Grants and Contracts Finance Manager - Woodwell Climate Research Center

Mission:

Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell Climate) conducts science for solutions at the nexus of climate, people, and nature. We partner with leaders and communities for just meaningful impact to address the climate crisis.

Woodwell Climate is a rapidly growing, top-ranked, independent non-profit climate research institute whose mission is to advance science-based climate policies through scientific research and outreach. Our world-leading research and impact helps individuals, organizations, corporations, communities, and nations understand the realities of climate change, recognize the impact on our planet, and embrace the urgent action needed to safeguard the future of life on Earth.

Summary:

Consider joining Woodwell Climate’s growing Finance team as our Grant & Contract Finance Manager. In this role, work closely with an experienced Sponsored Research Office (SRO) and support Woodwell Climate’s scientists. Oversee a diverse portfolio of awards, ensuring compliance with donor obligations, organizational policies and industry best practices. The successful candidate has some pre-award, post-reward and subaward background. This is an individual contributor role with supervisory responsibilities and reports to the Vice President of Finance.

Responsibilities include but not limited to:

• Review grant budgets for compliance with funder requirements and be responsible for preparing the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and supporting annual audits

• Work independently and collaboratively, maintaining high levels o)f organization, professionalism, confidentiality, and congenial relationships with both staff and external contacts

• Support our scientists in all financial aspects of award management, including subawards and consultancy agreements.

• Provide technical advice and problem resolution on financial oversight of awards

• Ensure financial compliance with the organization’s policies and procedures and applicable federal and sponsor rules and regulations

• Oversee and ensure the timely and accurate billing for grants, foundations, contracts, and government awards, maintaining compliance with all financial and reporting requirements.

• Pre-Reward responsibilities:

  • Review proposal budgets, detailed cost analyses, and budget justifications to ensure accuracy and compliance with award, institutional, and Uniform Guidance requirements.

• Post-award responsibilities:

  • Collaborate with SRO and Foundation Relations, support PIs in developing, reviewing and approving, and tracking budgetswith a lens for Uniform Guidance compliance, sponsor compliance, etc.

  • Review transactions and work with our scientists and Finance teams to appropriately apply internal controls

  • Collaborate with Sponsored Research to provide support to Woodwell Climate scientists in post-award financial management, ensuring compliance with federal regulations and agency/sponsor guidelines and assisting with required financial reporting.

  • Responsible for NSF, NASA, USDA Drawdowns as well as submitting foundation/grant award invoices

  • Prepare and record recurring month end journal entries as required

  • Review and monitor project spending and budgets

  • In partnership with SRO conduct quarterly project financial reviews with each PI

  • Enter budgets, project closeout and purchase order closeout in financial software.

  • Responsible for review of awards and contracts for correct accounting treatment and revenue recognition

  • Design and maintenance of financial reports for grants management and compliance

  • Prepare SEFA schedule in compliance with Uniform Guidance

  • Understand and oversee the application process for the Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement (NICRA), ensuring compliance with federal requirements to secure reimbursement for indirect costs on grant-funded projects

  • Apply approved NICRA rates effectively to project budgets, and adjust project financials accordingly once rates are set, balancing indirect and direct costs to optimize funding and support project goals.

  • Proactive monitoring of grant and contract receivables

  • Strategic partner with Foundation Relation and Development on all aspects of award lifecycle

  • Evaluate Finance policies and procedures related to federal compliance, recommend improvements

  • Monitor IDC loss and recovery and record adjustments where applicable. Monitor labor charges

  • Ensure project records are complete and audit ready. Prepare and provide reports in support of annual audits.

• Subaward/Agreement responsibilities:

  • In collaboration with SRO and Foundation Relations, review subrecipient audit reports and other related subrecipient documentation; draft management decisions and participate in other risk management

  • Oversee payment processing and billing for contracts and subawards, following up with PIs on potential issues.

