Financial Specialist Senior

Salary Range: $50,823 - $63,000 per year, depending on experience.

About the role

The School of Biological and Health Systems Engineering (SBHSE) is seeking a collaborative and service-oriented Financial Specialist Senior to join its Research Advancement team. This position provides financial management and post-award support for sponsored research projects while partnering with faculty and university stakeholders to ensure responsible stewardship of research funding. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of financial management principles, a commitment to exceptional customer service, and a continuous improvement mindset.

This is a mid-career professional position (Level 3 of 7) reporting to the Research Advancement Manager. The role offers opportunities to take on increasingly complex responsibilities based on performance, with potential career growth into specialized areas of research administration or supervisory leadership.

SBHSE supports a hybrid work arrangement where employees spend a minimum of 60% of their regular workweek at their primary ASU work location, subject to review and approvals per ASU policy.

Responsibilities

• Manage post-award financial activities for designated sponsored projects, including award setup, budget allocation, expenditure monitoring, monthly account reconciliations, and closeout.
• Prepare, review, and revise project budgets, including budget justifications, re-budgets, and multiyear financial planning.
• Prepare and submit sponsor financial reports and invoices, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with award terms and conditions.
• Monitor expenditures for allowability, allocability, and consistency, identifying issues and implementing corrective actions.
• Review and approve financial transactions, such as cost transfers, payroll allocations, journal entries, procurement, and subaward invoices.
• Manage cost share commitments, including tracking, documentation, reporting, and ensuring compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements.
• Provide financial forecasting and portfolio analysis (burn rates, projections, variance analysis) to support faculty decision-making.
• Manage closeout processes, ensuring timely final reconciliations, final reports, and compliance documentation.
• Collaborate with pre-award, compliance, departmental, and central finance units to ensure accuracy and consistency across the award lifecycle.
• Serve as a financial resource, providing guidance on sponsored project financial policies, procedures, and best practices.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree and three (3) years of experience appropriate to the area of assignment/field; OR, any equivalent combination of experience and/or training from which comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities have been achieved.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of sponsored financial management, including post-award administration (including awards funded by the National Institute of Health), budgeting, forecasting, cost share requirements, and Facilities & Administrative (F&A) cost principles, and financial reporting.
• Knowledge of federal regulations governing sponsored research, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200), audit requirements, and sponsor-specific policies for agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation (NSF), and other federal and non-federal sponsors.
• Understanding of institutional financial and electronic research administration (eRA) systems, accounting platforms, and reporting tools.
• Ability to analyze complex financial data, identify discrepancies, and apply corrective actions.
• Ability to apply allowability, allocability, and reasonableness standards to sponsored project expenditures.
• Ability to prepare accurate and compliant financial reports, invoices, and reconciliations under strict deadlines.
• Skill in interpreting sponsor guidelines and translating them into operational steps for faculty and staff.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
• Excellent communication and customer service skills with the ability to explain financial concepts to non-financial audiences.
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships with faculty, staff, university partners, and external sponsors.
• Ability to work independently while exercising sound judgment, initiative, and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, process optimization, and operational excellence.

Desired Qualifications

• Experience in research administration, particularly post-award financial management.
• Demonstrated experience managing cost share commitments, tracking, documentation, and reporting.
• Experience interpreting and applying Uniform Guidance, federal agency terms, and audit requirements.
• Advanced skill in budget development, multi-year financial planning, and scenario modeling.
• Experience managing complex sponsored project portfolios with multiple funding sources.
• Proficiency with institutional financial systems, eRA platforms, and automated reporting tools.
• Strong analytical skills, including financial forecasting and variance analysis.
• Experience with effort reporting, payroll certification, and related compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with faculty, researchers, and cross-functional administrative units.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex financial concepts clearly.
• Experience working in environments with competing deadlines, sensitive information, and frequent priority changes.

Working Environment

• Activities are performed in an environmentally controlled office setting subject to extended periods of sitting, keyboarding, and manipulating a computer mouse (75%); required to stand for varying lengths of time and walk moderate distances to perform work (10%).
• Infrequent bending, reaching, lifting, pushing, and pulling up to 25 pounds (5%).
• Communicate effectively, comprehend information, and perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Regular use of standard office equipment including but not limited to: computer workstation/laptop (keyboard, monitor, mouse), printer, fax, calculator, copier, telephone, and associated computer/technology peripherals.

Department Statement

At the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, we are delivering a world-class learning experience for our students and advancing research and innovation — all at scale. The Fulton Schools research enterprise leads use-inspired research and key national initiatives, including the Southwest Advanced Prototyping Hub, accelerating microelectronics and workforce development for the Department of Defense. We also lead the Electrified Processes for Industry Without Carbon Clean Energy Manufacturing Institute, supported by the Department of Energy, aiming to reduce carbon emissions and strengthen manufacturing. Additionally, we lead an NSF Engineering Research Center developing sustainable civil infrastructure and partner with another ERC advancing clean water technology.

The Fulton Schools hosts numerous research centers that leverage faculty expertise to drive engineering innovation and entrepreneurship across four interdisciplinary impact areas: Climate Technology Solutions, Competitive Manufacturing in an Advanced Economy, National and Economic Security, and Technology-Enhanced Health and Medicine. Our faculty are achieving excellence at scale, positioning the Fulton Schools among the nation’s top engineering colleges for invention disclosures, U.S. patents, and startups. We are an engineering school on the rise at the nation’s most innovative university, situated in the heart of its fastest-growing metropolitan area.

The Fulton Schools of Engineering is driven by core values that define our approach, distinguish our practice, and guide daily decisions in academics, research, corporate partnerships, and entrepreneurship. These values shape how we recognize, reward, and communicate success. At the Fulton Schools of Engineering, we:

• Cultivate excellence.
• Deliver innovation that matters.
• Encourage bold thinking.
• Foster a community of learning and collaboration.
• Build a foundation for all to be successful.