Post-Award Administrator (Financial Administration Specialist), School of Public Health

SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH - BLOO (BL-SPHB-IUBLA)

The Indiana University (IU) Bloomington School of Public Health-Bloomington (SPH-B) is a complex academic and research organization supporting 5 academic departments, auxiliary operations, and a growing sponsored research enterprise. The School manages approximately $21 million in annual sponsored expenditures across more than 200 sponsored accounts and supports more than 80 faculty investigators. SPH-B is committed to advancing research excellence, operational effectiveness, student success, and service through strong financial stewardship, strategic resource management, and collaborative support of faculty, staff, and research activities.

The Financial Administration Specialist serves as a dedicated post-award research administrator within the School of Public Health-Bloomington Finance Office. This position provides financial stewardship and operational oversight for a portfolio of sponsored research awards, ensuring compliance with university, sponsor, and regulatory requirements throughout the award lifecycle.

Department Specific Responsibilities

• Partners closely with faculty, principal investigators, departmental finance managers, SPH-B contract and grant administration team, and central university offices to support the effective management of sponsored funding and advance the School's research mission.
• Responsible for proactive financial forecasting, account monitoring, budget analysis, and post-award administration of sponsored projects.
• Supports informed decision-making, strengthens internal controls, mitigates financial and compliance risk, and helps maximize the effective utilization of sponsored resources, through specialized expertise and collaboration.
• Contributes to the School's commitment to operational excellence by providing consistent financial guidance and accountability across a complex and evolving research portfolio.
• Manages a portfolio of sponsored projects and provides comprehensive post-award financial administration and oversight. 
• Develops financial projections and performs ongoing budget monitoring to support principal investigators and departmental leadership. 
• Reviews expenditures for allowability, allocability, and compliance with sponsor, university, and regulatory requirements. 
• Monitors award spending patterns and identifies potential overspending, underspending, or financial risks. 
• Serves as a fiscal officer for sponsored accounts, ensuring appropriate stewardship of sponsored funds. 
• Prepares financial analyses and reports to support decision-making and sponsored project management. 
• Collaborates with faculty, departmental finance managers, and research administration partners to resolve financial and compliance issues. 
• Supports account closeout activities, award lifecycle management, and continuous process improvement initiatives within the Finance Office.

General Responsibilities

• Using knowledge and application of accepted procedures and standards, performs detailed financial and administrative tasks related to managing the daily and long-term financial and/or administrative operations of an organizational unit or an academic, research, and teaching department within a school or college.
• Makes recommendations on policies and guidelines for division/department activities. 
• Controls all expenditures and statement of accounts to ensure regulatory compliance and fiscal integrity. 
• Manages general appropriation, endowment, federal and non-federal grants and contracts, and gift funds.
• Develops, plans, and makes recommendations on special projects, which may include space allocations, staffing, equipment purchases, and long-range plans.
• Prepares operating and project budget drafts. Regularly explains financial concepts to non-financial employees.
• Monitors division/departmental budgets and resolves or recommends resolutions for any significant deviations from approved budgets.
• May provide guidance to lower-level employees.

Combinations of related education and experience may be considered. Education beyond the minimum required may be substituted for work experience. Work experience beyond the minimum required may be substituted for education.

EDUCATION

Required

• Bachelor's degree in finance, business, or related field.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Required

• 2 years of relevant experience.

Preferred

• Experience providing post-award financial administration for federally funded sponsored research projects.
• Experience with higher education financial systems, sponsored project accounting, and financial forecasting.
• Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with faculty, principal investigators, and administrative stakeholders to support sponsored research activities.

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATES

Preferred

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA) upon date of hire.

SKILLS

Required

• Proficient written and verbal communication skills.
• Maintains a high degree of professionalism.
• Demonstrates time management and priority setting skills.
• Demonstrates a high commitment to quality.
• Possesses flexibility to work in a fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Seeks to acquire knowledge in area of specialty.
• Highly thorough and dependable.
• Demonstrates a high level of accuracy, even under pressure.
• Intermediate understanding of technology; experience using electronic platforms to perform various tasks.
• Demonstrates experience solving problems with independent thought.
• Proficiency in computer systems, including standard Office software; advanced Excel and database skills, including familiarity with complex formulas and Pivot Tables.
• Ability to use standard office equipment such as phone, fax, scanner, etc.
• Experience managing workflows, processes, and/or data entry.
• Intermediate accounting skills; ability to spot obvious errors; ability to develop a budget.
• Demonstrates ability to interpret and apply concepts and policies to daily work functions.
• Ability to clearly present material and make it accessible to a variety of audiences.
• Ability to interpret financial documents from an accounting, policy, and practice perspective.

Preferred

• Knowledge of Uniform Guidance, federal regulations, and sponsor-specific requirements. 

This role requires the ability to effectively communicate and to operate a computer and other standard office productivity equipment. The position involves sedentary work as well as periods of time moving around an office environment and the campus. The person in this role must be able to perform the essential functions with or without an accommodation.

Bloomington, Indiana

Between $65,000.00 and $70,000.00, based on experience 

For full-time staff employees, Indiana University offers a wide array of benefits including:

• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance
• Health savings account with generous IU contributions
• Healthcare and dependent care flexible spending accounts
• Basic group life insurance paid by IU
• Voluntary supplemental life, long-term disability, critical illness, and supplemental accidental death & dismemberment insurance
• Base retirement plan with generous IU contributions, subject to vesting
• Voluntary supplemental retirement plan options
• Tuition subsidy for employees and family members taking IU courses
• 10 paid holidays plus a paid winter break each year
• Generous paid time off plans
• Paid leave for new parents and IU-sponsored volunteer events
• Employee assistance program (EAP)

Learn more about our benefits by reviewing the IU Benefit Programs Brochure.

Career Level: Career

FLSA: Exempt

Job Function: Finance

Job Family: Financial Administration

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This posting is scheduled to close at 11:59 pm EST on the advertised Close Date. This posting may be closed at any time at the discretion of the University, but will remain open for a minimum of 5 business days. To guarantee full consideration, please submit your application within 5 business days of the Posted Date.

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