ORA Service Center Research Cost Analyst 3, Full Time

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The Office of the Vice Provost for Research and Scholarship Office of Research Administration (ORA) has a job opportunity for an ORA Service Center Research Cost Analyst 3 to work at the University of Miami.

CORE JOB SUMMARY

The ORA Service Center Research Cost Analyst 3 plays a critical role in safeguarding the fiscal integrity of the Universitys research enterprise. The ORA Service Center Research Cost Compliance Analyst 3 administers a comprehensive billing audit and quality control program for institutional service centers ensuring that charges to sponsored and non-sponsored projects are accurate timely and fully compliant with federal regulations and University policy.

Through full-cycle audits spanning rate development usage documentation system interfaces and final invoice posting the ORA Analyst 3 mitigates institutional risk prevents federal disallowances and ensures equitable and consistent charging practices for all researchers.

CORE JOB FUNCTIONS

1. Billing Audit and Reconciliation

• Conducts routine and risk-based audits of service center billing activity to verify that charges posted to sponsored projects align precisely with ORA-approved rate sheets.
• Performs detailed reconciliation of billed amounts against documented units of service maintained in laboratory records or electronic usage systems.
• Monitors billing timeliness to ensure charges are posted identifies and escalates late or stale charges that may contribute to grant overruns or audit exposure.

2. Rate Sheet Quality Assurance

• Audits cost pool inputs used in rate development to confirm accuracy completeness and compliance with quality control standards and appropriate salary allocations.
• Reviews tiered pricing structures to ensure correct application of internal versus external rates with particular attention to ensuring federal sponsors are charged the lowest allowable internal rate.
• Evaluates service centers receiving institutional subsidies to confirm that subsidy funds are properly applied and reflected in reduced costs to internal users.

3. Systems and Data Integrity

• Reviews service center billing and financial data to identify discrepancies unsupported charges or systemic issues affecting billing accuracy and compliance.
• Issues formal audit findings to departments and oversees the development and completion of corrective actions including required journal entries and process improvements.
• Coordinates with departments and ORA stakeholders to resolve identified issues and strengthen internal controls.

4 . Compliance Support and Training

• Maintains official audit documentation for each service center including approved rate sheets usage records and sample invoices in support of federal Single Audits and other external reviews.
• Provides quality control guidance and training to service center and laboratory managers emphasizing compliant documentation practices that withstand federal audit scrutiny.
• Serve as a subject matter expert on service center billing compliance supporting ORA leadership with audit preparation policy interpretation and risk mitigation.
• Adheres to University and unit-level policies and procedures and safeguards University assets.

This list of duties and responsibilities is not intended to be all-inclusive and may be expanded to include other duties or responsibilities as necessary.

CORE QUALITIFCATIONS

Education:

Bachelors degree in accounting Finance Business Administration Healthcare Administration or related field required.

Experience:

Minimum of four (4) years of progressively responsible experience with a strong emphasis on financial auditing forensic accounting or quality control preferably within research higher education or healthcare environments. Any appropriate combination of relevant work experience and/or education may be considered.

Knowledge Skills and Attitudes:

• Analytical and Audit Acumen: Demonstrated ability to identify inconsistencies and compliance risks across multiple data sources such as reconciling laboratory usage records with financial system transactions.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel including tools such as Power Query and data validation with the ability to analyze and audit high-volume transactional data efficiently.
• Communication and Diplomacy: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to present audit findings to faculty and staff in a professional constructive and solutions-oriented manner.
• Regulatory Expertise: In-depth knowledge of Cost Accounting Standards (CAS) and OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200) related to service center operations and sponsored project billing. .

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The University of Miami is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law. Click here for additional information.

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