Sponsored Project Accounting Coordinator or Specialist
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Job Summary
JILA encourages applications for a Sponsored Project Accounting Coordinator or Specialist whose primary responsibility is for sponsored project accounting and administration focused primarily on award issuance (post-award) to close out for assigned sponsored projects, and for managing the financial, billing and accounting records for grants and general funds.
This position is being offered at two levels depending on the experience of the selected candidate. Work between these levels will be distinguished based on the complexity of the research portfolios assigned and the independence of work. At the Coordinator level, this position will be provided training in JILA administrative and contractual processes, research software systems and databases and pre- and post-award administration for JILA's main sponsors.
Who We Are
JILA was founded in 1962 as a joint institute of CU Boulder and NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology). JILA staff, fellows, students and scientists work together as a team to support and advance research at the frontiers of science. JILA's fellows include two Nobel laureates, Eric Cornell and John Hall.
JILA's CU members hold faculty appointments in the Departments of Physics; Astrophysical and Planetary Science; Chemistry and Biochemistry; and Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology; as well as in the School of Engineering (JILA pays for summer research, funding 32 Fellows). NIST’s Quantum Physics Division members hold adjoint faculty appointments at CU in the same departments. Each year, JILA scientists publish more than 200 original research papers in national and international scientific journals & conference proceedings.
What Your Key Responsibilities Will Be
- Prepare documents and assist assigned JILA Fellows and the JILA Proposal Analysts with the preparation of required documents for funding proposals, including budgets, budget justifications, and current and pending budget revisions.
- Serve as a resource in researching, coordinating and collaborating a wide variety of sponsored project topics including grants, contracts, sub-award contracts, fixed price contracts and funding mechanisms from private sponsors. Provide advice to JILA administration and Principal Investigators on complicated or unusual projects or requirements.
- Ensure all expenditures on assigned awards are appropriate, allocable, and reasonable, and within JILA, CU and sponsor standards. This can include:
- Reviewing purchases and transactions for allowability, including approval of expense reports and travel authorizations
- Ensuring appropriate documentation is present for sensitive and other expenditures
- Verifying outstanding obligations
- Researching issues as they arise
- Coordinate post-award administration for assigned projects including:
- Project start-up activities (i.e. pre-award cost allowability; establish CU project speedtype; coordinate project kick-off meetings with the PI and key research personnel)
- Review of award documents for special requirements
- Project closeouts, including property reports
- No-cost extensions and award actions
- Coordination with the Campus Controller's Office, Office for Contracts & Grants and sponsors
- Review accounting and budget records for accuracy and make corrections via journal entry if/as needed
- Maintain an awareness and understanding of award terms and conditions within the assigned research portfolio
- Monitor and process payments related to subawards, communicating regularly with subaward recipients and associated administrative staff to ensure accuracy and completeness.
- Reconcile, analyze and project accurate available funding levels; process journal entries, approve travel and purchases to support sponsored projects.
- Maintain accounting records to accurately reflect financial activity occurring in grants and general funds and for preparing related financial analyses and reports as needed for multiple PIs; ensuring all timelines for reports are met.
- Actively contribute to the development of JILA procedures, and forms, training others and ensuring compliance.
- Review and monitor documentation associated with awards in InfoEd, extracting detailed information relevant to award management.
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with PIs, researchers, JILA Fellows, students, and staff.
- Communicate with the PI regularly to ensure all financial aspects of the award are proactively managed.
- Provide consistent and high-quality customer service to researchers.
What You Should Know
- During the initial training period, the work modality for this position will be primarily onsite. After the training period, a hybrid schedule is available with at least 3 days per week in the office.
What We Can Offer
- Coordinator: $50,000-$57,000
- Specialist: $60,000-$75,000
- Relocation is available for eligible candidates.
Benefits
Be Statements
What We Require
Sponsored Project Accounting Coordinator:
- Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, business or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
- Related work experience.
Sponsored Project Accounting Specialist:
- Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, business or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
- 1+ years of experience in research/grant administration and/or sponsored projects, finance, accounting, or related experience.
What You Will Need
- Outstanding written and verbal communication skills. Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a variety of persons.
- Ability to work as part of a team to solve problems and achieve goals.
- Ability to optimally track and monitor many concurrent projects and tasks.
- Ability to contribute to an optimistic and constructive work climate and an appreciation for individual differences in people.
- Proficiency in Excel and accounting software and a basic understanding of database systems.
- Understanding of, and ability to interpret, financial information and reports.
What We Would Like You to Have
- Knowledge of accounting principles and practices.
- Experience in preparing journal entries, reconciling complex financial accounts and preparing financial analysis.
- Experience with purchasing and expense/travel software systems.
- Knowledge of, and experience using, complex computerized accounting systems such as Peoplesoft or SAP.
- Knowledge of, and experience using, Sponsored Research software systems and databases.
- Knowledge of pre-award and post-award administration with JILA’s main sponsors - NSF and DoD.
- Knowledge of, and experience with, Uniformed Guidance directives, regulations and guidelines set forth.
- 1+ years of experience in accounting and financial administration within a complex environment.
Special Instructions
- A current resume.
- A current cover letter.
Posting Contact Information
Posting Contact Name: Boulder Campus Human Resources
Posting Contact Email: Recruiting@colorado.edu