Research Accountant Setup Coordinator: Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development - UTK

The Research Accountant Setup Coordinator is critical to the mission of this unit as this is the first step in the Post-Award Accounting Operations for sponsor projects management. This position will analyze sponsored projects award documents for deliverables, invoices, financial reporting requirements, and compliance needs for the establishment of new accounts and the maintenance of existing projects in the DASH ERP system.  Additionally, this position will be responsible for reviewing all subaward agreements and creating procurement requisitions to establish purchase orders in DASH.  Establishing and fostering a professional working relationship with the various departmental business offices that serve the UT Knoxville community and faculty is essential to the success of this position.  The Research Accountant Setup Coordinator will also be an expert in sponsored project budgets.  This entails reviewing the awarded budgets and translating to UT’s DASH ERP system, placing expenditure controls in DASH, providing guidance on when sponsor approval is required for budget revisions.  This is a very fast-paced, high-volume environment in which one must be able to manage multiple deadlines; exercise good judgment and decision-making skills; apply knowledge of UT fiscal policy, federal regulations, and sponsors’ terms and conditions; and conform to those requirements to reduce the risk of loss of funds for the University.

Account Creation and Modification

• Prior experience with the financial management of sponsored project accounting is key to the success of this position.  By having the knowledge and understanding of the many attributes noted in the accounting system, is essential to managing the financial reporting needs as defined by various federal, state and private sponsors’ regulations and terms and conditions to ensure compliance as not all sponsors have the same requirements.  This also aid in the risk mitigation for financial compliance. This position must have the capacity to read, interpret the terms and conditions and select the appropriate attributes noted in DASH.  This individual will be using their judgment skills, working independently in making the decisions in this process. How the accounts are created impacts the financial accounting as reporting to the sponsor to ensure compliance.
• Responsible for the set-up of assigned sponsored projects for the Knoxville Campus and Space Institute. Review and analyze award documents to determine critical specifications of the agreement, noting sponsor and department attributes, financial terms and conditions and flagging potential compliance concerns. Proceed to complete and/or review data entry in the system to support setup.
• Ensure accuracy and correct errors identified in reviews. 
• Understand business processes in the support of the daily management of sponsored projects. 
• Communicate unique requirements of an award, such as Financial Terms and Conditions, Conflict of Interest, Business Ethics, E-Verify and Limitation of Funds to manage.  This may include Research Accountants, Accounting Quality Assurance Team, Human Resources, Human Resources, and other units involved in non-business research compliance.   
• Recommend process improvements on the assigned team as well as processes that cross other teams in DRA and as appropriate make improvements to processes, systems, and procedures. 
• Continually increase knowledge of the impacts grants management data has on reporting and aid in reducing our compliance risks.

Budget Expert 

• Sponsored project budget expert for post award accounting. This includes reading and interpreting sponsored project awards budgeting requirements and noting the restrictions for compliance such as budget justification, Scope Of Work breakdown, knowledge of sponsors budget forms, and required formatting. This may entail enabling expenditure controls for unallowed costs.
• Reviews, ensures, and corrects departmental proposed budgets for sponsored projects for compliance. Adjusts proposed budgets to and align budget justification with our expenditure categories as needed. Reviews the proposed budget justification to ensure compliance with the approved budget for the set-up of the award. Ensures allowability, allocability and justification.
• Communicate with Division of Research Administration Award Coordinators, PIs and departmental business units when budget revisions and sponsored approval are needed.  Provide guidance to the department to determine if the budget revision require prior sponsor approval and coordinate with the department and Award Coordinator to request prior approval.
• As an expert on budgets, provide training and guidance to the Knoxville campus community on managing sponsored project budgets.   Develop formal training materials and presentations based on required fiscal budget policies, Uniform Guidance, and sponsors terms and conditions.
• Responsible for assisting department business offices with cost share account budgeting information. 

Sub Award Management

• Upon notification of a fully executed sub award agreement or award modification, enter a purchase requisition after confirmation of the following:
• Confirm the appropriate budget allocation
• Ensure sub awardee has established a supplier record in DASH, if not, then extend invite via PaymentWorks
• Troubleshoot errors in the process.  This may involve communication with departmental business offices, DRA Award Coordinators, sub awardees

Post-Award Outreach and Other Duties 

• Partner with the Departmental Business Units, faculty, and other University personnel in the establishment of sponsored projects accounts. Provide guidance to departmental accounting offices, Principal Investigators (PI), and others on proposed account setup to ensure compliance with the award terms and conditions, ensuring uniform guidance, and UT Policies are followed.   
• Works proactively to avoid problems and/or identify issues and work with others to resolve any issues in a timely manner. 
• Provide training for DRA, Departmental Business units, and faculty across the UT Knoxville campus.       
• Communicate with sponsor personnel as needed to obtain clarifications needed for the award setup process. 
• Continuously monitor sponsor, federal or university policy changes and update resources in Post Award.
• Coordinate and/or assist with other activities, special projects, and reports. 
• May serve on subcommittees. 
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Education: 

• Bachelor's degree  in any related field 

Experience: 

• Three years of experience in business administration.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 

• Knowledge of research administration issues including financial management and the ability to interpret and communicate federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to research administration operations, policies, and procedures.
• Knowledge of Uniform Guidance, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and granting agency requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively, including active listening skills, plus the ability to work with a diverse group of faculty, staff, administrators and other stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize and manage a high-volume of complex projects simultaneously to meet constant deadlines in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.
• Ability to be detail-oriented with strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to be flexible, have sound judgment with an open and collaborative style of work that encourages teamwork and cooperation. 
• Ability to provide excellent customer service with a commitment to exceptional quality.
• Ability to think analytically, quantitatively, creatively, and strategically and to work with ambiguity.
• Skill to be an independent thinker with professional skepticism.
• Ability to be a team player who works well collectively and collaboratively with colleagues to achieve common goals.
• Ability to apply previous knowledge and experience for a more complex management of sponsored projects.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office.

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment visa status.

Preferred Qualifications

Education: 

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or business-related field
• Certified Public Accountant

Experience: 

• Three years of experience in research administration, preferably at a comprehensive research university or institution

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: 

• Knoxville of UT fiscal, human resources, and research policies
• Experience with Oracle Cloud accounting system, CAYUSE, Microsoft Power BI, Huron Grants and Agreement Software

Work Location 

• Location:  Knoxville, TN
• Onsite, remote, or hybrid

Compensation and Benefits 

• UT market range: 11
• Find more information on the UT Market Range structure here
• Find more information on UT Benefits here

Application Instructions 

To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. 

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• List of 3 Professional References

About The Division 

Here at the University of Tennessee, thousands of world-class faculty, staff, students and postdoctoral fellows are engaged in research, scholarship and creative work on a daily basis. With a shared commitment to creating a more just, prosperous, and sustainable world for the citizens of Tennessee and communities far beyond, the UT community is creating new knowledge and generating solutions to some of the most challenging issues of our time.

The Office of Research, Innovation & Economic Development is here to support you, our community of researchers, scholars and creatives, from ideation to impact. Our dedicated team is here to help you develop competitive proposals and sources of support for your work, seed investments in promising new areas, nurture new and established multidisciplinary communities of scholars and support and sustain a strong culture of research integrity.

The university’s strategic relationships with corporate, venture, community, non-profit and government partners help extend the impact of our community’s work across the state and around the world. In collaboration with these partners, we are working to establish Tennessee as a go-to destination for cutting-edge research, innovation and a skilled workforce.

We understand that a creative, productive, and empowered community of researchers, scholars, and creatives is critical to the university’s future as a world-renowned research institution.