Research Accountant 1 - Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development - UTK

Job-ID: 10528Category: FinancialLocation: Knoxville, TN, United StatesSchedule: Full timePosted: 2026-10-27This position serves as an Accountant Level I in the Division of Research Administration (DRA). This department provides financial administrative service to the research community for post-award functions as part of the Office of Research, Innovation, and Economic Development. Sponsored project and agency fund expenditures financially reported and collected by this unit totaled $468M in FY2023. Accountants within DRA are responsible for the financial management of millions of dollars per individual portfolio; financial compliance reviews; submitting financial reports; providing financial guidance to Principal Investigators, Business Managers, Budget Directors, and others within UT departments; serving as financial point of contact with outside sponsors; and accounts receivable collections. This is a very fast-paced, high volume environment in which one must be able to manage multiple deadlines; exercise good judgment and decision making skills; apply knowledge of UT fiscal policy, federal regulations, and sponsors’ terms and conditions; and conform to those requirements to reduce the risk of loss of funds for the University. The Accountant Level I has substantial accountability, independent decision making capabilities, and handles numerous sponsors. This position performs financial tasks with minimal supervision, has extensive latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment, and draws conclusions on financial and compliance-related issues. Research Accountants provide exceptional service to faculty, staff, administrators, and sponsors regarding the fiscal management of sponsored funds; the mitigation of potential compliance risks and liability; the navigation of research administration tools and systems; and and the overall management of sponsored accounts. This position is part of the career path program within DRA involving increasing levels of responsibilities from Accountant Level I, to Accountant Level II, to Accountant Level III, to Manager. This position is a hybrid position, where applicants are expected to live within a commutable distance and report in person on occasion.QualificationsRequired QualificationsEducation: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, or a Bachelor’s Degree in a business-related fieldExperience: Three years of accounting-related work experience with a minimum of six hours of accredited college accounting courses.Knowledge, Skills, Abilities: • Ability to communicate effectively, including active listening skills, plus the ability to work with a diverse group of faculty, staff, administrators and other stakeholders.•Ability to prioritize and manage a high-volume of complex projects simultaneously to meet constant deadlines in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities.•Ability to be detail-oriented with strong organizational and problem-solving skills.•Ability to be flexible, have sound judgment with an open and collaborative style of work that encourages teamwork and cooperation. •Ability to provide excellent customer service with a commitment to exceptional quality.•Ability to think analytically, quantitatively, creatively, and strategically and to work with ambiguity.•Skill to be an independent thinker with professional skepticism.•Ability to be a team player who works well collectively and collaboratively with colleagues to achieve common goals.•Knowledge of Microsoft Office.Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis without need now or in the future for sponsorship for employment-based visa status.Preferred QualificationsEducation: Certified Research Administrator or Certified Public AccountantExperience: Experience working with grants and contracts in a University settingKnowledge, Skills, and Abilities:•Knowledge of research administration issues including financial management and the ability to interpret and communicate federal, state, and local laws and regulations related to research administration operations, policies, and procedures.•Knowledge of UT fiscal, human resource, and research policies•Knowledge of Uniform Guidance, Federal Acquisition Regulations, and granting agency requirements.•Experience with Oracle Cloud, Cayuse, and PowerBIWork Location Location: UT KnoxvilleHybrid with occasional in-person requirementsApplicant must live in Knoxville or within a commutable distance Compensation and Benefits UT market range: 11Anticipated hiring range: 11Find more information on the UT Market Range structure hereFind more information on UT Benefits hereApplication Instructions To express interest, please submit an application with the noted below attachments. ResumeCover LetterAbout The College/Department/Division Here at the University of Tennessee, thousands of world-class faculty, staff, students and postdoctoral fellows are engaged in research, scholarship and creative work on a daily basis. With a shared commitment to creating a more just, prosperous, and sustainable world for the citizens of Tennessee and communities far beyond, the UT community is creating new knowledge and generating solutions to some of the most challenging issues of our time.The Office of Research, Innovation & Economic Development is here to support you, our community of researchers, scholars and creatives, from ideation to impact. Our dedicated team is here to help you develop competitive proposals and sources of support for your work, seed investments in promising new areas, nurture new and established multidisciplinary communities of scholars and support and sustain a strong culture of research integrity.The university’s strategic relationships with corporate, venture, community, non-profit and government partners help extend the impact of our community’s work across the state and around the world. In collaboration with these partners, we are working to establish Tennessee as a go-to destination for cutting-edge research, innovation and a skilled workforce.We understand that a creative, productive, and empowered community of researchers, scholars, and creatives is critical to the university’s future as a world-renowned research institution.ResponsibilitiesPost-Award Financial Administration • Provides guidance and oversight to Researchers, Business Managers, Budget Directors, and others within UT departments in the fiscal management of sponsored funds.• Interprets and applies fiscal regulations and guidelines to ensure all Federal, State, University, and private sponsor requirements are met for effective financial reporting purposes.