Sponsored Research Accountant 2 or Sponsored Research Accountant Sr

Current UC employees must apply internally via SuccessFactors

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation’s best urban public research universities. Home to 53,235 students, nearly 12,000 faculty and staff and 350,000+ living alumni, UC combines a Top 35 public research university with a physical setting The New York Times has called “the most ambitious campus design program in the country.”

With the launch of Next Lives Here, the Cincinnati Innovation District, a $100 million JobsOhio investment, the oldest and one of the largest cooperative education programs, a dynamic academic health center and entry into the Big 12 Conference, UC’s momentum has never been stronger. UC’s annual budget stands at $1.85 billion, and its endowment totals $2 billion.

UC is a mission-driven organization where we are committed to student success and positively transforming the community through scholarship and service. We thrive on innovation, making an impact, and fostering an environment where staff and faculty are key contributors to UC’s success.

About the Office of Research

The Office of Research Sponsored Research Services Accounting Department (SRS) provides post-award administrative support services to all researchers for sponsored projects. We collaborate with subject matter experts in other central and school offices to offer transparent research administration services, systems, and processes. Our goal is a solution-oriented approach to help every UC researcher and minimize administrative burden.

Job Overview

We are seeking to fill a Sponsored Research Accountant (SRA) 2 or SRA Sr position. The successful candidate may be appointed to a SRA 2 or SRA Sr. based on experience and skills. This is a fast-paced, deadline driven environment. The candidate will need to be customer-oriented, a self-starter, well organized, able to work independently, as well as assist others and work as a team when needed. Multi-tasking, logically working through problems, re-prioritizing workload when needed, having excellent interpersonal skills, as well as verbal and written communication skills are additional strengths for these positions. Intermediate Accounting skills, Microsoft Word, and Excel are required.

Essential Functions

Sponsored Research Accountant 2

• Administer grant awards (federal, state, local, private and internal grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements) from a myriad of funding agencies.
• Establish and maintain grant records and files ensuring their accuracy and completeness.
• Close out grant accounts by reconciling account, sample unusual transactions for compliance, prepare final invoice and/or reports and ensure non-financial reports are submitted. Complete agency invoices and reports in accordance with awards terms and conditions by utilizing various systems. Pursue and report on collection of past due invoices.
• Review award notices. Create and maintain grant accounts according to the agreements, adding and modifying budgets. Request set-up of awards in Student Financial Aid System. Review and approve salary and non-salary Cost Transfers (CTR) and Cost Reallocation requests. Resolve grant coding errors.
• Manage a portfolio of moderately complex awards. Serve as the principal source of information on grant policies and procedures and financial policies.
• Assist Sponsored Research Services Accounting leadership as required, to include execution of special projects of moderate complexity.
• Recommend areas or approaches for process improvements and providing input to department discussions.
• Communicate with sponsors regarding invoices and collections.
• Review routine journal entries to ensure they are prepared in a timely fashion, accurately, and accompanied with proper supporting documentation and in line with allow-ability requirements of the sponsored agencies.
• Manage the timely and accurate setup of the sponsored awards in SAP; financial reporting to the sponsoring agencies, invoicing and closeout of sponsored awards, and respective cost shares.
• Review and reconcile charges on sponsored awards.
• Complete final invoices and Financial Federal Financial Reports by the strict deadlines established by sponsors.
• Perform other assigned duties based on departmental need. This job description can be changed at any time.

Additional Essential Functions

Sponsored Research Accountant Sr.

• Administer grant awards (federal, state, local, private, and internal grants, contracts, and cooperative agreements) from a myriad of funding agencies.
• Establish and maintain grant records and files ensuring their accuracy and completeness.
• Close out grant accounts by reconciling account, sample unusual transactions for compliance, prepare final invoice and/or reports and ensure non-financial reports are submitted. Complete agency invoices and reports in accordance with awards terms and conditions by utilizing various systems. Pursue and report on collection of past due invoices.
• Review award notices. Create and maintain grant accounts according to the agreements, adding and modifying budgets. Request set-up of awards in Student Financial Aid System. Review and approve salary and non-salary Cost Transfers (CTR) and Cost Reallocation
  requests. Resolve grant coding errors.
• Manage a portfolio of moderate to high complexity awards. Serve as the principal source of information on grant policies and procedures and financial policies. Assist Sponsored Research Services Accounting leadership as required, to include limited supervision responsibility in leadership’s absence and execution of special projects of high complexity.
• Recommend and develop system-wide policies and procedures for ongoing award management. Recommend areas or approaches for process improvements and providing input to department discussions. Serve as mentor and resource to Sponsored Research Accountant 1 and 2 team members.
• May provide direct and/or indirect supervision to exempt and non-exempt staff (i.e., hiring/firing, performance evaluations, disciplinary action, approve time off, etc.).
• Perform other assigned duties based on department need. This job description can be changed at any time.

Required Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance or related field.
• Eight (8) years of relevant work experience and/or other specialized training can be used in lieu of education requirement.

Required Experience

Four (4) years of experience in accounting, finance, grants with customer service.

Additional Qualifications Considered

• Possess thorough knowledge of post-award sponsored project administration, and the ability to perform all functions of the position independently.
• Familiarity with the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) and other federal agency supplements, the Office of Management and Budget Uniform Guidance (UG), intellectual property, export control, and technology compliance regulations.
• Understanding of SAP, Kuali, Grants.gov, and other state and federal grant systems; expert proficiency in MS Office Skills, e.g., Outlook, Word, SharePoint and Excel.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Office environment/no specific unusual physical or environmental demands.

Application Process Information

A resume and cover letter are required as part of the application process. Attach these documents before submitting your application. Failure to provide these documents may result in your application not being considered.

Compensation and Benefits

UC offers an exceptional benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and work-life balance. ( UC Benefits Link ) Highlights include:

Comprehensive Tuition Remission

UC provides tuition remission for you and your eligible dependents, covering tuition costs for nearly all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the university.

Robust Retirement Plans

As a UC employee, you won’t contribute to Social Security (except Medicare). Instead, you’ll choose between state pension plans (OPERS, STRS) or an Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP), with UC contributing 14–18% of your salary based on position.

Real Work-Life Balance

UC prioritizes work-life balance with a generous time-off policy, including:

Vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays and additional end-of-year paid time off (Winter Season Days)

6 weeks of paid parental leave for new parents

Additional Benefits Include:

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription)
• Flexible spending accounts & wellness programs
• Professional development & mentorship opportunities

To learn more about why UC is a great place to work, please visit our careers page at

UC is an E-Verify employer. If hired into this position, you will be required to provide satisfactory proof of employment eligibility by providing acceptable, original forms of identification for employment verification via the Federal I-9 employment verification process. A list of acceptable documents can be seen here:

Important : To apply you must create a profile and submit a complete job application through the UC applicant portal. We are unable to consider “easy apply” applications submitted via other websites. For questions about the UC recruiting process or to request accommodations with the application, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]

Equal Opportunity Employer. Building a workplace where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, including Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans.

REQ: 99545

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