Financial Administrator

McGill University•Sherbrooke, QC

5d•CA$31 - CA$39•Hybrid

About The Position

Reporting to the Associate Director RFMS, the position manages and supports the unit’s operations and ensures the effective financial administration of research grants and contracts in accordance with sponsor requirements and University policies and procedures.

Requirements

DEC III
Three (3) years' related experience
Excellent organizational and prioritization skills to ensure financial reporting and other deliverables are met per sponsor deadlines.
Strong leadership skills and able to build and sustain a dynamic and engaged team.
Excellent communication skills to be able to cultivate and foster effective relationships with both intern and external partners.
Self-starter with initiative and ability to manage and follow-up on multiple files and projects and ensure decisions are made promptly to minimize loss of research funding
Authorized to work in Canada
Willing to work in the province of Quebec

Responsibilities

Administering and setting up of new approved research contracts and agreements: Retrieving agreements from InfoEd (fund approvals from Office of Sponsored Research)
Prepare financial statements and invoices to agencies according to the sponsors’ set deadlines while ensuring compliance with sponsor guidelines and restrictions
Maintain current knowledge of agency policies & guidelines. Key contact for contract funds and agency/industry guidelines
Set up the structure to ensure the sound financial administration of large-scale projects within guidelines and procedures.
Utilize various types of reporting templates
Reconcile expenditures against the general ledger and resolve discrepancies
Promptly notify the PIs to bring expenditures in line with budgets of the research agreements
Monitor a diverse range of outstanding receivables based on various payments schedules and follow up with sponsors regarding outstanding payments to ensure timely receipts of payments
Approve financial transactions within guidelines for fund availability and proper coding
Inter-Institutional Transfers: Prepare letters of agreement following PI’s instructions for transfer. Obtain agreement from partner institution. Issue payments
Review expenditures charged to researcher funds for eligibility and compliance
Audits (External/Internal): Respond to auditor’s queries. Obtain and provide requested supporting documentation, Communication via Emails (Internal/External), Meeting with internal (researchers and others) and external customers, Provide support to the McGill community
Track and report both in-kind and cash contributions for large-scale projects to ensure the university is compliant with the initial signed agreements with the sponsors
Establish and foster effective working relationships by identifying needs and providing support in the delivery of services. Analyze problems, determine course of action, and provide possible solutions to the supervisor to resolve more complex issues
Communicate with external sponsors, departments, researchers, FST Managers and OSR regarding current and any outstanding issues
Represent unit in meetings as they relate to grants to provide in depth details surrounding project expenditure

Benefits

Competitive benefits package (Health, Dental, Life Insurance) (if eligible)
Defined contribution pension plan (with employer contribution up to 10%) (if eligible)
Group Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and Tax Free Savings Account (TFSA)
Competitive vacation policy
Two (2) personal days
Two (2) floating holidays
Nine (9) "Summer Fridays" - paid days off between the St-Jean Baptiste holiday and Labour Day
Paid time off over the December holiday period
Tuition waiver for regular employees and their dependents
Up to two (2) days of remote work per week where the position permits