• Evaluates allowability and allocability of costs based on federal regulations, sponsor terms, fiscal policies, and other applicable guidelines to report to sponsors.• Analyzes and effectively resolves problems related to all aspects of financial compliance. • Evaluates sponsors' financial terms and conditions; departmental and sponsors' budgets and corresponding justifications; and financial reporting requirements of awards for efficient and compliant account management. • Monitors sponsor budgets, cost share, subawards, guidelines, and expenses for allowability and compliance. • Manages numerous and competing deadlines to ensure contractual terms and conditions are met and the University is not exposed to financial liability due to missed deadlines.• Proficiently utilizes an array of secure web-based federal, state, and private sponsor systems for financial reporting, letter of credit draws, and reimbursement requests per sponsor requirements.• Monitors accounts receivable to maximize the University's cash flow. Recommends referral of delinquent accounts to UT Legal Counsel.• Prepares reports quarterly, semi-annually, and annually for federal agencies and sponsors as required.• Annually reviews fund balances to properly classify revenues for University financial statements.• Develops, prepares, and maintains the closeout of reports, financial documentation, Schedules of Final Charges, and related work papers that accurately represent financial expenses to sponsors per University fiscal policy and sponsor guidelines. Work papers detail adjustments, reconciliations, justifications, cost share information, program income and all other facets involved in the accurate reporting of a sponsored project. Compliance• Conducts and monitors compliance activities and accurately applies relevant fiscal policies and sponsor requirements to mitigate the risks of financial liability that could result from Federal, State, University, and private audits.• Analyzes expenditure documentation to determine if allowable, allocable, and consistently applied.• Interprets and enforces award terms and conditions to ensure financial compliance. • Monitors applicable salary cap restrictions, timely effort certification, potential high-risk expenditures, and directs departments on corrective resolutions. • Reviews cost share expenditures, third party, and in-kind cost share to ensure compliance with sponsor requirements.• Participates and assists with internal and external audit related issues.• Monitors limitation of funds requirements and advises Researchers, Business Managers, Budget Directors, and others within UT departments when to contact sponsors for additional funding. • Stays abreast of Federal, State, and University regulations related to research issues by researching materials and attending conferences, among other methods, to advance knowledge and understanding of complex compliance risk-assessment and mitigation. Collaboration External to Department• Provides exceptional service to faculty, staff, administrators, and sponsors regarding the fiscal management of sponsored funds; the mitigation of potential compliance risks and liability; the navigation of research administration tools and systems; and and the overall management of sponsored accounts. Assists in pro-actively identifying, proposing solutions, and working towards resolution of complex matters.• Coordinates with departments, Principal Investigators, Controller's Office, Treasurer's Office, General Counsel, and DRA Proposal and Awards teams for the accurate, timely, and compliant completion of closeout documents. • Serves as liaison with sponsoring agencies regarding fiscal and administrative matters. • Assists in the preparation of related training materials and the organization of workshops to provide guidance to Principal Investigators, Business Managers, and other departmental staff.Collaboration Internal to the Department• Instrumental in the testing and implementation of innovative digital processes regarding research projects which will position DRA to more closely align with the University's goal to be a Top 25 public research organization and to become more environmentally conscious and cost-efficient.• Provides input and collaborative support to streamline operations, automate processes, formalize procedures, enhance customer service, and facilitate departmental goals. • Serves as a mentor to newly-hired Accountants to guide their professional development.• Collaborates to develop internal training materials to provide guidance.About the company The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, has shaped leaders, changemakers, and innovative thinkers since its founding in 1794. The university is home to more than 38,000 students and 10,000 statewide employees—the Volunteers—who uphold the university’s tradition of lighting the way for others through leadership and service. UT Knoxville offers over 900 programs of study across 14 degree-granting colleges and schools. As Tennessee’s flagship land-grant university, its footprint spans the entire state. The university holds the highest Carnegie classification for research activity and has deep partnerships with industry leaders and the US Department of Energy’s largest multidisciplinary laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The Knoxville campus serves and recruits for UT Knoxville, including the Institute of Agriculture and the Space Institute, as well as the UT Institute of Public Service. UT Knoxville considers its employees its number one asset. With values that focus on work-life balance, compensation, and innovation leadership, all Vols are supported to advance professionally. Employees have access to career development and coaching, continued education, and an extensive list of development and training possibilities. The Volunteer employee experience implements structures and practices to attract and retain top-tier talent, fostering a strong staff community and supporting a culture of involvement and engagement for everyone. The university holds a strong commitment to its land-grant mission of learning and engagement, with a tradition of service and leadership that carries that Volunteer spirit throughout the state and around the world. It has been ranked nationally as “Best Employer for New Graduates,” “One of America’s Best Large Employers,” and “Best Workplace for Women,” and has been designated as “Best Place for Working Parents” by Forbes Magazine. Apply today and join the Tennessee Volunteer community!