Sr Research Finance Admin

University of Rochester • City of Rochester, NY

10d • $77,216 - $115,824 • Onsite

About The Position

As a community, the University of Rochester is defined by a deep commitment to Meliora - Ever Better. Embedded in that ideal are the values we share: equity, leadership, integrity, openness, respect, and accountability. Together, we will set the highest standards for how we treat each other to ensure our community is welcoming to all and is a place where all can thrive.

This role provides senior-level strategic financial leadership and comprehensive oversight of the Division’s financial operations, resource management, and long-range financial strategy in support of highly complex and nationally recognized research and operational programs. The position operates with a high level of autonomy and authority and requires expert leadership in navigating complex institutional environments. The Director collaborates extensively across multiple University of Rochester divisions, departments, centers, and institutes, as well as external partners including NIH, industry sponsors, and other entities. The role is responsible for establishing and executing the Division’s comprehensive financial strategy, including advanced forecasting, financial modeling, scenario planning, and ongoing evaluation of the Division’s financial position to ensure both near-term operational stability and long-term programmatic sustainability. This role provides financial leadership and oversight for a highly complex portfolio of sponsored research and operational budgets totaling at least $15M in annual fiscal activity, ensuring effective stewardship of institutional and sponsor resources. Supportive Care in Cancer supports the University’s largest external NIH research award, the URCC NCORP Research Base among several other major NIH, foundation, and industry awards. Responsibilities include forecasting future strategic resource needs to support the timely execution of current and anticipated projects, as well as providing strategic oversight of sponsored awards and Division operating accounts across both pre- and post-award functions. The Director plays a critical role in aligning financial strategy with institutional priorities and supporting the growth of large, complex sponsored research initiatives. The Division currently includes 83 employees, including 17 faculty and more than 60 staff, requiring sophisticated financial and operational leadership to support complex research programs, workforce planning, and sustained institutional growth. The Director ensures the financial infrastructure, staffing models, and operational resources are aligned to support divisional expansion and evolving research priorities. Working independently and exercising a high degree of professional discretion and independent judgment, this Director leads multiple complex financial and operational initiatives while advising divisional leadership on financial risks, opportunities, and resource allocation. The role is responsible for comprehensive financial planning across all divisional activities, partnering closely with faculty PIs, departmental financial staff, and central administration (SMD, ORPA, and ORACS) to ensure compliance, operational efficiency, and long-term financial sustainability. As a key advisor to the Division Director and senior faculty, the position helps develop and implement long-range financial strategies that support divisional growth, including preparation for major initiatives such as large P01-level program project grants, renewal of the U-level NCORP grant, and financial planning associated with faculty recruitment and expansion of research programs. The Director provides direct oversight for financial staff supporting divisional research and operational activities, including supervision of a Staff Accountant responsible for day-to-day transactional processes and a Department Program Specialist involved in financial and operational components of the Division. The position establishes and maintains financial controls and operational practices that ensure compliance with University and sponsor requirements while supporting efficient financial operations. In addition, the role maintains expert-level knowledge of University policies and procedures related to financial management, human resources, and sponsored research administration. This expertise is leveraged to advise faculty and leadership, resolve complex financial and administrative issues, and recommend strategic improvements to divisional business processes, financial systems, and operational infrastructure.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting or business administration and 5 years of relevant experience required or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Ability to work independently and assume responsibility for complex financial and operational projects.
• Ability to collaborate and effectively work with stakeholders at all levels across the organization and other external collaborating entities.
• Self-motivated with strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a strong professional work ethic.
• Expert with working knowledge of University and Sponsored processes.

