Research Grant Accountant, Dept. of Chemistry (Fin Pro 3) - Military Veterans

Job Code: 8223GR
Job Class: Finance Professional 3 (Fin Pro 3-Grnt/Rsrch Fin)
Unit: Dept. of Chemistry (DeptID 11098)
Appointment: 100% time appointment

About The Job
The Department of Chemistry (CHEM) in the College of Science and Engineering is seeking a Finance Professional 3 to join our finance team. We are looking for an enthusiastic and
innovative team player to join a culture of professional, collegial support and compliance. The Finance Professional 3 position will support the department's mission of education, research, and outreach. The successful candidate will be assigned a portfolio of faculty principal investigators and manage their sponsored and non-sponsored funds in the areas of responsibility and accountability listed below. The department envisions a person who excels at communication, is detail-oriented, and is interested in efficient and innovative processes. The department supports taking advantage of opportunities for professional growth and knowledge acquisition that will be provided. This position will work closely with the Finance Manager and four other accounting professionals in a collaborative and rewarding setting. The Duties/Responsibilities as laid out below may be shifted depending on experience and interest. This position is in-person but there is flexibility to work from home up to three days per week. 100% remote work can be considered, subject to higher level approval.

Job Responsibilities
This position is responsible for interpreting grant and contract policies and regulations, developing financial projections and recommendations, approving financial transactions,
analyzing and auditing sponsored and non-sponsored accounts for compliance with financial, legal, and reporting requirements of the sponsor and University. The Finance Professional 3 will serve as an expert resource to faculty and departmental staff on all aspects of university accounting, including sponsored projects, as well as university financial and reporting systems.

70% - Financial Management
Manage finances for non-sponsored and sponsored projects to include accounting, reconciliations, auditing, and approving or denying expenditures and payroll transactions based on administrative requirements and policies and budgetary impact.

Provide comprehensive, global financial reports, projections and budgets for projects, faculty and department/centers at regular intervals, as well as on an as-needed basis. Interpret and analyze reports, identify opportunities and risks within the area being analyzed. Identify potential solutions and work with stakeholders to implement.

Meet on a regular basis with administrator, chair, directors, faculty, principal investigators, and other staff to review financial status; initiate planning; provide guidance; and problem solve.

Prepares, reviews, and analyzes a variety of reports to and from internal departments, financial institutions, and external agencies including working with UMN Sponsored Projects
Administration (SPA) and UMN Sponsored Finance Reporting (SFR) to invoice and report on sponsored activity meeting all contractual obligations Communicate and coordinate with faculty and staff from multiple departments, colleges and central units, SPA and SFR, to meet requirements and deadlines. Work with SPA and SFR with project renewals, no-cost extensions, re-budgeting, and close-outs.

20% - Grant Preparation and Effort Coordination
Develop sponsored project budgets in collaboration with University faculty and staff. Prepare UMN proposal routing form (PRF) for eventual submission to SPA. Review and approve proposals created outside the department (e.g., other colleges, institutions, and agencies) that include chemistry faculty or resources.

Develop and maintain accurate effort reports per investigator in order to monitor effort commitments, salary cap compliance and reportable cost-share. Coordinate effort certification process, including audit and oversight of effort statements in regards to commitments, salary cap issues and timely processing. Verify that paid and unpaid effort have been properly accounted for in the payroll system and ECRT.

10% - Other Duties As Assigned
Attends GMUN, FSUN and SPA meetings and appropriate training opportunities. Serves on committees if needed.

Manages internal invoicing program for accounts receivable work Internal and External Sales Organizations, including working with department administrator, ISO research directors and UMN Internal/External sales office staff on rate development throughout each fiscal year, including period billing and fiscal year-end reconciliation.

Works with unit administration on annual budget preparation, entry, and close out.

Completes University of Minnesota Foundation transfers, and external and internal customer billing.

Required Qualifications
BA/BS plus at least 4 years of experience or a combination of related education and work experience to equal eight years.

Experience managing finances to include complex reporting; forecasting; analysis; and budgeting.

Experience with computerized accounting and payroll systems and reporting.

Client or customer service experience.

Experience/proficiency in word processing and spreadsheet apps such as MS Word, MS Excel, Google documents and Google sheets.

Preferred Qualifications
Certified Approver status or the ability to pass the University of Minnesota Certified Approver exam within 6-12 months of hire.

Accounting experience in a higher education institution with knowledge of administrative policies and procedures, financial management and auditing within a large institution and an
understanding of the academic culture.

Significant experience with project (sponsored and non-sponsored) and fund accounting in a higher education setting, or managing finances for entities with diverse funding sources.

Ability to perform work activities requiring negotiating, instructing, or persuading others.
Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external organizations, groups, and individuals. This should include demonstrated experience communicating clearly and effectively to faculty, staff, students, central business units, governmental organizations, and private businesses, both verbally and in writing.

Strong problem-solving abilities, attention to detail and demonstrated organizational skills, including the ability to handle multiple tasks with overlapping deadlines and ability to reprioritize tasks as needed to successfully meet all deadlines.

Knowledge of University of Minnesota policies and procedures and Uniform Guidance.

Demonstrated ability to work independently as well as in a team environment.

Demonstrated willingness to learn and grow professionally and to take direction and correction to improve skills and productivity.

Experience with online transaction approval.

Experience with managing and setting rates for Internal Service Organizations (ISOs).

Experience with electronic proposal submission systems such as Research.gov as well as the University's Grants Electronic Management System (MN-GEMS).

Experience with effort certification process. Experience to include using University of Minnesota's Effort Certification system (ECRT); managing effort for faculty over the NIH salary cap and for faculty with 9-month and 9-over-12 appointments. Ability to audit payroll data, and create reports and tables for management of effort certification.