Portfolio & Grant Accountant

Portfolio & Grant Accountant

The Portfolio & Grant Accountant will be responsible for the financial management and oversight of a portfolio of sponsored and non-sponsored accounts supporting the MD/PhD Program, its students, and its faculty. The role provides financial reporting and analysis, budgeting, and planning with an emphasis on compliance with accounting principles, sponsor requirements, and university policies. The Accountant applies expertise to program-related sponsored research and training awards and provides analytical and financial services, guidance, and consultation to faculty, trainees, and staff to support informed, strategic decision-making and optimize resource allocation.

Reporting to the Associate Director for Program Administration, MD/PhD Program, the position supports the full lifecycle management of key program awards, including submission of annual progress reports and competitive renewals for the Medical Scientist Training Program T32 (NIH) and BioMed SURF Amgen program funding. The role also coordinates and manages the submission and tracking of approximately 25–30 individual fellowship applications across the three annual NIH deadlines, including related sponsor documentation and post-award actions.

The Accountant plans, organizes, and prioritizes actions across multiple awards and portfolios; ensures appropriate charging of expenses and integration of data; advises and counsels principal investigators and program leadership on financial issues; and recommends alternatives for allocating effort and adjusting spending patterns consistent with sponsor and Yale policy. The position collaborates with internal and external stakeholders (e.g., faculty, departmental leadership, central offices, and sponsoring agencies) to ensure the proper management of sponsor funds and the fiscal integrity of program portfolios.

Key Responsibilities

• Financial Analysis and Reporting
• Compliance and Risk Management
• Proposal Management and Oversight (Pre- and Post-Award)
• Portfolio Management and Stewardship
• Collaborative and Strategic Finance Partner

Required Skills and Abilities

1. Demonstrated ability in financial management, including budgeting, reporting, and analysis.

2. Strong organizational and multitasking skills with careful attention to detail and accuracy; ability to plan, organize, and prioritize across multiple awards and overlapping deadlines.

3. Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective collaboration with faculty, students, internal partners, and external sponsors.

4. Proficiency in using financial software and tools, such as Excel, for data analysis and reporting; expert knowledge and experience with spreadsheets and databases.

5. Ability to work independently and as part of a team, showing initiative, flexibility, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Skills and Abilities

1. Previous experience with grants and contracts administration, including pre-award and post-award processes; experience working with a varied portfolio of grants in an academic setting.

2. Knowledge of funding mechanisms supporting individual and programmatic training awards (graduate/undergraduate training support, fellowships, and institutional training grants).

3. Proficiency in financial management systems such as Workday and Yale Budgeting Tool (YBT); familiarity with IRES and NIH systems (e.g., NIH Commons/Reporter) and Yale institutional reporting.

4. In-depth knowledge of university financial policies and federal regulations related to sponsored research and training awards.

5. Professional certifications or specialized training in research administration (e.g., CPA, MBA, research administration training), as applicable.

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or a related discipline, with experience in research administration.