Business Analyst - Sponsored Programs Financial Services - Clinical Trials

Highmark Health, through Allegheny Singer Research Institute, is seeking a Business Analyst to manage post-award and financial activities for grants and clinical trials. The role involves compliance management, invoicing, financial reporting, and project closeout, ensuring adherence to institutional policies and sponsor guidelines.

Responsibilities:

• Compliance Management: Read and develop full understanding of business and financial terms and conditions of grant, contract, and/or clinical trial agreement.  Maintain compliance with allowable costs, period of performance, subrecipient monitoring, tracking cost share and program income, effort reporting, reporting, other special test provisions, cash management invoicing, and clinical trial billing compliance.  Keep current on compliance with federal, state, local, private sponsors, and other agency regulation including Uniform Guidance. Evaluates and maintains business processes in support of post-award management
• Invoicing, Accounting Receivable, and Cash Management: Develop full understanding of payment terms and payment schedule as outline in the grant, contract and/or clinical agreement terms. Promptly invoice and timely follow-up on outstanding payments owed. Ensure proper recording cash against programs. Ability to independently troubleshoot, analyze, and problem solve payment variances and queries with Sponsor ensuring positive cash flow. Ability to setup and work within Sponsor portals to setup payment profiles, submit invoices, and retrieve payment backup as needed
• Month-end Close: Maintains processes and prepares journal entries to support the monthly close process and the generation of the monthly financial statements/reports. Ensures all financial transactions/entries are properly documented and completed timely.  Ensures all financial transactions/entries agree with GAAP, Uniform Guidance, and with institutional policies and procedures.  Possesses expertise with the institution’s financial systems
• Reporting: Independently prepares simple to complex financial reports, working collaboratively with management, financial and program staff to address discrepancies and correct errors. Monitors and meets all  internal and Sponsor stipulated deadlines and content requirements. Ensures reports are clear, accurate, and submitted on-time. Ability to translate and accurately report financials on Sponsor required forms as required. Address ad hoc reports and analysis as needed
• Project Closeout:  Independently complete project closeout documentation that are accurate, properly documented and on time. Ensures cost share requirements have been met, unallowable costs have been removed, subaward/contract expenses are accounted for, and outstanding obligations have been addressed. Communicates clearly with financial and program staff and others as appropriate to gather necessary information and supporting documentation. Ensure all invoices and payments are complete. Close project cost center in all financial systems
• Audit: Independently applies compliance with regulations and guidelines and implements/documents internal controls, policies, and procedures. Gather documentation and information for auditors from multiple sources as required
• Other duties as assigned or requested

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or related field or relevant experience and/or education as determined by the company in lieu of bachelor's degree
• Knowledge of accounting principles, budget planning, and financial analysis with the ability to interpret and apply fiscal regulations (preferred with focus on clinical research or healthcare)
• Ability to assess, research, and resolve complex financial and compliance issues while applying sound judgment
• This position requires a deep understanding of financial management in a clinical trial setting, expertise in research accounting, and a strong background in compliance and auditing
• Prior experience in grant, contract and clinical trial financial administration, knowledge of federal agency regulations, policies, and procedures, Uniform Guidance, laws and federal acquisition regulations applicable to research and sponsored programs
• Prior experience with clinical trial financial management and/or clinical research billing compliance and regulations