"Grant and Contract Finance Administrator"

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.

The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title
Grant and Contract Finance Administrator

Job Profile Title
Grant and Contract Finance Administrator

Job Description Summary
As a Grant and Contract Administrator, the role will serve as liaison between the University and funding sponsors. The role will provide service, consultation and work as intermediary between Investigators, Business Administrators and other University departments to ensure proper administration and compliance with terms and conditions of sponsored program awards for assigned portfolio of departments, Schools and Centers.

The role will oversee and review general ledger reconciliations, prepare financial statements and billings, provide guidance to the University community on grant accounting and operations; The role will review sponsored program activity for compliance with federal circular and University policies and procedures.

Job Description

• Manage, review and negotiate terms and conditions of awards and subawards to ensure compliance with federal and other sponsored guidelines, university policies and with prime awards and conditions. Serve as liaison between University and funding sponsors and as intermediary between PI and sponsors.
• Initiates the sponsored programs closeout process, prepares financial statements and billings according to sponsor terms and deadlines; performs a review of GL activity to ensure compliance with circular and sponsor terms and conditions including monitoring spending, reviewing and reconciling expenses, costs, revenue, EB and F&A, allowable costs, special terms and conditions and PMS activity.
• Review and authorize and monitor award relinquishing/terminations, re-budgeting requests, carryover requests, no cost extensions; and non-financial closeout reports for NIH awards.
• Provides guidance to university community on sponsored programs administration issues. Prepares, reconciling and closing journal entry upon closing and disabling fund accounts. Update and audit award and fund account parameters.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree and 2 years to 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• Certified Research Administrator preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of sponsored programs and post award administration and related federal policies, procedures and regulations.
• Ability to work collaboratively as well as independently, handle varied work assignments, prioritize tasks, demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills and customer service orientation.
• Knowledge of university systems including PennERA, BEN and Data Warehouse preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills. Demonstrated ability to be detail-oriented and accurate.
• Able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Demonstrated organizational and prioritization skills, along with the ability to work within tight and often conflicting deadlines.
• Must be flexible, show effective judgement, discretion and have the ability to handle confidential financial matters.
• Work effectively in a highly matrixed and decentralized environment with the ability to navigate through ambiguity in a constantly evolving academic/higher education environment.

Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School
Division of Finance

Pay Range
$55,000.00 - $71,000.00 Annual Rate
Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.