Sponsored Research Accounting (SRA) Analyst - Princeton University

The SRA (Sponsored Research Accounting) Analyst plays a pivotal role in supporting the University’s research mission by providing financial management and compliance oversight to sponsored research expenditures, which exceeds more than $300 million on an annual basis.

This position serves as the University’s subject matter expert for post award accounting, billing, reporting and compliance to the campus grants community, administrative offices, auditors and sponsors.  The SRA Analyst is responsible for managing a complex portfolio of government and non-government awards for assigned academic departments and ensuring expenditures are compliant with governing regulations, specific award agreements and University policies. Academic department administrators depend on the expertise and leadership of the SRA analyst to inform decisions affecting award management, cost allowability, billing, reporting, compliance and award close out. The SRA Analyst manages approximately 250 awards that represent approximately $25-$35 million in annual research expenditures.    

This position is also responsible for performing essential duties including interpreting complex contract language for proper contract and bill plan setup in the PeopleSoft 9.2 Grants Management system, responding to inquiries from the University’s grants community and external sponsors, reviewing costs for compliance, certifying financial reports and timely completing the award closeout process.

The SRA Analyst will support the university’s increasing number of international awards and regularly monitor cash receipts for potential currency fluctuations that may adversely affect award budgets and result in financial exposure for the University. This position will also support the accounts receivable process to timely address any incidents of non-payment prior to items becoming collection issues.

This SRA Analyst will leverage data analysis to help identify process improvements for increased operational efficiency as well as perform certain duties with a high degree of independence and accuracy.

The Office of Finance & Treasury actively searches for staff members of exceptional ability and promise who share in Princeton University's commitment to excellence, and who present a diversity of viewpoints and cultures. We offer varied professional opportunities spanning all aspects of financial management, analysis, and processing in support of the teaching and research mission. As part of the University community, we respect the dignity and individuality of each member while trying to foster a sense of shared experience and common purpose. We are unwavering in our commitment to both diversity and community and embrace the variety of talents, backgrounds, and perspectives of all our colleagues.

Award Management and Financial Compliance Oversight

• Manages portfolio of government and non-government sponsored projects for assigned departments to provide financial oversight and ensure compliance with governing regulations, specific award terms and conditions, and University policies throughout the life of each award.
• Builds and strengthens knowledge of critical governing regulations including OMB’s Uniform Guidance Requirements, Cost Principles and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards for grants and cooperative agreements, and the Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) for contracts.
• Serves as subject matter expert to academic department administrators on a variety of post award financial issues and helps to inform decisions related to award management, cost allowability, billing, reporting, compliance and award close out.
• Responsible for performing post-award accounting activities and preparing the billing and financial reporting for all grants, cooperative agreement and contracts, varying in complexity from basic to multi-project center awards.
• Monitors international awards with foreign currency fluctuations for any potential financial loss and exposure to the University, and instructs department on appropriate action to mitigate risk.

Functional and Technical Expertise

• Responsible for reading and accurately interpreting award agreement language to ensure financial and audit related deliverables (e.g. invoicing and reporting) as well as other special provisions such as program income, interest income, cost share and carryforward restrictions are identified and properly recorded in the PS Grants Management system for compliance. In FY20, the University received over 500 new sponsored research awards.
• Responsible for the timely set-up of new awards and award modification in the contracts and billing modules of the PeopleSoft 9.2 Grants management system as well as recording all financial reporting deliverables on the PS award milestone page.
• Responsible for increasing knowledge and proficiency in utilizing the five modules within the PeopleSoft 9.2 Grants Management system to strengthen operational efficiency.
• Responsible for helping to identify efficiencies and improvement opportunities within the overall SRA business environment
• Responsible for updating and/or creating job aids that clearly document the various business requirements within the PS Grants Management system

Other Duties

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree
• 4 - 6 years of related experience
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Excel, and other electronic databases and financial systems, ideally PeopleSoft Grants
• Ability to read and understand government grant and contract language and understand federal rules and regulations
• Understanding of foreign currency exchanges and billing issues
• Interpersonal and customer service skills are needed to work with multiple departments and sponsoring agencies
• This position must adapt well to change and continuous learning and improvement

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in business administration, finance, accounting or relevant field
• CPA
• Knowledge of PeopleSoft, Coeus, Cognos
• Experience with the administration and accounting for federal sponsored research grants
• Experience at Princeton University or a university similar to Princeton University

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS