Senior Research Accountant (Financial Services)

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Job Purpose:

Oversees financial administration of Research funds to ensure revenues and expenditures are properly reviewed, documented, reported, and comply with the requirements of the funding body, current legislation, and generally accepted accounting principles.Oversee the Research Finance team ensuring that they have the tools and training to perform their duties in an efficient and effective manner. Develops strong working relationships with the Research Office, Researchers and Research Finance team to improve reporting used for decision making and enhance customer service. Provides support to the Research Office and Researchers regarding pre-award submissions and provides risk assessments and potential financial implications of funding agency contracts. Assists the Assistant Director, Research Finance and Special Reporting with tasks related to the preparation of the University’s year-end financial statements, Council of Financial Officers (COFO) Financial Report, various accountability reports required by external funders, and schedules for the external financial statement audit.

Key Activities:

Monitor and Review Financial Information

• Ensure compliance with internal and external policy and procedures, regulations and contract restrictions including Research Tri Agency Guidelines, Income Tax Act, Sales Tax and Charity Legislation.
• Review, approve and sign financial reports prior to submission. Review and approve financial information and analysis prepared by team related to research accounts.

Provide Advice, Explain or Clarify Financial Policy and Practices

• Ensure decision makers understand the financial implications of eligibility of expenditures, project budgets and variances, procurement processes and HR/payroll issues specific to Research.
• Provide information and make recommendations on policy and procedures for the Research Office and Financial Services. Liaison with the Research Office to plan and coordinate responses to a changing funding environment.
• Enhance customer service to support the Research Office and Researchers in decision making through improved reporting and regular team meetings.

Financial Reporting

• Prepare working papers and schedules for external audit of Research and university research dollars for incorporation into the University financial statements.
• Prepare Research reporting required for the COFO Financial Report and other financial reports as required.
• Prepares institutional financial reports, required by external funders, including the Research Support Fund, working closely with the Senior Director, Research and Innovation.
• Recommend when it is appropriate to write off receivables, based on the information and recommendation provided by Research Accountants.

Supervision, Training and Mentoring

• Lead Research Finance Administrators and Research Accountants, providing guidance, training, and assistance where necessary. Promote effective employee relations and encourage service excellence and productivity.
• Prioritize, organize, and assign regular duties and special projects, assist in the timely completion of job activities, and oversee the team’s daily activity, reporting back to the Assistant Director on a regular basis.
• Identify the need for staff resources and make effective recommendations regarding employee recruitment.
• Provide guidance and advice on escalated and challenging issues.
• Provide functional support on systems and promotes technology updates and changes.
• Liaise with other Financial Department team leaders and staff regarding research finance.

Electronic Systems and Processing

• Develop general reports as well as specialized reports for researchers and other users.Search and recommend improvements to the reporting and services required including system changes and development of forms, processes, and procedures as it relates to research.
• Provide support and advice for new electronic system implementations whenever research account holders will be the end users.

Support of Research Office

• Working closely with the Research Office, develop procedures to enhance efficiencies and customer service to researchers.
• Support the Research Office by providing financial feedback and advice related to research projects, including review of pre-award submissions and provision of risk assessment and potential financial implications of research funding agreements and contracts.
• Advise the Research Office on financing of internal awards based on fund availability, and support with the development of MOUs for internal financing agreements.
• Support the Research Office staff with the management of institutional funds, advising on the appropriate use and potential financial implications.

Education Required:

• Honours Bachelor’s Degree (4 year) in Finance, Business, Accounting, Economics, or a related field
• Professional accounting designation required.

Experience/Qualifications Required:

• A minimum of five (5) years of recent accounting experience including relevant public accounting experience, financial statement preparation, fund accounting, and a minimum of one (1) year experience auditing financial information.Experience within a University environment is preferable.
• A minimum of two (2) years in a finance role reviewing and approving financial reporting, preferably within a post-secondary institution or public sector organization.
• Strong knowledge of Tri-agency and other federal and provincial funding agencies’ grant eligibility and reporting requirements.
• Exceptional analytical skills and proven ability to provide sound professional judgment.
• Excellent problem-solving and communication skills including strong financial system and software package skills (i.e. Datatel, eFin, Access, Excel, etc.).
• Excellent interpersonal, analytical, organizational, and planning skills, the ability to multi-task, to evaluate issues and provide alternative solutions.
• A team player that maintains calm under pressure, a self-started, proactive, and service oriented individual.
• Knowledge of a university research environment is a definite asset.