- Job Type: Officer of Administration
- Bargaining Unit:
- Regular/Temporary: Regular
- End Date if Temporary:
- Hours Per Week: full time
- Standard Work Schedule:
- Building:
- Salary Range: $100,000-$105,000
The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. Position Summary Reporting to the Associate Director, the Senior Finance & Compliance Manager, is responsible for managing a complex departmental portfolio and managing a small team of Finance & Compliance Managers. Together with Assistant, Associate, and Executive Directors, the Senior Finance & Compliance Manager, is part of a management team responsible for the financial administration of a diverse portfolio of private and public grants and contracts, ensuring that they are administered in a fiscally responsible manner, and in compliance with all applicable rules and regulations established by both the sponsor agency and the University. Responsibilities
- Managing all post-award requirements of their own complex portfolio of research departments
- Oversight for a small team of Finance & Compliance Managers to whom they will provide guidance on matters of portfolio management, customer service, and professional development. Team members will escalate matters to the Senior Finance & Compliance Manager, who will guide them through to resolution and facilitate escalation to the senior leadership and contact with the department customer or sponsor when necessary.
- Review deliverables prepared by their team members for compliance, financial exactness, and accuracy, and will monitor the productivity of team members ensuring that deadlines set within and outside of the operation are met.
- Provide feedback to and engage in regular coaching for their direct reports, culminating in the annual Performance Appraisal.
- Have specialized agency expertise allowing them to troubleshoot and assist Finance & Compliance Managers with related agency issues.
- Responsible for ensuring the accuracy and timeliness of financial data that they and their team prepare
- Preparation of financial reports and billings to sponsors
- Tracking receipt of funding and receivables (aging and uncollectable)
- Collecting accounts receivable for projects
- Project close-out
- Providing institutional oversight by monitoring the allowable and appropriate recording of expenses to sponsored projects and the general ledger in order to ensure compliance with generally acceptable accounting principles (GAAP) and sponsor reporting requirements
- Preparing required close-out documents for grants and/or contracts, including contractors' releases and assignments
- Reviewing sponsoring agency policies, regulatory documents and other literature related to sponsored project financial administration to maintain familiarity with granting and contracting agency policies and revisions.
- Improves customer service, a core mission of the department, by identifying needs of internal and external customers and providing them with the appropriate support regarding sponsored project financial administration and general ledger accounting
- Assists senior management in implementing processes, systems, and projects that advance the objectives of the organization and works towards the development and implementation of automated processes for post-award activities.
- Stays abreast of regulatory changes and works to ensure that the organization is aware of and adaptive to institutional and external policies and procedures.
- Compliance with federal, state and local laws and regulations related to the financial administration of grants and contracts, and may project manage strategic projects and prepare and lead trainings which mitigate organizational risk
- Maintains records in accordance with internal procedures, demonstrating compliance with sponsor regulations concerning equipment, project expenditures and other fiscal concerns, and interacts with auditors during their reviews
- Performs special projects and other related duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
- Some managerial experience preferred.
Other Requirements
- Demonstrated knowledge of research administration / grants management and accounting business processes required.
- Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) required.
- Must be comfortable working with databases and computerized financial systems.
- Must be able to identify priorities within multiple assignments in a high-pressured, short-deadline environment, and be able to work with diplomacy and efficiency in such an environment.
- Must be able to demonstrate excellent organizational, analytical, critical thinking, interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
- In addition, the successful candidate must be able to work well with all levels of employees, be flexible in nature, have sound judgment with an open and collaborative style that encourages teamwork and cooperation beyond the immediate team to the broader organization.
- Must have a passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality.
Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents. |
Columbia University
Sep 13, 2025