Senior Sponsored Programs Administrator--Revised

Spelman College Portal • Atlanta, GA

16h • Onsite

About The Position

This position serves as the College’s principal post-award research administration financial administrator, partnering with faculty and staff to provide financial guidance, training, and oversight for externally sponsored grants and contracts. The incumbent is responsible for the financial management and reporting of externally sponsored awards, with primary responsibility for federal grants and contracts. A strong working knowledge of business, finance, accounting, and sponsored programs administration is required. Responsibilities include administering post-award financial activities, preparing financial reports, coordinating fiscal closeout activities, and ensuring compliance with institutional policies and applicable federal, state, and local regulations. This position also supports the College’s annual budgeting process and assists with financial activities related to sponsored programs administration, including the Single Audit and the annual National Science Foundation Higher Education Research and Development (HERD) Survey.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored programs administration, grants management, research administration, fund accounting, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated knowledge of federal grant regulations, including the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), and experience administering federally sponsored awards is required.
• Confidentiality, diplomacy, and tact are required.
• Excellent oral communication skills are required when presenting information and responding to questions from internal and external constituencies.
• Incumbent must be able to write business correspondence, procedure manuals, memoranda, letters, and email communications.
• Ability to communicate complex financial and regulatory requirements to faculty and staff through individual consultation, presentations, and training sessions.
• Incumbent must be able to read, analyze, and interpret award agreements, sponsor guidelines, federal, state, and local regulations, professional journals, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedural manuals.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Ellucian Banner, Workday, or a comparable enterprise resource planning (ERP) financial system is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the primary post-award financial administrator for federal grants and contracts.
• Maintains proficiency in the post-award administration of private grants and other sponsored programs to provide backup support and ensure continuity of operations.
• Maintains current knowledge of federal regulations and sponsor requirements, including the Uniform Guidance and agency-specific policies governing sponsored programs.
• Interprets sponsor regulations and institutional policies to ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, local, and institutional requirements.
• Identifies financial and compliance risks associated with sponsored awards and recommends corrective actions to ensure compliance with institutional policies and sponsor requirements.
• Conducts training sessions and provides one-on-one guidance to faculty and staff regarding sponsored project financial management, post-award compliance, allowable costs, budget management, and sponsor requirements.
• Serves as the primary financial resource for Principal Investigators (PIs) and departmental administrators by reviewing award terms and conditions and providing ongoing financial consultation throughout the award lifecycle.
• Administers the College’s sponsored programs financial management system and monitors financial activity to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance.
• Reviews and monitors grant and contract expenditures to ensure they are allowable, allocable, reasonable, and within approved budget limitations.
• Prepares and submits sponsor invoices in accordance with award terms and conditions.
• Establishes approved grant budgets and applicable indirect cost rates within the College’s financial system.
• Reviews and approves sponsored project expenditures and procurement transactions to ensure allowability and compliance with institutional purchasing policies and sponsor requirements.
• Prepares quarterly, semiannual, annual, and final financial reports required by sponsoring agencies.
• Collaborates with the Research Development and Sponsored Programs Office to process budget revisions, no-cost extensions, and other post-award administrative actions.
• Reviews the general ledger to ensure journal entries related to sponsored projects are accurate and properly recorded.
• Prepares grant salary allocation schedules for faculty and staff and coordinates distribution to the Payroll Office, Provost’s Office, Human Resources, and other authorized departments, as appropriate.
• Assists with effort reporting and effort certification processes.
• Coordinates all financial aspects of grant closeout, including reconciliation of budgets, expenditures, receivables, and final financial reports.
• Participates in professional organizations, conferences, and training opportunities to remain current on changes in sponsored programs administration and regulatory requirements.
• Serves as a liaison between the Division of Business and Financial Affairs and the Department of Government and Community Relations to identify initiatives that may be supported through external funding opportunities.
• Assists with quarterly internal audits and compliance reviews.
• Participates in College committees, volunteer activities, and other campus initiatives that support the mission of the institution.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior