Financial Analyst - ICTS Coordinator Core

UIOWA•Iowa City, IA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Financial Analyst serves as the primary resource for clinical trial budget development, negotiation, and financial implementation within the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science (ICTS) Research Coordinator Core. The position reviews complex clinical research protocols, develops and negotiates trial budgets, coordinates institutional cost assessments, and supports financial management throughout each study’s lifecycle. It collaborates with investigators, study teams, ancillary departments, billing compliance personnel, University administration, and external sponsors to support accurate budget development, appropriate cost recovery, institutional compliance, and timely study activation. The role manages a high-volume portfolio of trials and amendments at various stages, including budget development, negotiation, activation, maintenance, and closeout. The position also performs routine account reconciliations and financial reporting, investigates discrepancies, and supports Research Billing Compliance with assigning patient expenses to insurance or industry sponsors using EPIC, Tableau, and OnCore. It analyzes and negotiates budgets, prepares documentation and routing forms, coordinates contract approvals, and maintains knowledge of applicable clinical research financial policies and regulations. It may provide task-specific guidance or training to colleagues. The position is 100% time and eligible for a hybrid arrangement, with remote work required to be performed within Iowa. The Institute for Clinical and Translational Science at the University of Iowa supports investigators in clinical and translational science and aims to accelerate translational science, develop the translational workforce, engage communities and stakeholders, promote research integration across the lifespan, and catalyze innovative research.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or Accounting, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
At least 1 year of accounting and/or financial experience.
General knowledge of accounting practices.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
Demonstrated proficiency with computer software applications, including Microsoft Word, Excel, and various databases.

Nice To Haves

Experience with financial contracts.
Experience with University insurance and/or billing processes.
Experience with or knowledge of clinical trials or human subject research.
Experience preparing and negotiating budgets.
Medical terminology knowledge.
Experience with University of Iowa accounting financial systems.
Knowledge of University of Iowa business policies, procedures, and regulations.

Responsibilities

Review clinical trial protocols and schedules of events to identify required procedures, research activities, billing considerations, sponsor obligations, and institutional resource needs.
Manage a high-volume portfolio of clinical trial budgets and amendments, including start-up budgets, protocol revisions, maintenance updates, and sponsor negotiations.
Coordinate and submit internal cost assessments to institutional departments and service centers to obtain protocol-specific pricing and feasibility information.
Compile protocol-specific pricing, document assumptions, and identify items needing further review or approval.
Monitor and reconcile account expenditures, investigate irregularities, respond to account inquiries, advise on account usage and status, and recommend or implement corrective actions.
Audit account statements and reports for compliance with funding guidelines, maintain account balances, and reconcile differences between account balances and external sources.
Participate in workgroups and committees reviewing ICTS clinical research administrative finances and practices; analyze information, make recommendations, and implement changes as appropriate.
Complete recurring account reconciliations and financial reports, research discrepancies, and escalate exceptions outside established guidelines.
Collaborate with Research Billing Compliance, study teams, and departmental personnel to resolve and document account discrepancies and reimbursement issues.
Assist the Research Billing Compliance Office with filtering and assigning patient expenses to insurance or industry sponsors in accordance with budgets, using EPIC, Tableau, and OnCore.
Serve as liaison with the Joint Office of Compliance regarding billing compliance issues.
Consult stakeholders and administrators on clinical trial budget analysis and submissions for externally funded research.
Analyze and negotiate clinical trial budgets with industry sponsors, consortiums, and cooperative groups.
Perform routine and limited complex financial analyses using established templates and systems; assist with non-routine analysis and financial pro formas as assigned.
Liaise with University Counsel, accounting offices, faculty, staff, and industry representatives; prepare documentation, submit routing forms, obtain contract approvals, and follow up.
Learn and maintain knowledge of current clinical trial finance policies and regulations; apply University and clinical research policies and coordinate potential compliance concerns with appropriate offices.
Perform limited transaction processing arising from budget analysis, reconciliation, or related financial work.
May provide task-specific guidance or training to colleagues on established budgeting, documentation, and reconciliation processes.
May contribute to policy and procedure implementation and perform external reporting requiring compliance with reporting standards.