| This position works within the Office of Finance and Budget in the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences (CFANS) and is responsible for the day to day leadership of the Research and Outreach Center (ROC) finance team. The position reports to the finance manager for the Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station and Research & Outreach Centers.
The primary responsibility will be to support units within the Research and Outreach Centers (ROCs), but may occasionally support other CFANS and MAES units as needed. This position also provides reporting and analysis to create a more unified budgeting and reporting strategy for the ROC system. Under the leadership of the ROC/MAES Finance Manager, this position will help develop consistent policies, procedures, and best practices to be in compliance with collegiate and University policies and procedures in the areas of budget, daily operations of financial management, and auditing. This position creates reports and financial models to enable the ROCs to appropriately answer management questions and provide decision support. This position demonstrates ethical behavior in the conduct of all position responsibilities. Customer service is a key focus for the CFANS Finance and Budget Office as we work to support the academic and research mission of the college.
This position is a critical team member in the ROC Finance Cluster in CFANS. This position is located at one of the Research and Outreach Centers. Current available locations include: Cloquet, Crookston, Grand Rapids, Lamberton, Morris, Rosemount, and Waseca. This position will report to the ROCs/ MAES Finance Manager. Responsibilities will include the following (does not include all possible tasks in this work and does not limit the assignment of related tasks): Please note that this position is 100% onsite and remote / hybrid is not available.
Major Areas of Accountability: Financial Management, Analysis and Compliance 55% - Partner with principal investigators, faculty and staff to manage awarded sponsored research grants and non-sponsored accounts. This includes post-award, accounting, reconciliations, and auditing transactions utilizing UM Analytics.
- Prepare reports and forecasts related to sponsored and non-sponsored activities.
- Regularly meet with Center Directors, Principal Investigators and faculty to support short- and long-term financial planning for their sponsored project and non-sponsored accounts.
- Submit requests to the Financial Operations Center for journal entries, retro distributions and payroll distribution updates as needed.
- Ensure compliance with sponsorâ™s awarded terms and condition as well as University policies and procedures.
- Work with Sponsored Projects Administration (SPA) to ensure sponsored requirements are met, as well as the proper set up and close out of awards.
- Work with Sponsored Financial Reporting (SFR) to prepare and analyze detailed reports provided to sponsors for accuracy.
- Review and approve financial transactions to ensure compliance with university, college and departmental policies, as well as state and federal regulations.
Grant Preparation and Effort Coordination 25% - Develop sponsored project budgets in collaboration with university faculty and staff and ensure adherence to sponsor and University research policies and procedures.
- Prepare appropriate sponsored administrative and budget documents as required for submission (i.e., grants.gov packages, other sponsor forms and budgets)
- Act as a liaison to other organizations to develop and obtain subaward proposals.
- Prepare funding proposals in MN-GEMS in collaboration with faculty and staff and ensure that all appropriate signers are included.
- Track funding proposals and respond to SPA and others as needed. Assist with preparation of revised budgets and other documents if requested by the agency.
- Work with PI to provide information required for subaward issuance and requesting pre-award accounts.
- Set up cost sharing per sponsor guidelines.
- Provide pre-award backup support when needed.
- Develop and maintain accurate effort reports per faculty and principal investigator to monitor effort commitments and reportable cost-share
- Verify that paid and unpaid effort have been properly accounted for in the payroll system and ECRT
Supervisory Management 10% - Manage other members of the ROC system serving primarily in financial roles. Serve as direct supervisor for those members, including annual reviews and performance management in consultation with the ROCs/ MAES Finance Manager
- Working with the ROCs/ MAES Finance manager to assign roles to supervised ROC system members, matching individual skills and experience to the specific needs of units/projects. Organize and assign staff so that ROCs system finance team fulfills its role of providing auxiliary, interim, and/or specialized support as needed in the system.
- Meet regularly with individual team members to discuss performance, train, answer questions, and provide feedback. Mentor and support the development of individual team members.
- Respond to inquiries from leaders across the ROC system, or as delegated by the ROCs/ MAES Finance Manager, to evaluate opportunities for additional assignments.
Financial Management 10% - Support Internal and External Sale activities of the centers.
- Works with Finance Manager on annual budget preparation.
- Attend professional development opportunities and serve on committees when able.
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