"Specialist-Grants Finance"

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Grant Management Services, the Grants Finance Specialist will work with Principal Investigators (PI) and Department Administrators (DA) on grant-related functions, which include, but are not limited to, grant reconciliation, reporting, and close-out. Serve as an expert on sponsored research management, policies, processes and resources, and facilitate dialogue, problem solving and issue resolution among stakeholders in all matters throughout the sponsored projects lifecycle. They will serve as the Climate School’s primary contact for Post-Award Grants Management, Uniform Guidance, and other related matters, with the University’s central administration offices, including Sponsored Project Administration (SPA), Sponsored Project Finance (SPF), Office of the Controller, and other central administration units.

Responsibilities

Grant Management

• Serve as primary contact for Climate School (CS) with SPA, SPF and other Central Administration groups. Work closely with Department Administrators (DA) on grant reconciliations, including grant expenses, and budgets. Provide Principal Investigators (PIs) and their administrators with Post-Award financial administration support, including financial status reports, invoicing details and project closeouts. Review notices of award, agreements, contracts, and MOUs to ensure consistency with proposal scope, mission, and policies of CS and Columbia University. Work with PIs and DAs to assist in tracking of effort commitments for PIs and their personnel.
• For Large awards, lead and coordinate award implementation meetings and monitoring (usually in conjunction with other CS Divisions).
• In collaboration with the University’s Controller’s Office, in charge of leading and coordinating internal and external audit inquires. They will work closely with University internal auditors as well as with outside auditors to determine that expenditures and procedures were appropriate, allowable, and allocable to the award.

Research Compliance and Training

• Implementing research compliance processes, including those for Uniform Guidance, conflict of interest, and responsible conduct of research.
• Deliver and assist with training programs on post-award management and compliance for the Climate School community, including group workshops and one on one sessions.
• Maintain and update a website with Post-Award resources, including Roles & Responsibilities Matrix and many useful proposal resources.

Other Responsibilities

• Support special projects and perform additional duties as assigned by Director of Grant Management Services.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of 2-3 years of experience in research administration or grants management, preferably in a higher education or non-profit setting.

Preferred Qualifications

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including experience collaborating with a multi-disciplinary, diverse and driven team.
• Strong hands-on background in budgeting, planning, financial analysis and reporting, particularly in non-profit organizations with multiple funding streams including private and federal grants.
• Flexible self-starter who can multi-task with a high level of attention to detail. Ability to exercise discretion and handle confidential information.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel (vlookups, pivot tables, macros, and formulas).