Job Details

Research Coordinator (Accountant) - Multiple Positions

College of Social Work - Research Groups

Exempt position - Market Range 11

The Social Work Office of Research and Public Service (SWORPS) and the College of Social Work Office Research Administration (CSWORA) within the College of Social Work at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville are research centers that work with federal grants, government, nonprofits, and across university departments. They are dynamic and close-knit interdisciplinary teams of individuals with a shared vision of thriving communities with equitable outcomes for all. These positions report to the Directors of Budget, Finance & Operations (BFO) in the Business Offices. Both research groups are in a growth phase on multiple levels, not just in terms of dollars but sponsors, contracts, and employees, which all require strong financial management knowledge, and these positions will be a key part of that. These positions are expected to share the pre-award and post-award duties with the BFO with minimal guidance.

Who We Are Looking For:

A motivated individual with a positive attitude who will use their financial expertise for accuracy, financial health, and to deliver superior service to principal investigators (PIs) and the overall research team. These positions will prepare complex, multi-million dollar budget proposals requiring expert skills in interpreting and applying sponsor guidelines, uniform guidance, university and fiscal policies. Activities require a high level of critical thinking to anticipate issues in financial compliance or organizational resources/structure and resolve them. These positions are expected to be professional and clearly communicate information to various levels of staff to ensure all required documents are submitted timely.

Job Duties

Pre-Award

1. Act as a liaison with university research administration (ORIED and DRA), collaborating institutions, subcontracting entities, and other departments regarding all levels of grant development and submission.
2. Review sponsor guidelines, identify key requirements for all grant submissions, ensure compliance with Request for Proposal, track deadlines, and communicate those to PIs.
3. Work with PIs to prepare accurate, appropriate, and compliant budgets, budget justifications, submission timelines, checklists of requirements, planning meetings, and other required documentation for grant submissions.
4. Submit grants through Cayuse working with the central research office all the way to sponsor receiving proposal.
5. Collaborate with PIs for a smooth transition from pre-award covering project overview, types and time frame of all expenditures, and any related compliance matters with sponsor or university policies.
6. Attend all levels of meetings and participate in professional development to obtain the latest information regarding finance or research-related matters.
7. Work with BFO on process improvement, development of procedural documents, and training PIs and other staff on process, policies, and responsibilities.
8. Review awards when they come in to ensure consistency with proposal and any financial terms & conditions.

Post-Award

1. Monitor budgets and financial deliverables in line with award documents including variance analysis.
2. Monitor, document, and audit expenses for reasonableness, allocability, consistent treatment, and allowability.
3. Work with the central research office to resolve issues with contracts, invoicing, costs, or other discrepancies.
4. Utilize Excel to update budgets and forecast costs in a visually digestible way for PIs.
5. Meet with and advise PIs to review expenses, spending trends, areas that need attention, sponsor approvals, and forecast through the end of the project.
6. Coordinate with BFO on personnel forecasts and updating personnel projections in assigned project forecasts.
7. Process all award actions across all projects with appropriate documentation.
8. Approve Order Request Forms.
9. Complete all schedules of final charges during the closeout process of each project.
10. Monitor invoicing across projects and prepare (i.e., Milestone) project invoices.
11. Participate in year-end activities as needed.

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