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Senior Director, Sponsored Projects and Financial Administration

Employer
YALE UNIVERSITY
Location
Connecticut, United States
Closing date
27 Feb 2021

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Position Focus:

The Senior Director of Sponsored Projects Financial Administration has responsibility for overseeing the post-award financial administration and business analytics functions relating to sponsored projects for Yale University. This key leadership position has a primary reporting line to the Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer with a dual reporting line to the Senior Associate Provost for Research Administration. The Senior Director is responsible for developing and maintaining effective and efficient policies, business processes, tools, and technology to sponsored projects financial administration and compliance at the university. The Senior Director is responsible for identifying, developing, and implementing post-award financial management training for faculty and staff in order to foster awareness, understanding, and support for a strong internal control environment regarding financial administration of sponsored projects at Yale University.

The Senior Director has direct oversight responsibility for the operations of the University's Office of Sponsored Projects Financial Management and Business Analytics teams. These operational responsibilities include grants and contract award set-up amendments, financial reporting creation and submission, invoicing, cash draws, collection, and application of payments, account receivables, financial closeouts, quality assurance of financial information and managing internal and external audits of such activity. The position is also responsible for overseeing the effort reporting process. This position requires a high degree of collaboration with other central financial and administrative offices as well as schools and units across the campus.

Essential Duties

  1. Direct activities for the Sponsored Projects Financial Administration and Business Analytics units. Manage and oversee recruiting, career development, performance, and training activities for a large staff of exempt and non-exempt employees.
  2. Monitor University sponsored funds and activities according to federal, state, sponsor, and university policy, regulations, and guidelines, including 2 CFR 200. Interpret regulations and guidelines for the University. Define, develop and provide guidance on University policies, processes and procedures. Assess risks and initiate changes where appropriate. Maintain current expertise in all applicable rules, regulations, guidelines, and proposed changes to such.
  3. Develop effective and efficient practices to support sponsored projects financial administration across campus. Identify and implement methods to increase effectiveness and efficiency. Initiate process redesign to reduce administrative burden on University grant and contract recipients, departmental administrators, and central staff while maintaining compliance and strengthening internal controls. Develop and monitor quality assurance processes.
  4. Identify, evaluate, and implement system modifications to minimize obstacles, streamline processes, improve effectiveness, and increase efficiency of grant and contract related activities. Prioritize and escalate proposed system changes, as necessary.
  5. Lead the response to audit activities by federal, state, and independent auditors. Assist departmental personnel with audit activities. Defend audit disallowance claims. Maintain records of audit activity. Develop management responses, and define and implement corrective actions plans, as necessary.
  6. Direct the timely and accurate preparation and submission of required financial and accounting reports to sponsors. Oversee the timely and accurate closeout of sponsored awards and University accounts according to University policy and strong accounting practices.
  7. Manage review of cash flows, quarterly reports and final financial reports to sponsors. Manage the process to invoice and collect all grant and contract revenue. Assure appropriate controls, systems, and reconciliation processes are in place.
  8. Oversee the University’s Effort Reporting process to assure timely and accurate reporting of effort allocated to sponsored projects activities as required by federal regulations and University policy.
  9. Oversee design, production, interpretation, and follow up of business analytics and the development of new reports and troubleshoot and address data issues.
  10. Support the Controller’s Office when preparing the Cost Accounting Standards Disclosure Statement (DS-2).
  11. Develop and facilitate collaborative partnerships with school leadership, faculty, and staff to foster understanding of policy and administrative issues and alignment around service levels and opportunities for improvement.
  12. Advise and assist with the interpretation of research policy and proposed legislation.
  13. Serve as a subject matter expert in the design, development, and delivery of campus-wide training requirements.
  14. Serve on campus-wide committees, as directed.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business or related field and 10 years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of experience and education.

Required Skill/Ability 1:

Strong, results-oriented leader with a demonstrated track record of delivering exceptional results in terms of both What and How work is accomplished. Demonstrated ability to effectively manage, motivate and coach a team under tight deadlines. Ability to take initiative, prioritize workload, and work independently.

Required Skill/Ability 2:

Well-developed leadership, managerial, decision-making, planning, organizational, and problem-resolution skills. High level strategic planning skills. Ability to anticipate changes in the business environment and proactively lead and manage change.

Required Skill/Ability 3:

Excellent written and oral communication skills. Highly collaborative with the ability to use formal and informal authority, influencing skills, good judgment, and analytical problem-solving ability. Ability to adapt communication style to address the needs of faculty and staff at all levels.

Required Skill/Ability 4:

In-depth knowledge of 2CFR 200, federal agency policy, and cost accounting standards. Understanding and hands-on experience with ERP systems in a high-volume sponsored award environment. Ability to guide and deploy the effective use of large complex, financial systems (Workday preferred) to facilitate adherence to federal regulations and sponsor requirements.

Required Skill/Ability 5:

Demonstrated appreciation and respect for principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Ability to engage with diverse audiences (age, gender, nationality, race/ethnicity, profession, etc.).

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills:

Advanced degree or certification in Business, Accounting or a related field. CPA with 10 or more years of experience in Grant and Contract Accounting and Administration in an academic, non-profit, or higher education consulting experience. Experience with federal contracts, the Federal Acquisition Regulations and federal funding agencies.

Drug Screen
No

Health Screening
No

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check.

Please visit www.yale.edu/hronline/careers/screening/faqs.html for additional information on the background check requirements and process.

Posting Disclaimer

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the particular position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring departments.

Affirmative Action Statement:

Yale University considers applicants for employment without regard to, and does not discriminate on the basis of, an individual’s sex, race, color, religion, age, disability, status as a veteran, or national or ethnic origin; nor does Yale discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects people from sex discrimination in educational programs and activities at institutions that receive federal financial assistance. Questions regarding Title IX may be referred to the University’s Title IX Coordinator, at TitleIX@yale.edu, or to the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 8th Floor, Five Post Office Square, Boston MA 02109-3921. Telephone: 617.289.0111, Fax: 617.289.0150, TDD: 800.877.8339, or Email: ocr.boston@ed.gov.

Note

Yale University is a tobacco-free campus

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