Director, Clinical Research Finance (Abramson Cancer Center) - University of Pennsylvania

University Overview


The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.




Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.




The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.








Posted Job Title

Director, Clinical Research Finance (Abramson Cancer Center)





Job Profile Title

Director D, Research, Clinical





Job Description Summary

Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) seeks a full-time Director of Clinical Research Finance (“Director”) to oversee all clinical research financial activities across the ACC, including expediting study start-up and budgeting, ensuring billing compliance, and aligning financial operations to support and strengthen collaborations among Penn entities. This involves collaborating with investigators, program managers, department administrators, sponsors, and others within the clinical research infrastructure about clinical research financial services; advising principal investigators, researchers, and staff in the compliant fiscal conduct of all projects; and ensuring financial compliance with institutional, federal, and non-federal policy, rules, and regulations. This position reports to the Associate Director of Clinical Research (via solid line) and to the ACC Chief Operating Officer (via dotted line).





Job Description


The Director will identify and oversee key processes to support consistent and effective financial operations. This involves working with research billing compliance on Medicare coverage analysis and prospective reimbursement analyses; working with financial staff in budget development, negotiation, and approval of both sponsored and investigator initiated clinical research contracts. The Director will work closely with the Director of Finance, Budgets, and Planning to ensure account reconciliation, invoicing, and AP/AR management of 300+ clinical trial and grant accounts. Collaboration with ACC Legal Affairs will be expected to align budget and contractual timelines.




Importantly, this position will play a key role in scaling these central services for use across the ACC and Penn Medicine using a shared services model. This includes Penn hospitals, ambulatory centers, departments, and other Penn Centers. The successful candidate will be committed to continual process improvement. This involves leveraging Penn electronic systems to improve financial operations and record-keeping (including cross-entity funds transfer according to the location of research services); managing and executing clinical research audit activities (financial) as needed; and structuring the clinical trials finance teams to meet the demands of increasing clinical trial volume, associated regulations, and institutional benchmarks (e.g., study start-up). This also involves attending regular status meetings with principal investigators and program managers, to stay informed of relevant study developments and to detect and help solve logistical, financial, and other operational challenges as they arise.




This position will work in partnership with the Director of Finance, Budgets, and Planning (ACC) in the oversight of the research portfolio, ensuring scope, budget and quality are meeting expectations. They will also collaborate in matters related to budget/fiscal planning, budgetary control, and financial reporting.




All work will be performed independently with minimal supervision or direction. Some work-related responsibilities may occur outside of regular business hours. Position is contingent upon continued funding.




QUALIFICATIONS:




An MBA with a bachelor’s in accounting or finance and 5-7 years of experience in business management, administration, accounting, finance, operations management, or a closely related area, with 2-3 years of the required experience directly related to coordinating/managing sponsored grants or contracts or equivalent combination of education and experience required. Demonstrated organizational and prioritization skills, along with the ability to work within tight and often conflicting deadlines. Must have good interpersonal skills and communicate regularly and effectively. Advanced working knowledge of databases and electronic tools. Experience with Penn financial systems preferred. Experience in oncology preferred but not required.




Position contingent upon continued funding






Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania





Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine





Pay Range

$90,860.00 - $160,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.










Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.




Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.




University Benefits

+ Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

+ Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.

+ Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.

+ Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.

+ Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.

+ Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.

+ Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.

+ University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University’s libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There’s always something going on at Penn, whether it’s a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you’re right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.

+ Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.

+ Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.

+ Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.

+ Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.




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To learn more, please visit: https://www.hr.upenn.edu/PennHR/benefits-pay



The University of Pennsylvania's special character is reflected in the diversity of the Penn community. We seek talented faculty and staff who will constitute a vibrant community that draws on the strength that comes with a substantive institutional commitment to diversity along dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, disability, veteran status, interests, perspectives, and socioeconomic status. Grounded in equal opportunity, nondiscrimination, and affirmative action, Penn's robust commitment to diversity is fundamental to the University's mission of advancing knowledge, educating leaders for all sectors of society, and public service. The University of Pennsylvania prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.