Post Award Administrator

Overview

The Portfolio & Grant Analyst is responsible for the financial management, proposal development, and stewardship of a portfolio of grants and contracts for sponsored research. Under general direction, this role manages post-award financial operations, including financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance with university and sponsor policies. The Analyst collaborates with Principal Investigators (PIs) and other stakeholders to ensure accurate financial information, resolve budgetary issues, prepare financial statements, and provide long-term planning for research funding. This role includes involvement in managing budgets, preparing expenditure projections, overseeing grant renewals and closeouts, and maintaining up-to-date knowledge of policies and procedures.

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Strong financial and analytical skills with demonstrated application of financial and accounting concepts.
2. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and other office software, with the ability to manage multiple data sources effectively.
3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present financial information clearly and accurately.
4. Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail and the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
5. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively, demonstrating a positive attitude and strong customer service skills.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Prior experience with grants and contract administration, including pre-award to post-award processes.
2. Knowledge of university policies and procedures, particularly within an academic or medical research setting.
3. Proficiency in using financial systems such as Workday and Yale Budget Tool (YBT) for financial management and reporting.
4. Experience in managing international sponsored awards, including familiarity with relevant regulations and compliance requirements.
5. Bachelor's degree in accounting, business management, or a related field, with several years of relevant financial experience.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Financial Analysis and Reporting: Present financial information and recommendations thru data analysis and reporting in the development and maintenance of budgets. Identify funding issues and develop appropriate solutions. Review and approve reports for administrative actions including pre-award costs and no-cost extensions. Analyze data and develop complex analytical reports for principal investigators including trend analysis, forecast future financial scenarios, develop long range projections, and variance analyses.
2. Proposal Development: Develop proposals and budgets for grant and contract submissions; coordinate with partnering institutions. Ensure compliance with sponsor regulations and University policies and procedures.  Advise principal investigators of new funding opportunities and requirements.
3. Portfolio Management: Plan, organize and prioritize actions across multiple awards and investigators' portfolios. Ensure appropriate charging of expenses and integration of data. Advise and counsel principal investigators on financial issues and recommend alternative spending strategies, manage renewals, extensions and closeouts of grants, including final financial reporting to the sponsor. Analyze and negotiate budgets, contracts, and terms and conditions of research proposals.
4. Compliance and Risk Management: Responsible for providing appropriate guidance on compliance matters during management of portfolio and collaborates with account holders to maintain such compliance. Review, interpret and effectively apply sponsor policies on a variety of topics including cost allowability, budget management and other award management activities to ensure compliance with sponsoring agency requirements and University policies and procedures. 
5. Collaborative Finance Partner & Lead: Provides a high-level of service that maintains strong working relationships by interacting with faculty and internal and external contacts, such as the School of Medicine, Office of Research Administration and granting agencies by managing the internal pre award proposal process and the management of sponsored funding.
6. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree required. Two years of related financial experience required. Demonstrated application of financial, accounting and economic concepts.