Grants Finance Manager - Core Administration

Grants Finance Manager - Core Administration

Join to apply for the Grants Finance Manager - Core Administration role at Columbia University Irving Medical Center

The Department of Medicine is among the top ranked departments for NIH funding in the nation, internationally recognized in diverse areas such as diabetes, lipid metabolism, cancer biology, human genetics, developmental biology, immunology, data sciences and outcomes research.

As a member of the research team, the Grants Finance Manager contributes to department’s research mission by supporting grant-related post-award administrative activities. In this role, the Manager will leverage their expertise in post-award grant administration and their strong organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a diverse portfolio of sponsored projects (grants, contracts, gifts, endowments), including budgeting, reconciliation, forecasting, and financial oversight.
• Serve as a subject matter expert; ensure portfolio accuracy and coordinate with SPA, SPF, and pre-award teams for award setup, modifications, and reporting.
• Set up and monitor subawards and compliance agreements; review and process invoices promptly.
• Oversee payroll and labor transactions; maintain labor schedules, manage effort reporting and salary distributions, and resolve suspense accounts and overruns.
• Review and process grant-related financial transactions in compliance with sponsor and university policies.
• Assist with budget tool updates, annual closeouts, and preparation of financial data for reports and final submissions.
• Maintain audit-ready records aligned with sponsor and institutional guidelines.

Strategy and Continuous Improvement

• Collaborate with leadership to refine grant management processes and policies.
• Stay current on federal and sponsor regulations; share knowledge and best practices with the team.
• Complete all required institutional and departmental training.

People and Stakeholder Management

• Coach junior staff and contribute to team alignment and process improvement initiatives.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with faculty and administrative offices (SPA, SPF, Finance).

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree or combination of education and experience.
• At least 4 years of relevant experience in grants administration, with a focus on post-award management.
• Proficiency in finance and accounting principles as applied to sponsored projects; familiarity with grant management systems (e.g., eRA Commons, Info Ed, ASSIST).
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills; ability to mentor others in these areas.
• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables, lookup functions, and data analysis tools.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment; adept at managing multiple complex projects and making sound decisions.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; capable of engaging effectively with senior faculty and leadership.
• High emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills; committed to fostering productive relationships across diverse teams.
• Strong customer service orientation and respect for inclusive collaboration.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, finance, accounting, business administration, public health, public administration, or a closely related field.

Columbia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran.