Penn State Job Catalog

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Research Accounting

The Research Accountant supports the financial administration and operational management of the University's sponsored research portfolio throughout the post-award lifecycle; manages financial activities for grants and contracts from account setup through closeout, including monitoring expenditures, preparing invoices and financial reports, reconciling accounts, and ensuring accurate financial reporting; supports institutional oversight of sponsored project finances by conducting financial analysis, monitoring compliance with sponsor regulations and university policies, coordinating audit activities, and identifying operational or compliance risks across research accounts; works collaboratively with principal investigators, departmental research administrators, sponsors, and central administrative units; provides guidance on financial management of sponsored awards, resolves complex accounting issues, and promotes best practices in post-award administration.

• Administer sponsored research awards across the full lifecycle, ensuring financial activities align with sponsor terms, institutional policies, and regulatory requirements
• Monitor grant expenditures, review financial transactions, and perform account reconciliations to ensure accuracy, allowability, and proper cost classification
• Prepare and submit sponsor invoices, financial reports, and reimbursement requests; manage accounts receivable and resolve billing or payment issues
• Maintain accurate and complete award data and financial records within enterprise financial systems
• Conduct financial analysis of sponsored project activity to identify trends, variances, and potential risks
• Interpret sponsor guidelines and institutional policies; provide guidance to departments on post-award financial management expectations
• Support internal and external audits, sponsor reviews, and compliance assessments by preparing documentation and responding to inquiries
• Serve as a liaison among research accounting, departmental administrators, sponsors, auditors, and other stakeholders to resolve financial issues
• Recommend and implement improvements to financial processes, reporting tools, internal controls, and administrative procedures to enhance efficiency and compliance
• Contribute to institutional reporting, data quality efforts, and process standardization initiatives
• May provide guidance or oversight of specific processes or workflows to ensure consistency and adherence to established standards
• May supervise staff members, including hiring, development, and performance management

Level:

– Senior Supervisor

Base Description:

– Supervises direct reports, but primarily completes activities, tasks, and/or projects of a functional nature.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates comprehensive knowledge to perform own work; spends majority of time on tasks related to own job responsibilities. May demonstrate subject matter expertise. Demonstrates intermediate to advanced planning, organizing, directing, and facilitating skills. Demonstrates the ability to coach assigned employees. Assigns and reviews completed work to verify accuracy, quality, and adherence to professional standards. Trains, coaches, mentors, and motivates staff. Anticipates potential problems, issues, and opportunities; researches and recommends solutions within defined policies. May develop creative recommendations for solving problems.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Typically oversees at least 2 full–time direct reports or equivalent team of part–time and/or student workers (for Professional track, performs work at the Senior Professional level or higher)

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– May validate and pay invoices
– Monitors and tracks budgets for specific area and/or grant(s)
– May assist in planning and forecasting budgets

Problem Solving:

– Encounters moderately complex problems
– Applies general precedents and practices and specialized knowledge and skills to resolve problems
– Understands benefits, limitations and impact of potential solutions
– Anticipates potential problems and recommends possible solutions within general guidelines

Independence of Action:

– Works independently on moderately complex work assignments, reviews progress, and evaluates results
– Organizes work of direct reports and sets team priorities
– Reviews the work of others to verify accuracy, quality, and adherence to professional standards

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates internally within working unit and the University
– Communicates with external audiences for scheduling/coordination
– May communicate with external audiences for business purposes
– Collaborates closely with team members; may interact with other staff outside of area
– Utilizes a communication style that is appropriate for a given situation
– Interprets and communicates information, ideas and instructions clearly, accurately and persuasively both verbally and in written materials intended for distribution

• Comp Grade – 11
• Minimum – $68,200.00
• MidPoint – $85,200.00
• Maximum – $102,300.00