Budget/Business Analyst

$71,614 - $91,374/Yr

University of Southern California - San Diego, CA

Full-time

San Diego, CA

Educational Services

About the position

The USC Keck School of Medicine - Alzheimer Therapeutic Research Institute (ATRI) is seeking a Budget/Business Analyst to support its Finance Department. This role is crucial in ensuring the financial integrity and compliance of research projects aimed at developing new treatments for Alzheimer's Disease. The analyst will work closely with principal investigators to prepare the administrative components of proposals, ensuring adherence to both sponsored and non-sponsored research guidelines. This includes overseeing the submission process, reviewing documents for completeness, and ensuring compliance with all relevant regulations. In addition to proposal preparation, the Budget/Business Analyst will be responsible for developing, preparing, and finalizing project budgets, providing necessary budget justifications, and serving as the primary liaison between principal investigators, the Office of Sponsored Research, and other departments. This role requires a proactive approach to responding to sponsor inquiries and collaborating with the Office of Sponsored Research to ensure that awards are set up correctly and that cost-sharing requirements are met. The analyst will also initiate cost transfers and review and approve expenditures, advising on post-award spending and compliance related to fund and revenue management. The analyst will develop and communicate reports that support project status, create effective forecasting tools, and participate in the contract closeout process by submitting final reports and certificates. This position also involves understanding and advising on university and government policies related to projects, serving as a technical resource to principal investigators and other university staff, and contributing to process improvements within the finance department. The Budget/Business Analyst will lead group projects and collaborate with other staff to enhance operational efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Participate with principal investigator in the preparation of the administrative components of proposals within parameters of sponsored and non-sponsored research guidelines.
• Oversee and communicate submission process, both paper and electronic.
• Review documents for completeness and compliance.
• Develop, prepare, and finalize project budgets.
• Provide budget justification.
• Serve as primary liaison and active partner between principal investigators, Office of Sponsored Research, research groups, and other departments.
• Respond to sponsor inquiries.
• Collaborate with Office of Sponsored Research to ensure awards are set up properly and cost-sharing requirements are fulfilled.
• Initiate cost transfers.
• Review and approve expenditures.
• Advise on post-award spending and commitment activity.
• Oversee compliance related to fund and revenue.
• Develop and communicate reports supporting project status.
• Create effective forecasting and decision aids.
• Participate in contract closeout process.
• Submit final reports and certificates.
• Compile information and documents needed for audit inquiries.
• Understand, apply, and advise on University and government policies for projects.
• Serve as a resource on subject area and overall technical resource to principal investigator and other University staff.
• Participate in and contribute to process improvements.
• Lead other staff in group projects.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, or a related field.
• Minimum of 1 year of budget experience, including knowledge of government and fund accounting.
• Strong computer skills with proficiency in automated spreadsheets.

Nice-to-haves

• Bachelor's degree preferred.
• 2 years of experience preferred.
• University budget experience and knowledge of university financial systems.