Sr. Business Analyst - Sponsored Programs and Financial Services - WFH (candidates located in EST only)

This is a remote position, but we require candidates to be located in the Eastern Time Zone to align with our Pittsburgh, PA-based operations

GENERAL OVERVIEW:

The incumbent is a key resource responsible for the implementation, execution, and analysis of post-award and financial management activities for grants, contracts, and/or clinical trials within the Sponsored Programs Financial Services (SPFS) supporting Allegheny-Singer Research Institute and Allegheny Health Network. Responsibilities include complex award set-up, comprehensive transaction processing, compliance review, cash management, collections, financial reporting, and project close-out. Possesses deep understanding and ensures material accuracy of financial statements/reports. Independently analyzes complex financial results and outcomes, trends/projections, performance metrics and proactively provides root cause analysis and recommendations to facilitate business decisions while adhering to institutional policies and procedures and Sponsor guidelines. Serves as a mentor to junior analysts.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Project Portfolio Management: Manages a complex portfolio of sponsored programs, providing comprehensive post-award financial oversight from program activation to close-out. Performs advanced analysis on budget performance and account receivables, independently investigates and troubleshoots significant variances, developing corrective action plans. Reviews, approves, and prepares financial transactions in accordance with award/contract/Sponsor terms, GAAP, Uniform Guidance and institutional policies and procedures. Leads financial meetings with constituents on financial performance to enable Investigators/Directors, cost center managers, and business partners to make sound financial decisions in accordance with programmatic needs. Proactively monitors subaward and contracted service agreements in accordance with terms, facilitates complex rebudgeting, no-cost extension requests, costing allocations for personnel, properly documenting complex cost transfers, tracking cost share, and manages complex cost overruns.
• Compliance Management: Possesses expert understanding of business and financial terms and conditions of grant, contract, and/or clinical trial agreements. Independently maintains compliance with allowable costs, period of performance, subrecipient monitoring, tracking cost share and program income, effort reporting, reporting, other special test provisions, cash management invoicing, and clinical trial billing compliance. Maintains expertise in federal, state, local, private sponsors, and other agency regulations including Uniform Guidance. Independently evaluates and develops business processes in support of post-award management.
• Invoicing, Accounting Receivable, and Cash Management: Possesses advanced understanding of payment terms and payment schedules as outlined in the grant, contract and/or clinical agreement terms. Ensures prompt invoicing and timely follow-up on outstanding payments owed. Ensures proper recording of cash against programs. Expertly troubleshoot, analyzes, and solves complex payment variances and queries with Sponsor ensuring positive cash flow. Proactively sets up and works within Sponsor portals to setup payment profiles, submit invoices, and retrieve payment backup as needed.
• Month-end Close: Leads processes and prepares complex journal entries to support the monthly close process and the generation of the monthly financial statements/reports. Ensures all financial transactions/entries are properly documented and completed timely. Guarantees all financial transactions/entries agree with GAAP, Uniform Guidance, and with institutional policies and procedures. Serves as a subject matter expert with the institution's financial systems.
• Reporting: Independently prepares and analyzes complex financial reports, working collaboratively with management, financial and program staff to address discrepancies and correct errors. Proactively monitors and meets all internal and Sponsor stipulated deadlines and content requirements. Guarantees reports are clear, accurate, and submitted on-time. Translates and accurately reports financials on Sponsor required forms as required. Creates and presents ad hoc reports and analyses.
• Project Setup: Independently sets up new projects in financial systems for all types of projects including cost reimbursement, fixed price, milestone-based, and other types including cost share. Expertly navigates sponsor guidelines, award documents, and institutional policy to establish a strong basis for ongoing award management. Expertly navigates the institution's financial systems.
• Project Closeout: Independently completes complex project closeout documentation that are accurate, properly documented and on time. Guarantees cost share requirements have been met, unallowable costs have been removed, subaward/contract expenses are accounted for, and outstanding obligations have been addressed. Communicates effectively with financial and program staff and others as appropriate to gather necessary information and supporting documentation. Guarantees all invoices and payments are complete. Closes project cost center in all financial systems.
• Audit: Independently applies compliance with regulations and guidelines and implements/documents internal controls, policies, and procedures. Leads the gathering of documentation and information for auditors from multiple sources as required.
• Mentorship: Mentors and trains junior Business Analysts on best practices, complex processes, and problem-solving techniques.
• Policy and Procedure Development: Contributes to policy and procedure development. Develops and offers enhancements to procedures and business forms.
• Process Improvement: Identifies opportunities for process improvement within SPFS and actively participates in implementation.
• Other duties as assigned or requested.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field or relevant experience and/or education as determined by the company in lieu of bachelor's degree.   
• Knowledge of accounting principles, budget planning, and financial analysis with the ability to interpret and apply fiscal regulations (preferred with focus on clinical research or healthcare)
• Prior experience in grant, contract and clinical trial financial administration, knowledge of federal agency regulations, policies, and procedures, Uniform Guidance, laws and federal acquisition regulations applicable to research and sponsored programs
• Demonstrated ability to assess, research, and resolve complex financial and compliance issues while applying sound judgment.
• 5+ years of experience in relevant finance or accounting roles.
• This position requires a deep understanding of financial management in a clinical trials setting, expertise in research accounting, and a strong background in compliance and auditing

Preferred

• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field.   
• Prior experience with clinical trial financial management and/or clinical research billing compliance and regulations

SKILLS:

• Exceptional organizational and mathematical skills with ability to analyze data, formulate conclusions, demonstrate agility and problem-solving techniques.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, ability lead financial meetings with all levels within the organization and with ability to translate and summarize numbers into an understandable narrative to others.
• Strong attention to detail with high level of accuracy
• Ability to work independently, prioritize and manage large volumes of work to anticipate and meet tight deadlines.
• Advanced proficiency in financial software and adaptability to new technologies. Expert understanding of financial processes and controls including reconciliations.
• Advanced proficiency with MS Excel skills such as sorting, pivot tables, filtering, vlookups, subtotals, basic formulas.
• Demonstrated ability to interpret and implement complex regulations, procedures and/or compliance standards.
• Attention to detail and accuracy.
• Ability to process and handle confidential information with discretion.
• Experience mentoring junior staff.
• Excellent communication skills, ability to translate and summarize numbers into an understandable narrative to others.
• Advanced organizational skills with ability to analyze data, formulate conclusions, demonstrate problem-solving skills.

Disclaimer: The job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this job title. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.
Compliance Requirement: This job adheres to the ethical and legal standards and behavioral expectations as set forth in the code of business conduct and company policies.

As a component of job responsibilities, employees may have access to covered information, cardholder data, or other confidential customer information that must be protected at all times.  In connection with this, all employees must comply with both the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) as described in the Notice of Privacy Practices and Privacy Policies and Procedures as well as all data security guidelines established within the Company’s Handbook of Privacy Policies and Practices and Information Security Policy. 
Furthermore, it is every employee’s responsibility to comply with the company’s Code of Business Conduct. This includes but is not limited to adherence to applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations as well as company policies and training requirements.

Pay Range Minimum:

Pay Range Maximum:

Base pay is determined by a variety of factors including a candidate’s qualifications, experience, and expected contributions, as well as internal peer equity, market, and business considerations.  The displayed salary range does not reflect any geographic differential Highmark may apply for certain locations based upon comparative markets.

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