Research Funding Administrator

University of Georgia•Athens, GA

46d

About The Position

The Research Funding Administrator position is considered a hands-on, high-level responsibility individual that reports to the Research Project Manager for all research/sponsored accounting including monitoring grant awards for accuracy and compliance with standards and providing post-award guidance. This incumbent serves as the contact for pre and post-award grant administration between the Franklin College Business Office (FCBO) and UGA's Office of Sponsored Project Administration (SPA). In the pre-award stage, the person in this position closely interfaces with Principal Investigators and Sponsored Programs in the submission of grant proposals. The employee provides support for post-awarding activities, such as monitoring grant awards for accuracy and compliance with standards and providing post-award guidance. This individual manages and prepares monthly reconciliation reports for the unit's research/research related accounts and will aid faculty and staff regarding policies and procedures.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent
Direct experience in the area of research administration or financial project management.
Demonstrated ability to coordinate and manage multiple competing projects in an organized, efficient manner by prioritizing tasks to meet deadlines.
Knowledge of pre-award and post-award regulatory requirements.
Familiarity with grant policies related to federal funding agencies.
Strong attention to detail.
Substantially developed interpersonal and teamwork skills to successfully work with a variety of groups in an academic environment.
Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills to interact with a variety of personalities at all levels, exercising tact, confidentiality, sound judgment, diplomacy, and flexibility to promote positive working relationships and job effectiveness.
Software experience and expertise in: MS Office Suite Adobe

Responsibilities

Provide financial support and reports to faculty in the post-award stage of research projects.
Account management and monthly reconciliation for restricted projects.
Process HR/payroll actions that are related to grant projects for faculty and staff.
Meet with faculty PI's to review account activity, and ensure proper close-out of accounts.
Review expenditures for compliance and submit needed requests (CASB exception), review purchasing for export controls and prepare journal vouchers.
Assist faculty with effort and assist with planning.
Interface with and assist the departmental accountant with correct chart strings for travel authorities and expense statements, especially as it relates to grant projects.
Sub-contract administration, administrative action requests, research buyouts, no-cost extensions, and ensuring that grant projects are closed out properly.
Ensure that grant activities and expenditures are in accordance with federal, state, and university policies.
Serve the Franklin College faculty in preparing and processing highly complex grant proposals, assist with proposal development, and non-typical reporting requirements utilizing the e-portal.
Assist faculty, staff and graduate students in propose/application development, preparation and submission (both new proposals and proposal for additional funding to existing agreements).
Create budgets, budget justifications, cost share budgets, directions regarding proposal content and formats to assure compliance with agency guidelines and requests for information, applicable Federal, State and Institutional regulations.
Insure accuracy of budgets, including salary and fringe benefits rates, travel, indirect costs, cost share and sub-contracts.
Serve as the key liaison between SPA, departments, colleges and centers regarding all research administration questions.
Provide assistance in identifying potential funding sources appropriate to faculty or students area of expertise or interest.
Assist the PI in writing justifications for special approvals and exceptions to OMB policies.
Handles all inquiries in conjunction with SPA regarding needed grant proposal information by granting agencies, faculty, collaborators and SPA.
If necessary, works with the Foundation Office in proposal submission activities, including initiative review, eligibility assessment, and technical and budget development.
As a member of the staff in the department, this position supports the faculty, staff and students in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences; this position either provides the requested customer service or refers it to the appropriate staff member to respond; in cases where a service is requested that falls outside of the normal duties, this position will either provide the service or consult with the manager and/or director to possible alternative resources.
Coordinate and provide leadership on special projects assigned by the director.
Perform tasks and assignments as instructed by the departmental leadership.
Collegiality, as well as professional and ethical conduct, is expected of all employees when engaging with colleagues, faculty members, students, administrators, and members of the public.