• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $70,000 - $90,000

Position Summary

The Institute for Social and Economic Research and Policy (ISERP) is Columbia University’s research institute dedicated to the social sciences.  ISERP pioneers research and integrates knowledge and methods across the social sciences.  ISERP supports researchers, faculty, students, and social science research through research development, education and training programs, centers, programmatic initiatives, and administrative support.

Reporting to the Associate Director of Finance, the Grants Manager-Post Award is responsible for monitoring post-award activities within ISERP related to its portfolio of grants and contracts, using knowledge of grant and contract management rules and regulations, technical expertise, and analytical skills.  The Grants Manager-Post Award provides comprehensive support to ISERP’s Principal Investigators (PIs) and is responsible for ensuring compliance with University, government and private funding agency policies, resolving financial problems, preventing overdrafts, managing reconciliation of accounts, reviewing financial reports, and monitoring domestic and foreign funding.

Subject to business needs, ISERP may support flexible and hybrid work arrangements.  Options will be discussed during the interview process.

Responsibilities

Personnel Supervision - 15%

Supervises a full-time Grants Financial Coordinator

Account Management - 60%

Monitors post-award activities within the Institute related to its portfolio of grants and contracts using knowledge of grant and contract management rules and regulations, technical expertise, and analytical skills.

To ensure compliance with applicable guidelines and policies, the Grants Manager-Post Award is responsible for reviewing Notices of Award upon receipt, communicating key terms and conditions to PIs and graduate student researchers, and providing accurate guidance to PIs on cost principles, effort reporting, etc., throughout the life of the award.

Responsible for reviewing award set-up forms and budget modifications for consistency with applicable fringe and IC rates, approved budgets, cost-sharing obligations, and available funding.

Responsible for monitoring all grant accounts, reviewing account reconciliations, reviewing financial reports, resolving financial problems, and preventing overdrafts.  Projects and forecasts trends in spending and potential shortfalls or overdrafts, recommending strategies to effectively manage spending patterns and mitigate business risks.

Responsible for preparing salary allocations consistent with PI guidance and approved budgets for grant-funded personnel.

Oversees tracking additional compensation (add comp) from grants accounts, including Faculty summer salaries (SRE).

Oversees quarterly financial review process.

Serves as a key representative for ISERP to central departments of Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) and Sponsored Projects Finance (SPF).

Oversees budget, reporting and compliance timelines through the lifecycle of the grant or contract.

Oversees the financial reports to be sent to the sponsor, as required by the award terms and conditions.

Maintains oversight of all pertinent records, files, and documents, including oversight of grants master account list.

Assists with annual effort certification.

Financial Approvals - 20% 

Responsible for day-to-day approval of all grant-related accounts payable and procurement requests, including journal entries, vouchers, requisitions, and internal transfers (ITFs) in Accounting and Reporting at Columbia (ARC), the University’s system of financial records.  

Reviews and approves purchasing card (P-card) monthly reconciliations for grant-related transactions.

Serves as Initial Reviewer of grant-related reimbursement requests in Concur.  Approves all grant-related additional compensations, salary distributions and cost transfers in People@Columbia (PAC), the University’s Human Resources system.

Approves all grant-related payroll transactions for student casuals and support staff.

Other - 5%

Performs related duties and responsibilities as assigned, including supporting pre-award processes as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent related experience required.

3 years of grant-related experience including managing grant finances, budgeting, and accounting experience. Type minimum qualifications.

Additional Position-Specific Minimum Qualifications

Demonstrated capacity for independent, service-oriented work, well-developed critical thinking, verbal and written communication skills, and the ability to foster cooperative relationships with University and external personnel is required.

Ability to work with flexibility on changing priorities and multiple responsibilities.

Must be customer service – focused, pro-active and a self-starter; capable of working with a diverse constituency, of being flexible, and of maintaining a positive attitude while meeting strict deadlines.

Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft Word and Excel and the ability to quickly master a range of administrative interfaces.

Ability to direct, evaluate and supervise the work of assigned personnel.

3 years of post-award experience is required 

Preferred Qualifications

Professional experience in higher education or not-for-profit organizations is desirable. 

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.