifications, time extensions, audit support, and final closeout procedures.
- Serve as a primary liaison and financial advisor to principal investigators, departmental research administrators, institutional leadership, and external sponsors.
- Provide proactive guidance on award status, financial performance, regulatory requirements, and upcoming deadlines while building collaborative partnerships across campus.
- Translate complex financial and compliance requirements into clear guidance for non-financial stakeholders and navigate sensitive award issues with sound professional judgment.
- Conduct financial reviews and consultation meetings with departmental research personnel to assess new, active, and expiring sponsored awards.
- Facilitate cross-training initiatives that strengthen operational continuity across central post-award contract and grant functions.
- Apply advanced analytical skills and delegated authority to resolve complex, non-routine post-award financial and regulatory issues.
- Serve as a central resource for evaluating complex compliance matters and balancing sponsor requirements with University policy to develop appropriate, data-informed solutions.
- Evaluate financial risk, investigate transaction discrepancies, and implement corrective actions to maintain institutional compliance.
- Exercise independent judgment and delegated signature authority to approve or deny administrative requests, policy exceptions, and financial modifications based on applicable contract and grant terms.
Other Work/Responsibilities:
In addition to the core responsibilities of this role, there may be occasional opportunities to take on additional duties. This offers an opportunity to build on your skills, explore new areas, and gain a deeper understanding of the department's operations.
Minimum Experience/Education:
Bachelor's degree with 12 credit hours of accounting coursework; or Associate's degree in Accounting; or Associate's degree in Business or related discipline with 12 credit hours of accounting coursework; or equivalent combination of training and experience. All degrees must be received from appropriately accredited institutions.
Required Qualifications:
- Advanced knowledge of Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and diverse sponsor terms to ensure institutional compliance across complex research awards.
- Proven ability to apply the COSO integrated framework to assess risk, enforce internal controls, exercise delegated approval authority, and successfully manage audit reviews.
- Advanced analytical skills to interpret intricate sponsor guidelines, resolve unique financial discrepancies, manage competing priorities independently, and ensure high attention to detail in a deadline-driven environment.
- Superior written, verbal, and presentation skills with demonstrated ability to translate complex financial and regulatory requirements for non-financial stakeholders, backed by advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (specifically Excel data analysis, Word, and Access).
- Demonstrated adaptability to work effectively both independently with minimal oversight and cross-functionally within high-volume, collaborative team structures.
Preferred Qualifications:
- In-depth understanding of NC State University and State of North Carolina financial policies, accounting structures, and administrative processes.
- Hands-on experience with PeopleSoft Financials, including navigating system actions, running queries, and managing award data.
- Specialized knowledge and applied experience with Cost Accounting Standards and Uniform Guidance in a higher education or research institution setting.
- At least 2 years of progressively responsible post-award financial management experience, demonstrating success in complex award reconciliation, financial reporting, invoicing, and full lifecycle sponsored project oversight.
Required License or Certification:
N/A
AA/EEO Statement:
NC State University is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive equal opportunities for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, and veteran status. The University encourages all qualified applicants, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities, to apply. Individuals with disabilities requiring disability-related accommodations in the application and interview process are welcome to contact 919-513-0574 to speak with a representative of the Office of Equal Opportunity.
If you have general questions about the application process, you may contact Human Resources at (919) 515-2135 or workatncstate@ncsu.edu.
Final candidates are subject to criminal & sex offender background checks. Some vacancies also require credit or motor vehicle checks. Degree(s) must be obtained prior to start date in order to meet qualifications and receive credit.
NC State University participates in E-Verify. Federal law requires all employers to verify the identity and employment eligibility of all persons hired to work in the United States.