Associate Director, Research Support Services

Wayne State University is searching for an experienced Associate Director, Research Support Services at its Detroit campus location.

Manage the day-to-day operations of the Research Support Services team within Sponsored Program Administration. Manage a large volume of financial data in order to maintain accurate financial records for the Expendable Restricted Fund. Ensure compliance with university guidelines and external agency regulations.

Essential Functions:

Manage the change in labor payroll redistribution and effort reporting processes. Assign work to staff, analyze cost transfers, manage exceptions, and approve financial transactions using the ERP module. Work with university units to ensure timely posting of labor redistributions. Work with Fiscal Operations and Technical Support to resolve suspended transactions. Continual review of process to implement process improvement. Manage the ERP Labor Redistribution Module including testing, implementation of enhancements and troubleshooting system errors. Manage effort reporting process to ensure compliance with federal guidelines. Review and maintain the effort reporting email in-box and answer any questions that may arise. Manage the ERP Effort Reporting Module including testing, implementation of enhancements and troubleshooting system errors.

Various fiscal compliance and data integrity functions are as follows:

Provide assistance to administrators in interpretation of the federal Uniform Guidance standards and specific sponsoring agencies grant and contract terms.

Communicate with external sponsors, investigate, and respond to inquiries and coordinate timely problem resolution.

Manage various fiscal year-end activities.

Manage chart of account data elements to ensure proper coding of revenue and expenditure transactions.

Assist in coordination of the annual single audit.

Manage the grant/fund financial closeout process for both cost based and fixed price projects. Ensure that all reconciliation items are paid within the Uniform Guidance and Sponsored Program administration standards.

Manage the Cost Share funding process. Ensure that all cost share accounts are funded in the proper fiscal year.

Review expenditure transfer requests to ensure compliance with university and agency guidelines and regulations. Keep abreast of federal regulations regarding expenditure transfers and communicate any changes to the university community. Analyze cost transfers for compliance with cost accounting standards. Ensure that required justification is provided, and appropriate documentation is retained for audit purposes. Approve cost transfers as a financial officer.

Manage the cash management functions for the restricted funds including the application of wire/cash and cash requests on various federal letters of credit. Ensure compliance with federal cash management standards. Act as the Authorized Financial Official for Federal Letter Credits Financial Reports and Cash Draws. Serve as an Authorized Financial Official for Federal Systems, including National Science Foundation, Housing and Urban Development, US Department of Defense, and others as implemented.

Personnel management functions including direct supervision of staff, interviewing, hiring, promotion recommendations, performance appraisals, etc. Analyze and review work completed by the staff, including Federal letters of Credit reports, various financial aid reports, payroll redistribution and close out activities. Prepare status reports on unit activities. Assess workload issues and distribution of assignments.

Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Bachelor's degree

Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in Accounting, Finance, or related discipline.

Experience:

Prior experience in the management of sponsored research funds, preferred.

Supervisory experience and/or demonstrated experience functioning in a lead capacity with oversight responsibilities, preferred.

Knowledge and experience with the principles and practice of governmental accounting, including Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

In depth knowledge of the Federal Uniform Guidance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Planning/Organizing Skills: Prioritizes and plans work activities; adapts for changing conditions; communicates changes and progress.

Team Building: Develops subordinates' skills and encourages growth; encourages sense of positive affiliation among staff members.

Analytical Skills: Analyze accounting, financial, or other quantitative data; detect errors and discrepancies.

Problem-Solving Skills: Identifies and resolves problems in timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develop alternative approaches and ideas; solves complex problems.

Communication Skills: Strong written and verbal communication skills; strong customer service skills.

Computer Skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, ERP Banner system, and Cognos reporting tools.

School/College/Division:

The Division of Research & Innovation
Primary Department:

H0912 - Sponsored Program Administration
Employment Type:

• Regular Employee
• Job type: Full Time
• Job category: Staff/Administrative

Funding/Salary Information:

• Compensation type: Annual Salary
• Annual Salary: To be determined

Working Conditions:

Normal office environment.
Job Openings:

• Number of openings: 1
• Reposted position: No