Financial Specialist Senior

Job Profile:

Financial Analyst 2

Job Family:

Budget, Planning and Financial Analysis

Time Type:

Full time

Apply before 11:59 PM Arizona time the day before the posted End Date.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved.

Job Description:

The School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment (SSEBE) is seeking a collaborative and service-oriented Financial Specialist Senior to join its Research Advancement team. This position provides financial management and post-award support for sponsored research projects while partnering with faculty and university stakeholders to ensure responsible stewardship of research funding. Individuals with experience or interest in research administration and financial management are encouraged to apply for this opportunity.

The Research Advancement team provides financial oversight and administration of sponsored grants and contracts while partnering closely with faculty conducting innovative research that addresses today's most pressing global challenges. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of financial management principles, a commitment to exceptional customer service, and a continuous improvement mindset. The role requires accuracy across established business and research administration processes, the ability to diagnose problems and propose solutions within applicable standards and best practices, and sound judgment to recognize and escalate unusual situations.

This is a mid-career professional position (Level 3 of 7) reporting to the Financial Manager. This role offers opportunities to take on increasingly complex responsibilities based on performance, with potential career growth into specialized areas of research administration or supervisory leadership.

Salary Range: $54,600 - $63,000 per year; dependent on experience.

Essential Duties:

• Manage an assigned portfolio of sponsored projects and related post-award financial activities for designated sponsored projects, including award setup, budget allocation, expenditure monitoring, monthly account reconciliations, and closeout, completing transactions accurately and providing consistent information across the full process.
• Prepare, review, and revise project budgets, including budget justifications, re-budgets, and multiyear financial planning.
• Prepare and submit sponsor financial reports and invoices, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with award terms and conditions.
• Monitor expenditures for allowability, allocability, and consistency; diagnose the cause of discrepancies or process issues; propose and implement solutions within established standards and best practices; and escalate unusual situations as appropriate.
• Review and approve financial transactions, such as cost transfers, payroll allocations, journal entries, procurement, and subaward invoices.
• Manage cost share commitments, including tracking, documentation, reporting, and ensuring compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements.
• Provide financial forecasting and portfolio analysis (burn rates, projections, variance analysis), identify potential deficits or variances, and prepare clear reports and analyses for review and to support faculty and management decision-making.
• Manage closeout processes, ensuring timely final reconciliations, final reports, and compliance documentation.
• Collaborate with pre-award, compliance, departmental, and central finance units to ensure accuracy and consistency across the award lifecycle, build effective working relationships, and resolve shared operational issues.
• Serve as a financial resource by providing standard professional guidance on sponsored project financial policies, procedures, systems, and best practices; communicate clearly with stakeholders and refer or escalate matters outside established processes or authority.
• Identify opportunities for improvement within assigned processes and share recommendations with Research Advancement Leadership.

Desired Qualifications:

• Experience in research administration, particularly post-award financial management for sponsors such as NSF, Navy, DOE, NIH, DOT, DOC, DOL, and USDA.
• Experience interpreting and applying Uniform Guidance, federal agency terms, and audit requirements.
• Experience managing sponsored project portfolios with multiple funding sources.
• Proficiency with institutional financial systems, eRA platforms, and automated reporting tools.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including financial forecasting, variance analysis, root-cause diagnosis, and development of solutions within established processes and best practices.
• Experience with effort reporting, payroll certification, and related compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty, researchers, and cross-functional administrative units.
• Excellent communication skills, with demonstrated ability to listen effectively, collaborate, build relationships, and explain financial concepts clearly.
• Experience working independently in environments with competing deadlines, sensitive information, frequent priority changes, and responsibilities requiring reliable workload planning, prioritization, and escalation of unusual situations.
• Advanced skill in budget development, multi-year financial planning, and scenario modeling.
• Demonstrated experience managing cost share commitments, tracking, documentation, and reporting.

Working Environment:

• Activities are primarily performed in a regular climate controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, standing, walking
• Visual acuity and manual dexterity associated with daily use of desktop computer
• Use office equipment including a desktop computer
• Lift up to 25 pounds

Department Statement:

At the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, we are delivering a world-class learning experience for our students and advancing research and innovation — all at scale.

The Fulton Schools leads in use-inspired research and key national initiatives, such as microelectronics and technology workforce development. Additionally, it leads an NSF Engineering Research Center that develops resilient civil infrastructure and partners with another ERC to advance clean water technology.

The Fulton Schools leverages faculty expertise to drive engineering innovation and entrepreneurship across four interdisciplinary impact areas: climate technology solutions, competitive manufacturing in an advanced economy, national and economic security, and technology-enhanced health and medicine. Our faculty is achieving excellence that positions the Fulton Schools among the nation’s top engineering colleges for invention disclosures, U.S. patents and startups.

We are an engineering school on the rise at the nation’s most innovative university, situated in the heart of one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas. Our faculty’s broad research interests and interdisciplinary approach, along with more than 55 graduate and 28 undergraduate degree programs, create a strong foundation for collaboration and the advancement of solutions that contribute to a more resilient and livable global future.

The Fulton Schools of Engineering is driven by core values that define our approach, distinguish our practice, and guide daily decisions in academics, research, corporate partnerships, and entrepreneurship. These values shape how we recognize, reward and communicate success. At the Fulton Schools of Engineering, we:

· Cultivate excellence.

· Deliver innovation that matters.

· Encourage bold thinking.

· Foster a community of learning and collaboration.

· Build a foundation for all to be successful.

Working at ASU has outstanding benefits that include: health, dental and vision insurance plans; ASU/UA/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; life insurance and disability programs; sick leave and holidays; state and optional retirement plans; access to ASU recreation and cultural activities, and more. To estimate the value of your total compensation, please visit the compensation estimator.

Driving Requirement:

Driving is not required for this position.

Location

Campus: Tempe

Funding:

No Federal Funding

Please note: This position description is intended to describe the general responsibilities and requirements of the role. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the position.

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ASU’s comprehensive benefits package is a key part of your total compensation. Visit the ASU Compensation Estimator

Employment Verification Statement:

ASU conducts pre-employment screening which may include verification of work history, academic credentials, licenses