Jobs

Position Overview:

Under minimal supervision from the Senior Manager, Finance, will perform complex and diverse financial duties related to management of research, grant, and faculty-controlled discretionary funds for approximately 10 - 15faculty and research staff members across the department.  

This role will work as liaison between PIs and senior financial staff in development and submission of complex research grants submitted to RAS.  Expected to prepare budgets for internal awards independently (CAST, HASS, MITEI, MISTI seed funds, etc). Will serve as the primary point of contact for proposal submissions, progress reports and renewal applications in coordination with the Senior Manager, Finance, and PI.

More specifically, the candidate will prepare and submits proposal in accordance with MIT/sponsor/donor policies. Tasks include reviewing solicitations and determining necessary components; creating budgets; and assembling proposal documents. May seek input from others for complex issues such as cost sharing, subrecipient costs, and complex proposals such as fixed price contracts, multi-PI, Center, or Program grants. Serves as primary point of contact for proposal submissions, progress reports and renewal applications, may work directly with Research Administration Services.

May authorize and approve procurement transactions and expenditures including P-card and B2P requisitions. Reviews and resolves swept credit card charges. Responsible for ensuring timely payment of invoices, performing financial review and control, account set-ups and extensions. Plans and conducts financial meetings with Principal Investigators and others, as appropriate.

Tracks and monitors the financial performance of grants and contracts to ensure compliance with MIT and sponsor policies and consistency with approved award budget. Forecasts account balances and managesdelinquent travel expenditures/vouchers.

In addition, this role will approve purchases according to grant guidelines; monitor expenditures against total available funds; track account end-dates and receipt of funds.  They will track salary expenditures; serve as first point of review on PI’s monthly and quarterly DACCA’s; advise PI’s accordingly.  Notify Senior Manager, Finance, of changes to be made in ESDS.  Monitor all payroll transactions and set up MITtemps payroll hires, as necessary.

This role will reconcile monthly statements; track all expenditures; work with VPF and others as necessary to reconcile billing errors.  In addition, the candidate will assist in the continuing development of a template/report for financial projections and forecasting.  Maintain templates and provide principal investigators with status of spending on a monthly basis.  Will be expected to provide those same financial reports to department senior staff.

Partners with manager and/or with central offices (Research Administration Services, Office of Strategic Transactions, Procurement, Travel, Sponsored Accounting, etc.) to identify financial issues and compliance risks. Makes recommendations to manager for actions needed to resolve and implement solutions under the direction of others. Manages closeout process for cost objects within an assigned portfolio; submits final reports and certifications. Compiles information and documents needed for audit inquiries.

Serve as liaison with staff in other areas where principal investigators may have funds (such as SUTD, IDC, MITEI, TATA Fellows Program, etc.), in order to provide a coordinated approach to spending/financial projections.

Prepare and submit financial reports to sponsors (unless Sponsored Research Accounting is required to do so).   Seek review of senior department staff before submission.  

Track and maintain internal record keeping of cost-sharing

Other duties as needed or required.

Qualifications & Skills:

Bachelor’s degree required and minimum 3 years’ experience in finance. Must have strong communication, analysis and organizational skills. Ability to learn changing technologies related to grants and contracts management required. Experience managing sponsored awards required.

In addition, previous experience in an academic environment is preferred. Also, experience with SAP or similar accounting package, grants/research funds management, and strong experience with Excel is preferred.  Knowledge and experience with MIT financial systems (SAPGui, SAPWeb, Concur, Cognos, COEUS), and experience with preparing projections/forecasting is highly desirable.   Must have aptitude for learning new software applications.   Must possess a high degree of initiative; excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills; and the ability to manage a variety of detail-oriented tasks concurrently.   Must be able to work both independently and as part of a team, and remain flexible as situations demand. Individual is required to deal with confidential information and/or issues using discretion and judgment.