Grants Finance Coordinator I

Position Summary

As a member of the Post-Award Team, the Grants Finance Coordinator contributes to CUIMC’s research mission by supporting grant-related post-award administrative activities for the basic sciences and other participating departments in VP&S.

In this role, the Coordinator I will collaborate with a senior team member on financial management of a suite of Sponsored Project accounts, ensuring compliance with federal, sponsor, and institutional regulations. Key areas of responsibility will include performing oversight of attestations; processing invoices and tracking payments; supporting senior team members; distributing reports; and maintaining records. Through this role, the Coordinator I can expect to build their knowledge of sponsored project administration and regulations and gain exposure to the full scope of post-award grant management.

To be successful in this role, the Coordinator I should bring strong critical thinking, organizational, and Excel skills; a customer service orientation; and an ability to work collaboratively and independently in a deadline-driven environment. A background in finance, accounting, business, or health administration is a plus, but not a requirement.

Responsibilities

• Post-Award Grant Administration
  • Trains under the direction of senior staff to gain a foundational knowledge and expertise in post-award grants administration, with a focus on the financial management of Sponsored Project accounts.
  • Together with a senior team member, maintains a small suite of PI Portfolio reports that will include grant, contract, gift, endowment, and other types of restricted and unrestricted funding.
  • Oversees quarterly attestations, including retrieval, dissemination, follow-up, and tracking of completed forms.
  • Processes approved subaward invoices and tracks payment details for purchase orders across Sponsored Projects.
  • Supports grants finance analysts/managers as needed, including processing cost transfers (CT) and preparing account setups.
  • Trains under the direction of the Associate Director and other senior staff to continuously develop and maintain a strong working knowledge of federal rules and regulations that govern research grants.
  • Distributes suspense reports to the team on a timely basis for processing.
  • Disseminates quarterly list of CTs submitted by the team and conduct internal review of documents to ensure all required backup is on file.
  • Maintains records in accordance with internal procedures, demonstrating compliance with sponsor and sponsor agreements, and university regulations concerning project expenditures, equipment, and other fiscal concerns.
  • Performs all other duties as assigned.
• Collaboration & Stakeholder Management
  • Works collaboratively and cooperatively with colleagues and other stakeholders on all aspects of grant administration. Develop and maintains a positive relationship with team members and collaborators in other internal offices.
  • Demonstrates professionalism and accountability in interactions with internal clients through clear, respectful, and timely communication and responsive follow-up.
• Continuous Improvement
  • Participates in and/or supports assigned team projects and initiatives. Uses tools and reporting mechanisms to track progress and ensure timely communication of issues and status.
  • Keeps current on all organizational policies, goals, and initiatives.
  • Successfully completes all required university and department trainings.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or combination of education and experience.
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant experience, including experience in an office environment.
• Strong critical thinking and analytical skills, including strong Excel skills.
• Customer service orientation, with the ability to interact and collaborate positively, constructively and effectively with multiple constituencies.
• Capacity to work independently and successfully within a deadline driven, multi-tasking environment. Ability to handle multiple projects and apply judgment to prioritize projects and tasks.
• Project management support skills, including organization, executing technical project activities, attention to detail, and ability to effectively coordinate and communicate with stakeholders.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Interpersonal and emotional intelligence skills focused on establishing and maintaining productive relationships with peers, leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Self-motivated and demonstrates initiative, patience, and resourcefulness in adapting to changes.
• Proficiency in problem assessment and collaborative problem solving in interdisciplinary settings.
• Ability to work with a variety of individuals and groups in a constructive and respectful manner while appreciating the unique contributions of an inclusive workforce that brings together the talents of people across multiple identities.
• Strong commitment to fostering diversity and equity.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, and an ability and willingness to learn new systems and programs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with Columbia systems.