Established in 1873, Arts and Sciences is Boston University's largest and most academically diverse unit, encompassing over 8,400 undergraduates, 2,000 graduate students, 800 faculty members, and 300 staff across 50 departments, programs, centers, and institutes. Our faculty are award-winning researchers, innovative teachers, and dedicated mentors committed to exploring the complexities of our present and past, uncovering new perspectives, and crafting creative solutions to real-world problems. Our staff are dynamic, mission-driven professionals who foster community, inclusion, and belonging to advance every aspect of the college enterprise. Our community thrives on collaboration, bold ideas, and interdisciplinary exploration. Join us in supporting the pursuit of knowledge that changes the world and provides boundless opportunities to inspire the next generation of leaders. We offer generous benefits, including health, dental, and life insurance, tuition remission, retirement savings, paid time off, and holiday leave. The Grants Administrator will oversee grants administration for the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, which manages over 70 federal and non-federal funded grants. The main responsibilities include post-award tasks such as reconciling grant-related and other financial accounts monthly, updating grant summary sheets for Principal Investigators, and assisting the Business Manager with new grant proposals (pre-award) as needed. This role involves regular communication and collaboration with faculty, the Business Manager, Business Administrator, and Senior Accounts Coordinator to ensure accurate and timely completion of all departmental and grant-related financial transactions. Additional duties may involve supporting the business manager, administrator, and senior accounts coordinator during peak periods or covering for absences. Special projects may also be assigned as necessary. This role is ideal for candidates with strong financial accounting, organizational, and communication skills and offers the opportunity to work in a dynamic department. After a successful probationary period, the position is eligible for remote work up to two days per week.
Key Responsibilities:
Monthly Reconciliation: Under the guidance of the Business Manager, oversee the monthly reconciliation of all accounts related to external funds, including research and training grants from sponsors like NIH, NSF, private foundations, and corporations. Grant Recap Sheets: Update monthly grant recap sheets, which track spending, effort, and other financial details for each Principal Investigator (PI). This includes coordinating with other university centers for PIs outside the department and reviewing these reports with the Business Manager monthly.
Grant Transactions: Collaborate with the Senior Account's Coordinator to ensure that all grant-related transactions are compliant with federal and private foundation regulations. This role will involve cross-training in all aspects of the Senior Accounts Coordinators responsibilities and will require supporting transaction reviews, especially during peak times or covering for absences.
Proposal Assistance: Support the preparation of grant proposals, focusing on the accuracy of formulas and financial figures, particularly as submission deadlines approach.
Required Skills
+ A Bachelor's Degree or equivalent work experience is necessary.
+ Candidates should have 3 to 5 years of experience with research grants.
+ Financial accounting skills are essential, along with proficiency in Excel.
+ Strong communication skills are needed, as well as familiarity with Microsoft Word and Outlook or a similar email platform.
+ Knowledge of federal guidelines for research projects is important.
+ A strong work ethic and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision are essential.
+ Effective communication skills are critical, as this role involves collaboration with faculty, financial administrators, students, postdoctoral researchers, other university administrators, and external partners and consultants.
+ Employee must have a broad, detailed understanding of the workings of grant management including but not limited to the Uniform Guidance Policy for federal grants, how fringe benefit rates and F&A rates affect grant management, and what is and not allowed on federal grants.
+ This person will also have the ability to handle a multitude of tasks within a busy, thriving environment and be able to recognize peak periods and slower periods and how to handle these different work flows efficiently.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.
Required Experience