Nice To Haves

• MBA and/or CPA equivalent course work, or specialized experience in an appropriate field related to the assignment is preferred.
• Specialized experience in a field related to the assignment preferred.
• Proficiency with institutional systems, including Workday, UKG, MyPath, Cognos, URSpace, IORA, and the Microsoft Office Suite.
• Advanced Excel skills with strong capabilities in financial modeling, planning, and analysis.
• Demonstrated organizational, analytical, and leadership skills.
• Knowledge of institutional and funding agency policies and procedures preferred, including financial management, purchasing, accounts payable, payroll, human resources, and sponsored research administration.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) upon hire preferred.
• UR CLASP certification upon hire preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the principal Finance Director for the Division of Supportive Care in Cancer, the largest research entity within the Department of Surgery, and one of the largest research entities at URMC.
• Provides senior-level strategic financial leadership and comprehensive oversight of the Division’s financial operations, resource management, and long-range financial strategy in support of highly complex and nationally recognized research and operational programs.
• Establishes and executes the Division’s comprehensive financial strategy, including advanced forecasting, financial modeling, scenario planning, and ongoing evaluation of the Division’s financial position to ensure both near-term operational stability and long-term programmatic sustainability.
• Provides financial leadership and oversight for a highly complex portfolio of sponsored research and operational budgets totaling at least $15M in annual fiscal activity, ensuring effective stewardship of institutional and sponsor resources.
• Forecasts future strategic resource needs to support the timely execution of current and anticipated projects, as well as providing strategic oversight of sponsored awards and Division operating accounts across both pre- and post-award functions.
• Aligns financial strategy with institutional priorities and supports the growth of large, complex sponsored research initiatives.
• Ensures the financial infrastructure, staffing models, and operational resources are aligned to support divisional expansion and evolving research priorities.
• Leads multiple complex financial and operational initiatives while advising divisional leadership on financial risks, opportunities, and resource allocation.
• Responsible for comprehensive financial planning across all divisional activities, partnering closely with faculty PIs, departmental financial staff, and central administration (SMD, ORPA, and ORACS) to ensure compliance, operational efficiency, and long-term financial sustainability.
• Helps develop and implement long-range financial strategies that support divisional growth, including preparation for major initiatives such as large P01-level program project grants, renewal of the U-level NCORP grant, and financial planning associated with faculty recruitment and expansion of research programs.
• Provides direct oversight for financial staff supporting divisional research and operational activities, including supervision of a Staff Accountant and a Department Program Specialist.
• Establishes and maintains financial controls and operational practices that ensure compliance with University and sponsor requirements while supporting efficient financial operations.
• Maintains expert-level knowledge of University policies and procedures related to financial management, human resources, and sponsored research administration.
• Advises faculty and leadership, resolves complex financial and administrative issues, and recommends strategic improvements to divisional business processes, financial systems, and operational infrastructure.
• Provides financial leadership for the Division of Supportive Care in Cancer, overseeing at least $15M in annual fiscal activity across sponsored and operating funds.
• Oversees development and management of operating and capital budgets with SMD, coordinating the annual budget process with divisional and departmental leadership.
• Monitors financial performance and budget variances, providing leadership with analysis of revenue and expense trends and recommending corrective actions.
• Leads financial strategic planning for the Division, advising the Division Director and senior faculty on major program initiatives, including large program project grants and infrastructure grant renewals (e.g., NCORP ~$6M).
• Serves as a key financial advisor to the Division Chief and senior faculty, providing strategic guidance on financial planning, resource allocation, and long-term sustainability of divisional research and operational programs.
• Develops financial models and business plans for new research initiatives, cores, and collaborative programs.
• Partners with senior University leadership and the Dean’s Office to support institutional agreements and financial planning for large-scale grant operations.
• Leads financial review and planning associated with faculty recruitment packages and divisional growth initiatives.
• Provides guidance to faculty and staff regarding compliance with federally sponsored funding regulations.
• Monitors study accounts to ensure substitution/corrections to alternative accounts occurs due to changes in activities or expiration of accounts.
• Presents financials and forecasts to Chief and division faculty.
• Provides financial oversight for all Supportive Care in Cancer accounts.
• On a monthly basis, reviews all ledgers for accuracy with respect to revenues and expenditures.
• Recommends changes as necessary for the accounts and circumstances.
• Supervises the regulatory reporting and ensures compliance with University and government regulations and funding requirements.
• Acts as a liaison to University central administration offices including Accounts Payable, Purchasing, SMD Finance, UR Labs, Internal Audit, and other departments to ensure timely and accurate financial transactions.
• Oversees and approves procurement/purchasing functions for all accounts including reconciliation, problem resolution, and analysis of revenue and expense trends.
• Makes recommendations to faculty and staff regarding compliance with University policies and procedures of Finance, Accounting, and procurement.
• Interprets and implements University and sponsor policies, providing guidance to faculty, residents, and staff to ensure compliance.
• Analyzes and oversees fiscal compliance with Sponsored agencies terms and conditions of awarded funds, from federal, non-profit and other sponsoring agencies and recommends changes as necessary for the fiscal awards and negotiated terms.
• Provides guidance to leadership, Principal Investigators, and research staff on sponsor requirements, programmatic updates, and institutional policies impacting sponsored research activities.
• Enforces guidelines with PI’s and their support staff for distribution of expenses and delegates oversight of the financial transactions for accuracy.
• Oversees appropriate distribution and monitoring of research expenses and financial transactions to ensure compliance and accuracy across sponsored projects.
• Performs financial analyses to ensure appropriate salary and distributions for all research personnel and ensures timely completion of required fiscal and compliance reports.
• Leads proposal generation, preparation and submission activities for Principal Investigators, including progress reports, financial reports, no-cost extensions, project terminations, and grant closeout documentation.
• Monitors project funding levels and timelines to identify funding gaps and advise leadership on personnel reallocations or additional funding opportunities.
• Identifies funding changes and approaching project end dates to determine funding gaps and suggest new funding opportunities or reassign underfunded grant personnel.
• Communicates with leadership to provide guidance on programmatic updates that impact sponsored research activity/projects to ensure all terms and conditions are followed.
• Coordinates with the Office of Research and Costing Standards (ORACS) to review expenditures, finalize financial statements, and ensure proper reconciliation and closeout of sponsored accounts.
• Serves as liaison with sponsors and University offices involved in sponsored funding, including ORPA, ORACS, and SMD Finance.
• Advises faculty on financial and administrative requirements related to MTAs, DUAs, FDA compliance, and other industry-sponsored research collaborations.
• Represents the Division on internal and external committees addressing sponsor regulations, University policies, audit requirements, and proposal guidelines.
• Coordination with other Division leaders including the Business Manager, HR Administrator, executive directors for NCORP, PIs, clinical trials managers, data managers, IT managers.
• Manages divisional participation in space and research personnel surveys supporting institutional F&A rate negotiations.
• Provides oversight for research laboratory and office renovations, space relocations, and laboratory decertification.
• Coordinates major laboratory equipment purchases and manages budgets related to equipment service contracts and repairs.
• Supervises and coaches the Research Accountant, including delegation of responsibilities, review of reconciled ledgers, oversight of spending and compliance activities, and Workday-related processes.
• Other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• The University of Rochester is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture to advance the University’s Mission to Learn, Discover, Heal, Create – and Make the World Ever Better.
• In support of our values and those of our society, the University is committed to not discriminating on the basis of age, color, disability, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, military/veteran status, national origin, race, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law (Protected Characteristics).
• This commitment extends to non-discrimination in the administration of our policies, admissions, employment, access, and recruitment of candidates, for all persons consistent with our values and based on applicable law.
• At the University of Rochester, we are committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving an inclusive and welcoming culture and are united by a strong commitment to be ever better—Meliora.
• It is an ideal that informs our shared mission to ensure all members of our community feel safe, respected, included, and valued.

What This Job Offers

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