Co-Executive Director for Projects Accounting

POSITION OBJECTIVE

The Co-Executive Director for Sponsored Projects Accounting provides operational leadership to maintain compliant, efficient, and effective post-award financial management of sponsored projects throughout Case Western Reserve University. The co-executive director is responsible for developing and executing day-to-day operational plans, workflows, and internal controls for sponsored projects accounting. Utilizing extensive knowledge of post-award regulations and standards, the co-executive director oversees post-award accounting functions and ensures university-wide policy compliance.

This position directly manages junior grant managers who are responsible for preparing invoices, generating financial reports, and interacting with principal investigators and research teams. Reporting to the Senior Executive Director of Post Award Management, the co-executive director delivers informative and timely managerial reports to relevant finance offices, while collaborating closely with office of Research Technology Management and departmental research leadership to implement practical, hands‑on initiatives for financial research administration management.

• Apply deep working knowledge of OMB Uniform Guidance (2 CFR § 200), GAAP, and university policies to ensure strict institutional compliance regarding post-award financial costing and reporting. Embrace and implement automated compliance-checking software and AI-driven data validation tools to proactively identify risks, streamline financial monitoring, and guarantee the accuracy of federal and non-federal award expenditures. (20%)
• Directly assign, track, and review financial reports and billings prepared by junior grant managers to ensure timely, accurate submission to sponsors. Utilize automated workflow systems to coordinate necessary reviews with principal investigators and department administrators. Efficiently manage invoicing and reporting intricacies across multi-institutional partnerships using centralized digital tracking tools. (20%)
• Evaluate operational alternatives and optimize post-award accounting pathways through the development of financial models and data reports. Partner with leadership to design and maintain automated analytical tools that track post-award accounting metrics. Conduct routine process reviews across the research community to replace manual processes with high-efficiency automated solutions. (20%)
• Design and execute a comprehensive onboarding and training program for new junior grant managers. Perform regular workflow analyses and establish operational priorities, integrating AI utilities and productivity automation tools to optimize task distribution, mitigate operational bottlenecks, and update daily university business practices. (15%)
• Collaborate with University Technology, ERP systems teams, and department users to identify, evaluate, and implement automated post-award financial management systems. Serve as the primary technical resource for the team, leveraging AI-driven data analytics to define complex analysis parameters and generate meaningful reports for leadership decision-making. (10%)
• Review and update operational policies and procedures to enhance compliance, leveraging cross-source financial data and peer institution benchmarking. Identify and introduce innovative, AI-driven business practices to resolve recurring operational issues. Communicate financial trends, system concerns, and operational recommendations to leadership in a timely manner. (10%)

• Perform other duties as assigned. (5%)

Department:
Communicate regularly with senior executive director for post award administration, co-executive director for sponsored projects accounting. Weekly contact with grant managers, and other accounting staff, central pre-award staff. Continuous contact with professional and management staff of all levels within the office of Research and Technology Management.

University:
Daily contact with management center representatives, department administrators and faculty.

External:
Continuous contact with sponsor agencies (federal, non-federal), peers at other…