Manager, Research Financial Services

The Office of Research and Sponsored Programs (ORSP) division supports the University community in their pursuit of research and the management of externally sponsored programs. ORSP is the key point of contact for faculty in the area of sponsored research and other sponsored programs including research conduct and compliance.

Position Summary

This position is the primary departmental contact for faculty and staff regarding sponsored projects. This position is responsible for:

• Provide day-to-day leadership and oversight for the RFS team ensuring continuity of grant financial operations and high standards of service.
• Act as the primary contact for sponsor and institutional audits related to the financial administration of grants unless otherwise designated.
• Supervise team activities providing guidance workflow support performance feedback and mentorship.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in the financial administration of sponsored research awards with a focus on post-award accounting and compliance.
• Perform core accounting functions.
• Monitor allowable costs available balances invoicing timelines unbilled activity project payment milestones or deliverables.

Essential Functions

• Serve as a subject matter expert in the financial administration of sponsored research awards with a focus on post-award accounting and compliance.
• Perform core accounting functions including expenditure review and approvals billing and accounts receivable effort certification financial reconciliation compliance monitoring and award closeout.
• Monitor allowable costs available balances invoicing timelines unbilled activity project payment milestones or deliverables to ensure accurate and timely financial performance of awards.
• Prepare and submit required financial reports to sponsors in accordance with award terms and institutional deadlines.
• Provide training and support to faculty and departmental administrators including those new to grant-funded research on topics such as budget monitoring allowable expenses and effort reporting.
• Collaborate with ORSP and department personnel to ensure full compliance with sponsor regulations federal guidelines (e.g. Uniform Guidance) and internal policies throughout the award lifecycle.
• Administer subawards including drafting subagreements evaluating risk coordinating internal documentation issuing purchase orders and subrecipient monitoring.
• Maintain proactive and responsive communication with principal investigators (PIs) department staff and internal partners to resolve financial questions and ensure successful grant management.
• Identify and recommend enhancements to financial systems and tools (e.g. Banner Concur InfoEd) to improve reporting compliance and operational efficiency.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and oversight for the RFS team ensuring continuity of grant financial operations and high standards of service.
• Act as the primary contact for sponsor and institutional audits related to the financial administration of grants unless otherwise designated.
• Supervise team activities providing guidance workflow support performance feedback and mentorship including assistance with annual goal setting and performance evaluations if applicable.
• Serve as a liaison between the RFS team and ORSP leadership to ensure alignment on financial strategies policy changes and sponsor expectations.
• Represent the RFS team in grant-related financial meetings and discussions across campus ensuring coordination with central administration and academic units.
• Contribute to short- and long-term planning by supporting process improvements and developing financial monitoring strategies.
• Analyze regulatory changes or sponsor updates impacting financial compliance and collaborate with leadership to update policies and procedures accordingly.
• Provide limited decision-making authority in emergency situations when the SVP is unavailable. This role does not carry independent signing authority.
• Participate in the evaluation of the interim pilot structure. Success will be measured by continuity of service minimal disruption to financial operations and effective team leadership.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Knowledge Skills and Abilities

• Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally with principal investigators sponsoring agencies management and others.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical and algebraic functions. Ability to review and analyze grant expenditure budgets.
• Ability to comprehend contractual documents
• Strong customer service skills and well-developed communication skill level
• Utilizes skills in problem solving and ability to consider multiple alternatives. Must be able to make appropriate decisions independently and seek assistance as appropriately.
• Ability to work and lead within a team environment building professional work relationships with coworkers faculty and staff.
• Ability to multi-task effectively and work independently.
• Ability to travel to grant related professional development programs.
• Ability to uphold ethical practices amid complicated situations
• Ability to engage faculty/staff and work within team environment to achieve goals
• Ability to identify needs/problems in organization and initiate change
• Strong collaborative style and team orientation that models and encourages the value of customer service while driving consistency and building partnerships with constituents.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelors degree
• 5 years experience in grant/contract administration.
• Certified Research Administrator Certificate active.
• Demonstrated ability to handle heavy workload with high quality and near error free service. Based on annual performance review.
• Developed processes/trainings to solve community needs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Masters degree

Physical Activities

• Ability to work in front of a computer for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally required to move about the office/campus.

Work Schedule
Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. In accordance with the Universitys flexible work policy this position is eligible to be considered for partial remote work. Further details regarding this plan will be determined with the hiring manager and are dependent on the division and team specific needs.

Application Deadline
For consideration please submit your application materials by 4:00 p.m. (MST) February 12 2026.

Special Instructions
Candidates must apply online through to be considered. Only applications submitted online will be accepted.

Salary Grade Number:
The salary grade for the position is 13.

Salary Rate:
The salary rate for this position is $89884.

The University of Denver has provided a compensation range that represents its good faith estimate of what the University may pay for the position at the time of posting. The University may ultimately pay more or less than the posted compensation range. The salary offered to the selected candidate will be determined based on factors such as the qualifications of the selected candidate departmental budget availability internal salary equity considerations and available market information but not based on a candidates sex or any other protected status.

Benefits:
The University of Denver offers excellent benefits including medical dental retirement paid time off tuition benefit and ECO pass. The University of Denver is a private institution that empowers students who want to make a difference. Learn more about the University of Denver.

Please include the following documents with your application:
1. Resume
2. Cover Letter

The University of Denver is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex (including sex stereotypes sex characteristics sexual orientation gender identity and gender expression) marital family or parental status pregnancy or related conditions national origin disability or status as a protected veteran. The University of Denver does not discriminate and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race color national origin ancestry age religion creed disability sex (including sex stereotypes sex characteristics sexual orientation gender identity and gender expression) marital family and parental status pregnancy genetic information military enlistment or veteran status and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination under federal state or local law regulation or ordinance in any of the Universitys educational programs and activities and in the employment (including application for employment) and admissions (including application for admission) context as required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; the Americans with Disabilities Act; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; Title VI and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967; the Equal Pay Act; the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act; the Colorado Protecting Opportunities and Workers Rights (POWR) Act; and any other federal state and local laws regulations or ordinances that prohibit discrimination harassment and/or retaliation. For more information please see the University of Denvers NonDiscriminationStatement.

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a criminal history background check.