Position Summary:

This position assists in calculating federal and administrative cost recovery (F&A) rates and internal recharge rates, assists in developing rates proposals to the government, and prepares both internal and external financial reports related to the research enterprise at Vanderbilt. The accountant will assist in coordinating the university space survey in support of the federal F&A rate proposal.

Additionally, this position coordinates all effort reporting compliance on behalf of the university. The accountant is instrumental in the development of policies and procedures regarding the effort certification compliance process. This position maintains the effort certification system and ensures effort is reported timely and accurately by providing routine reporting to departments, answering questions, and resolving or escalating issues as appropriate to ensure Vanderbilt remains compliant with all effort certification requirements.

Effort reporting is the method used to confirm to sponsors the effort spent on a sponsored agreement reasonably reflects the salary and wages charged to the agreement. The Office of Management and Budget’s 2 CFR 200.430(h)(8) requires that charges to sponsored Federal awards for salaries and wages must be based on records that accurately reflect the work performed. Records must be supported by a system of internal control and reasonable reflect the total activity for which the employee is compensated.

About the Work Unit:

The Research Finance Team strives for excellence in providing support and oversight in administratively managing sponsored projects, monitoring associated financial compliance requirements in accordance with sponsor regulations and university policies, and providing analytical and cost accounting expertise to the management of Vanderbilt’s research enterprise. Research Finance includes the Grants Analyst that provide central oversight for project expenditures, financial reconciliation, financial reporting, and award closeout, the Research Accountants perform invoicing, cash management and accounts receivable management, and the Data and Cost Accountants perform cost accounting activities and institutional research reporting as well as award setup and effort certification compliance oversight.

 

Key Functions and Expected Performance: Assists in report development for costing analysis, including the compilation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and Higher Education Research and Development (HERD Survey) Assist with preparing data sets to facilitate robust costing analysis in an effort to compile F&A and fringe rates for the university, ensuring compliance with government regulations and requirements Assist with monthly, quarterly, and yearly fringe reporting and reconciliations. Assist with the coordination, compilation and analysis of the space survey. Develop policies and procedures to support Vanderbilt’s effort reporting compliance activities Maintain Vanderbilt’s effort reporting system including performance of testing as upgrades or enhancements occur to ensure the system is functioning as expected Suggest process improvements and enhancements to the effort reporting system to ensure a streamlined and easy process for the faculty and grants administrators Develop and provide routine reports to departments to facilitate their effort reporting Assists in supporting internal and external sponsor audits, pulling together supporting documentation and liaising with department staff or faculty to meet audit needs. Provide exceptional customer service to the Vanderbilt research community to answer questions and resolve issues related to effort reporting. Facilitate escalation of effort reporting issues to ensure timely resolution in adherence with university and sponsor requirements Assist the Research Data and Cost Analysis team in award setup and internal and external data reporting needs for the university Assist in developing & present training resources for the VU community to meet compliance requirements Facilitate accounting corrections of unprocessed transactions in the grants subledger. Supervisory Relationships:

This position reports administratively and functionally to the Assistant Director for Research Data and Cost Analysis

Education and Certifications: A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education, or an equivalent combination of education, relevant military experience, and relevant skills is necessary. A Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in accounting is preferred. CPA or MACC/MBA is preferred.

 

Experience and Skills: 2+ years of accounting experience is necessary. Skill in advanced Excel, Word, and PowerPoint applications is necessary. Time management skills and the ability to work well in a team environment is necessary. Experience in higher education with a focus in research compliance and/or financial administration in a research university, academic medical center, or other organization subject to an externally regulated environment is preferred. Demonstrated performance in establishing and maintaining productive and collaborative relationships with a full range of internal and external constituencies is preferred. Understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and General Ledgers is preferred. Proven detail-oriented work style in collaboration with effective written and verbal communication skills is necessary. Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people, understanding their needs and goals is necessary. Ability to work co-operatively with others as part of a team, as opposed to working separately or competitively, is necessary. Openness to change, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively in a variety of situations, with individuals or groups is necessary. Ability to understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives on an issue is necessary. Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders is necessary.