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The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world’s leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.
We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.
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Departmental Overview
Contracts and Grants Accounting provides the following support for sponsored awards: Award setup in UC Berkeley's financial systems, financial reporting and analysis, invoicing, accounts receivable collections, cash management, audit coordination, effort report coordination, and campuswide training and technical assistance.
Position Summary
The Contracts & Grants (CGA) Office has campus-wide responsibility for the administration of all federal and private contract and grant funding received by UC Berkeley, which in fiscal year 2022 totaled over $680M. CGA is responsible for supporting the Berkeley campus with fund set up, preparing regular financial reports, ongoing analysis and reconciliation, interpreting policy, collecting reimbursable expenditures through billing and cash draw down, and closing out contracts and grants. CGA manages and coordinates campus-wide audits of contracts and grants performed by Federal and other external auditors and develops responses to audit findings and corrective actions necessary to resolve audit issues.CGA is also responsible for providing systems, policies, procedures, and training campus-wide to facilitate the management of more than 4,600 contracts and grants across campus.
Application Review Date
The First Review Date for this job is: 07/09/2024.
Responsibilities
- Accurately conducts award setup, processes modifications, and administers portfolio: including review award documents for appropriate dates, Sponsor Codes, Assistance Listing Number/Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (ALN/CFDA) codes, reporting and invoicing requirements, restrictions, and agency terms and conditions, setup new award in CGA’s system, and coordinate with departments.
- Provides post-award financial administration and management for contracts and grants awards in accordance with campus policy and agency requirements.
- Performs financial reporting, invoicing and analysis: including billing, preparing federal financial reports, analysis and reconciliation of revenue and expenditures, program income and cost share review and reporting, intercampus administration, and award monitoring and compliance.
- Responds to inquiries from funding agencies regarding outstanding reports, invoices and policy issues. Monitors financial and budgetary transactions to ensure compliance with Federal Government guidelines – Office of Management & Budget (OMB) Uniform Guidance, University policies, procedures, terms and conditions prescribed by sponsoring agencies, and generally accepted accounting principles.
- Assists in providing supporting documents of audits as directed by senior staff.
- Conducts award closeout including various reconciliations, follow-up with departments; prepares and submits financial status reports, issues credit memos and transfer credit balance, prepares expenditure summary reports, processes refunds, and excludes unallowable expenditures.
- Manages significant volume of transactions, and adheres to strict deadlines.
- Serves as a backup for other CGA members when needed, and perform other tasks and duties as deemed appropriate by the supervisor or director.
- Participates in testing enhancements to the CGA system, learns and adheres to the processing and system requirements.
- Works independently to administer high volume and very complex awards (contracts and subcontracts). May review transactions for less experienced staff, and serve as a technical expert in a particular area.
- This position requires the ability to handle higher volume and more complex awards, and conduct research on regulations, resolve difficult problems, and make appropriate decisions informed by research.
- The Research Administrator 4 position works with departments and sponsors who have the most complex and multifaceted awards, those that require extensive administration, reconciliation, monitoring, and reporting requirements.
- Performs the dispositions of Facilities and Administrative cost recovery during fiscal year.
- Applies and monitors Facilities and Administrative (Indirect) costs and management fees.
- Ability to prepare professional presentations and provide in-depth training and expert advice to other research administrators in other departments.
- Ability to perform LOC drawdowns.
- Provides advice and counsel regarding sponsored projects administration, including compliance regulations, to department administrators and principal investigators.
- Works as a liaison to the Sponsored Projects Office, principal investigators, department, and agency administrators to answer questions, research, analyze, and resolve problems on new, existing, or terminated contract and grant awards.
- Keeps supervisor and manager abreast of departmental inquiries or problems and agency issues, and escalates to the proper management level in a timely manner.
- Develops professional relationships with departments and sponsor representatives.
- Develops and maintains access to sponsor portals.
- Attends training workshops to enhance present and future career development, participates in general staff meetings, and contributes to the implementation of special projects when assigned.
Required Qualifications
- Ability to complete all tasks timely and with a consistently high level of accuracy.
- Attention to detail, independent judgment, strong organization and communication skills (verbal and written) and customer service focus across broad and diverse subject areas.
- Extensive knowledge/experience of compliance regulations in all areas of contracts and grants.
- Thorough understanding of contracts and grants guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities.
- Ability to review and train less experienced staff.
- Ability to serve as a technical expert in the contracts and grants life cycle and compliance.
- Ability to accurately manage high volume and very complex awards and departments, and adhere to strict deadlines.
- Proficiency with OMB Uniform Guidance; knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations and principles of cost accounting standards.
- Proficiency working with complex information management systems, including Microsoft Office suite of software and PeopleSoft financial applications.
- Working knowledge of and/or can quickly learn the Berkeley Financial System (BFS) and CalAnswers reports; ability to learn queries and pivots.
- Possesses advanced organizational, problem solving, and customer service skills.
- Bachelor's degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.
Preferred Qualifications
- A minimum of 3-5 years of direct experience managing contracts and grants, using applicable financial systems, and applying related policy, accounting and regulatory compliance requirements.
- Professional certification in research administration, accounting or related field.
Salary & Benefits
This is a 100% full-time (40 hrs a week) exempt career position, which is paid monthly and eligible for UC Benefits.
For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.
Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.
The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is $94,000.00 - $101,000.00.
How to Apply
- To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.
Other Information
- This is not a visa opportunity.
- This position is eligible for up to 100% remote work.
Conviction History Background
This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.
The University of California's Affirmative action policy.
The University of California's Anti-Discrimination policy.
