Research Analyst (Administrative Analyst Specialist Exempt I), Sponsored Program Administration

Job Summary:

The Sponsored Programs Administration Research Analyst (RA) will act as a post-award liaison for principal investigators/project directors (PI/PD) and will require close collaboration with individuals at all levels within the organization. The RA will also act as a representative to outside entities including auxiliary personnel, sub-recipients and/or subcontractors, federal grant officers, state agency administrators, and other CSU campuses. Work under the direction of Director of Sponsored Programs Administration and RA will independently perform timely, compliant, post-award administration on an assigned workload of multiple complex grants and contracts in accordance with sponsor-specific regulations, OMB 2 CFR 200, and institutional policies and will have direct responsibility and accountability for work results.

Project management and award set up:

• The Sponsored Programs Administration Research Analyst (RA) will act as a post-award liaison for principal investigators/project directors (PI/PD), requiring close collaboration with stakeholders and serving as a point of contact for all post-award issues to ensure compliance with regulations and funding terms and conditions.
• Utilize independent judgment and expertise, along with analytical skills, to perform timely and compliant post-award administration for an assigned workload of grants and contracts. This includes policy research, analysis, and evaluation related to grants and contracts fund management, ensuring adherence to sponsor-specific regulations, 2 CFR 200 regulations, and institutional policies, and proactively addressing potential problems.
• Review award documents to prepare award notifications according to established award set up procedures. Arrange expenditure and cost share chart of account (COA), analyze data to determine budgetary guidance and restrictions, handle budget load requests, extract reporting requirements and due dates.
• Review and analyze award documents, various accounting processes, funding agency terms and conditions, 2 CFR 200 regulations and institutional policies to conduct orientation and provide training to PI/PD and project staff.
• Review critical award attributes including indirect costs and input /update in the Common Finance System (CFS) Grant Module.
• Generate and maintain all award related documents and correspondence in electronic files.

Financial monitoring - account analysis, compliance and problem solving:

• Provide financial monitoring of an assigned workload of grants and contracts in accordance with funding agency terms and conditions, institutional policies, processes, and 2 CFR 200 regulations, from notice of award to closeout.
• Conduct account analysis, budget variance analysis, review of financial statements, queries of expenditure transactions, and encumbrances to identify, anticipate, and proactively address problems.
• Interpret, organize, and present training to PI/PD and project staff on how to generate and read CFS financial statements, queries, and drilldowns.
• Analyze detailed transactional general ledgers to compile month/year-end journal entries and reconcile budgets and financial data to prepare budget projections, ensuring funds availability through the funding period.
• Prepare budget adjustments or modifications, cost transfers, journal entries, no-cost extensions, and carryover of unexpended balances from the funding agency, and generate requests to the funding agency for approval and/or processing in PeopleSoft.
• Conduct regular meetings with PI/PD to address discrepancies or to resolve deficits, recommend solutions, anticipate future problems, and advise on corrective transactions as needed.

Project expenditure authorization and compliance:

• Utilize agency regulations, 2 CFR 200 regulations, and institutional policies to analyze and review various transactions including but not limited to: expenditure documents, travel claims/advances, contracts, item type set ups, university invoices, and HR/Personnel documents.
• Ensure the availability of funds, adherence to budget constraints, allowability and allocability of expenses, and compliance with agency and institutional regulations and policies.
• Interpret and analyze agency regulations, 2 CFR 200 regulations, and institutional policies to make sound business judgement. Apply critical thinking skills to resolve issues by assessing the appropriateness and risk associated with approving exceptions to provide best course of action.

Contract development and administrative monitoring of contractual, procurement and reporting requirements:

• Compile all required supporting documentation, certifications, eligibility requirements and approvals to create and issue project related external subawards and subcontracts.
• Review, approve, and track contractor expenditure activity/invoices and purchase requisitions for compliance with contractual, regulatory, and funding terms and conditions.
• Determine need to collect/provide applicable quotes, bids, sole source justifications, and other applicable required documentation.

Collection of Cost Sharing documents and Preparation of Effort Reports:

• Provide advice and guidance to PI/PD and project staff for collection of acceptable documents needed to certify the cost sharing and effort reports, prepare/collect on a monthly/quarterly/academic term basis, and meet with project staff and internal and/or entities as needed to follow up on collection of documents.
• Create initial cost share budget journal entry and subsequent journal entries to record allowable activity in CFS finance system. Collect and track cost share commitments/ documents and effort reports to ascertain allowability, accuracy and compliance with awarded budget, with regulations applicable to the funding agency and institutional policies and compute appropriate value to be documented.
• Conduct ongoing monitoring and analysis of cost share accounts and conduct analysis of cost share financial statements to forecast problems and address them proactively.
• Monitor, maintain, and archive cost sharing and effort documentation in project file and ensure that accurate and allowable documentation is submitted to the funding agency during the invoicing process, audit, or at close-out.
• Collaborate with other RA’s to thoroughly compile effort of PI/PD from all sources to accurately record effort.
• Participate in training sessions to increase knowledge of research administration concepts, practices, and institutional policies related to cost share and effort reporting.

