Grants & Finance Assistant

Princeton University's Department of Astrophysical Sciences (currently ranked #1 by the NAS for Astronomy in the United States) seeks a Grant and Business Assistant to add to its dedicated staff. This position will play a critical role in assuring the continued strength of the Department's Academic and Research achievements.

This position will serve as a grants assistant primarily to the Department Senior Grants Administrator. The position will support grants administration in proposal development with tasks such as document collection, compliance review, proof-reading, proposal scheduling, and ScienCV. The position will also provide post-award assistance through issuing monthly statements, working with PIs to develop effort projections, and reviewing grant reports for cost compliance prior to grant closure.

As the finance assistant, this position will support the Department's Manager for Finance and Administration with the following tasks: maintaining graduate student labor accounting, running month reports and reviewing departmental chart strings, preparing reports for the Manager as requested, completing fund transfers and correction journals as required and managing purchases under $10,000.

Please note that a resume and cover letter are required to be submitted with your application.

• 20% - Grants Assistant: Preaward Assistance
  • Supports the department in submitting over 100 proposals per year.
  • Tasks will be allocated by the Senior Grants Manager but the individual may assist anyone of our four grants administrators.
    - Maintain PI mailing list and alert PIs of internal submissions
    - Review solicitations and highlight critical items
    - Collect documentation required for proposal submission
    - Instruct PIs on ScienCV
    - Help ensure compliance prior to submission
    - Maintain a grants schedule and timeline.

• 40% - Grants Assistant: Postaward Assistance
  • Supports the Department Manager and grants administrators on oversight of over 75 awards totaling over $10 million in expenses each year.
    - Reviews monthly statements with PIs
    - Helps PIs develop projections to manage grant effort
    - Checks expenses prior to grant closure
    - Assists Department Manager in assuring timely salary certification, e-verifications, subaward reviews, RCR training and other certifications as required.
    - Monitors grant expenses through the life of the grant
    - Creates reports as requested by the Department Manager

• 40% - Finance Assistant:
  • Supports the Department Manager in the following Department financial activities:
    - Maintains graduate student labor accounting
    - Manages the graduate and undergraduate travel accounts and assists in providing staff support for Concur.
    - Acts as the primary purchasing agent for non-computing items
    - Assists the Department Manager and three business managers with financial reports and provides regular reviews of all department accounts.

Essential Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent
• 1+ years work experience
• Experience with a grants management application and/or training in ERA
• Accounting skills with a strong understanding of ledger and journal processing
• Experience in a research or scientific academic environment
• Excellent Excel skills
• Ability to prioritize multiple tasks
• Demonstrated ability to operate as a team player
• Familiarity with Peoplesoft and Concur

Preferred Qualifications:

• Demonstrated communication skills and the ability to compose effective messages
• Master's degree or equivalent training in business or accounting
• Completion or participation in the Administrator Research Certification program or similar research training certificate program

Princeton University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS

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