  • Engage in subaward and agreement closeout activities, including collecting and analyzing closeout reports, and certifications

  • Review and interpret source funding agreement terms and conditions to ensure financial and Uniform Guidance compliance

Must have the following Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Well-versed in federal grant management regulations, nonprofit accounting and foundation awards, with experience managing awards from post-award through closeout within budgetary constraints

• Extensive pre-award and post-award financial management, nonprofit accounting/sponsored research experience

• Strong experience in budget review, post-award management, subaward and consultant agreement oversight

• Solid understanding of NICRA and be proficient in preparing the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), as well as supporting the annual single audit and Uniform Guidance audits

• Experience with proposal budgets, project budgeting oversight, and reporting of sponsored awards

• Understanding of GAAP accounting

• Prior management of financial and Uniform Guidance compliance for Federal grants and awards

• Knowledge of NICRA and familiarity with indirect cost recovery processes

• Demonstrated continuing education in OMG Uniform Guidance

• Broad understanding of types of revenue recognition, accounting treatments, funder requirements, procurement, and contracting

• Sponsored research regulations knowledge

• Federal and foundation awards and grants, particularly NSF, NASA, and USDA

• Excellent communication skills (written, verbal and interpersonal)

• Prior management, supervising and mentoring experience

• Knowledge of Google Workstation and Microsoft Office Suite, advanced Excel skills, and SAGE software a plus

• Experience with Grants.gov, NSPIRES, and Research.gov

• NCURA and/or SRAi membership experience would be a plus

• Ability to be onsite on a hybrid basis

Qualifications:

• 7+ years’ of relevant industry experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience required

Application review will be ongoing as applications are received.

Physical Requirements:

In the office:

• Ability to tolerate sustained periods of walking, standing, sitting

• Ability to lift 25 pounds

• Ability to communicate

• Ability to kneel, bend, and carry items

• Ability to use phone and computers

• Repetitive movements

• Air, train, vehicle travel to attend meetings/event

In the field, the physical requirements of this role include:

• Air, train, vehicle travel to access field locations

• Driving a vehicle or ATV to access field locations

• Walking, hiking, climbing to access field locations

• Paddling, canoeing to access field locations

• Standing and sitting for sustained periods

• Frequent bending, squatting, and kneeling

• Reaching overhead

• Climbing ladders

• Use of manual and power tools including shovels, saws, drills, and hammers

• Ability to lift up to 25lbs up to 10 times/day

• Ability to carry up to 25lbs up to 10 times/day

• Ability to push/pull up to 25lbs up to 10 times/day

Application review will begin on

Desired Start Date: January 20, 2025 or earlier

Classification and Compensation: This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position, the annual salary range starting at $85,000+ dependent on qualifications/experience. Woodwell offers a generous benefits package and work life balance.

Location: Falmouth, Massachusetts or hybrid

Application Instructions: To apply, please send your cover letter addressing your experience and qualifications in relation to the responsibilities of this position and curriculum vitae as a single PDF to our career’s portal.

Please visit Woodwell's website to learn more about Woodwell’s work.

Located on a 10-acre campus near the village of Woods Hole, the Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) is a private, non-profit research center. Woodwell is a leading source of climate science that drives the urgent action needed to solve climate change. Woodwell has 100+ staff members and is excited to welcome new employees to this work.

Woodwell Climate is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, mental, or physical disability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, familial status, veteran status, or genetic information. Woodwell is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for all individuals in employment practices, services, programs, and activities.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Woodwell

WE NEED ALL VOICES IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change is the greatest challenge of our lifetimes. Woodwell Climate Research Center (Woodwell) understands that the climate crisis—from causes to consequences—is inextricably linked with persistent social injustice. Effectively addressing either requires addressing both. The climate crisis demands that we bring to bear all of the knowledge, expertise, innovation, and creativity that we can collectively muster, and those who have been marginalized and disproportionately impacted must be heard.

The work Woodwell Climate does—the questions we ask, the ways we seek answers, and the strategies we put forward—is stronger when shaped by a diversity of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences. We strive to welcome, respect, and amplify differing voices. We value individuals as they are, with all their differences in race, age, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious beliefs, language, and mental and physical abilities.

Woodwell Climate acknowledges that our organization, and the scientific community more broadly, have a long way to go in living up to these ideals. We approach the work of improving our organization with the same ambition and commitment to systemic change that we bring to addressing climate change.

We will inevitably make mistakes, but we will continue to listen, learn, and do this critical work. We understand that this work requires an ongoing commitment from each and every one of us. We are actively engaged in building and sustaining an equitable and inclusive culture within our organization, and in fostering greater diversity in climate science.

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