Conduct Project Close-Out:

• Conduct award close-out in accordance with funding agency/institutional policies and record retention management to ensure contractual obligations and compliance requirements are met.
• Maintain tracking of all assigned projects to ensure deadlines are met to conduct close-out.
• Confer with PI/PD to investigate and analyze award end dates, deadlines for final expenditure submissions and programmatic and fiscal reports due to ensure contractual requirement have been met prior to close-out.
• Conduct analysis of the general ledger, remaining funds, related salary schedules, employee salary balances, vacation accruals, and applicable benefit charges to ensure all appropriate final expenditures are charged and to determine final spending plans.
• Perform varied or specialized administrative and analytical duties such as compile necessary journal entries to ensure all expenditures or obligations are captured and properly recorded for final invoice processing, prepare and submit agency-required annual technical/property reports, and conduct follow-up with the project director to ensure timely submission of both annual and final agency-required progress reports.
• Conduct final close-out in grant module and complete internal methods close-out checklist.

Performs other classification-related duties as assigned:

• Provides feedback on Sponsored Program Administration (SPA) procedures and policies.
• Attends agency sponsored workshops and/or training to enhance capability through greater understanding of agency regulations and requirements.
• Participates in site visits, financial exams, desk reviews and audits conducted by internal and external agency auditors as needed.
• Delivers and participates in trainings sessions to Principal Investigator (PIs) and campus

Minimum Qualifications: Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent training and administrative work experience involving study, analysis, and/or evaluation leading to the development or improvement of administrative policies, procedures, practices, or programs, PLUS two (2) years of related experience.

Required Qualifications

In addition to Position Skill Level - Non-Exempt knowledge and skill requirements, work assignments typically require:

• Working knowledge of and ability to apply standard theories, principles, practices, and techniques applicable to the program and/or administrative specialty to develop conclusions and make recommendations.
• Thorough knowledge of policies, procedures, and outside regulations pertaining to the applicable program and/or administrative specialty.
• Working knowledge of operational and fiscal analysis and techniques.
• Ability to take initiative and independently plan, organize, coordinate, and perform work in various situations where numerous and diverse demands are involved.
• Skill in the research, development and evaluation of policies and programs, including skill in the collection, evaluation, and interpretation of data to develop sound conclusions and make appropriate recommendations.
• Expertise in investigating and analyzing problems with a broad administrative impact and implications.
• Ability to anticipate problems and address them proactively.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively interpret, organize, and present information and ideas in written or presentation form.
• Ability to train others on new skills and procedures and provide lead work direction.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an academic research administration setting.
• Experience with PeopleSoft Common Finance System.
• Experience in managing various types of award mechanisms including grants, contracts, subcontracts, and cooperative agreements.
• Familiarity with 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance (UG) /Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circulars applied to Federal grants.
• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) or Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA)

Compensation and Benefits:

Anticipated Hiring Range: $4,379 - $5,000 per month

Classification Salary Range: $4,379 - $7,922 per month

The salary offered will take into account internal equity and experience among other factors.

The CSU system provides a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental and vision plans, membership in the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS), sick and vacation time, and 15 paid holidays a year. Eligible employees are also able to participate in the fee waiver education program. A summary of benefit information can be found here .

Position Information:

Work status: Full-time/Exempt/Probationary

Academic year schedule: Monday through Friday (8:00 am - 5:00 pm), some evenings/weekends.

Summer schedule: Monday through Thursday (7:00 am - 5:30 pm), some evenings/weekends.

The application deadline is: July 2, 2024

As of January 1, 2022, the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

California State University, San Bernardino in not a sponsoring agency for staff or management positions (i.e. H1-B Visas).

Conditions of Employment

Background Check

Satisfactory completion of a background check (including a criminal records check) is required for employment. CSU will make a conditional offer of employment, which may be rescinded if the background check reveals disqualifying information, and/or it is discovered that the candidate knowingly withheld or falsified information. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the continued employment of a current CSU employee who was conditionally offered the position.

I-9

CSUSB hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the United States. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. See Form I-9 Acceptable Documents at https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents .

Statement of Commitment to Diversity

In our commitment to the furthering of knowledge and fulfilling our educational mission, California State University, San Bernardino seeks a campus climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the entire variety of human experience. We welcome people from all backgrounds, and we seek to include knowledge and values from many cultures in the curriculum and extra-curricular life of the campus community. We will create, promote, and maintain activities and programs that further our understanding of individual and group diversity. We will also develop and communicate policies and promote values that discourage intolerance and discrimination.

California State University, San Bernardino is proud to be an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. We recruit, hire, train, and administer all personnel actions without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, color, caste, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, genetic information, medical condition, disability, marital status, protected military or veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law. This position adheres to CSU policies against Sex Discrimination, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Violence, including Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking. This requires completion of Sexual Violence Prevention Training within 6 months of assuming employment and on a two-year basis thereafter. (Executive Order 1096) For more information about Diversity & Inclusion at CSUSB, please visit https://www.csusb.edu/human-resources/diversity-inclusion

Closing Statement:

Reasonable Accommodation

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact CSUSB Benefits at benefits@csusb.edu.

Smoking

CSUSB is a smoke and tobacco-free campus. See policy at https://calstate.policystat.com/policy/6591951/latest/ .

Clery Act

In compliance with state and federal crime awareness and campus security legislation, including The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act, California Education Code section 67380, and the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), the Cal State San Bernardino Annual Security and Fire Safety Report is available at: https://www.csusb.edu/clery-act

Advertised: Jun 18 2024 Pacific Daylight Time
Applications close: Jul 02 2024 Pacific Daylight Time

Closing Date/Time:

San Bernardino, California 92407 United States View Map