Finance Managers (FM) – Sponsored Projects Finance

Job Description

Finance Manager | University at Buffalo

The Tone:
This is a full-time role at University at Buffalo, located in Buffalo, NY. The University at Buffalo (UB) is a premier, research-intensive public university and a flagship of the State University of New York system, recognized for its excellence and impact. This role within Sponsored Projects Services (SPS), part of the Research, Innovation and Economic Development division, is essential for providing financial management and oversight to a diverse funding portfolio, directly empowering Principal Investigators in their critical research endeavors.

The TL;DR
• Role: Full Time
• Type: Full-time
• Location: In-person, Buffalo, NY

• Team: Sponsored Projects Services (SPS) within the Research, Innovation and Economic Development division
• Mission: Ensure the smooth financial management and oversight of diverse funding portfolios for Principal Investigators, supporting their research objectives.

What You’ll Actually Do
• Award Initialization & Planning: Lead award planning activities, including conducting initial kick-off meetings for Principal Investigators (PIs) and all related parties to establish a strong foundation for sponsored projects.
• Financial Management & Compliance: Formulate accurate financial projections, revise award budgets as necessary, and meticulously analyze expenses and projected spending to maximize the use of available funds while ensuring strict compliance with sponsor, university, and Research Foundation requirements and policies.
• Reporting & Review: Create comprehensive internal financial reports, conduct regular and effective meetings with faculty members to review their research portfolios, and assist with adhering to the specific reporting guidelines and content expectations set by external sponsors.
• Operational Reconciliation: Oversee the timely processing of all post-award financial activity, including salary changes and appointments, and collaborate closely with post-award colleagues to ensure the efficient processing and reconciliation of financial activities.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Serve as the primary point of contact for all PI post-award financial needs, acting as a vital liaison between PIs and various administrative units across the University at Buffalo to facilitate smooth operations and problem resolution.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Manager level, responsible for collaborating with Principal Investigators (PIs) on the financial management and oversight of diverse funding portfolios. This encompasses a strong understanding of post-award financial reconciliation, budget planning, financial projections, and adherence to sponsor, university, and Research Foundation requirements and policies.
• Experience: Demonstrated experience managing sponsored award portfolios, including the timely processing of all post-award financial activity such as salary changes and appointments. Proven ability to work collaboratively as part of a team and serve as a resource for other research administration staff is essential. Experience fostering a supportive environment, advocating for faculty members, and helping overcome challenges in achieving funding goals within a complex regulatory landscape is also required.
• Skills: Strong relationship-building skills to establish positive connections with PIs, faculty members, and administrative colleagues. Analytical proficiency in budget formulation, expense analysis, and creating internal financial reports. Capacity for advocacy to support the needs of PIs and maintain adherence to the intricate regulatory landscape of managing sponsored programs.