Fiscal Compliance Officer

Position Summary

The Fiscal Compliance Officer serves as the College's lead administrator for fiscal sponsored programs compliance and is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing a comprehensive sponsored programs fiscal compliance program that promotes adherence to applicable federal, state, sponsor, and institutional requirements governing externally funded programs. The position partners closely with Research Development and Sponsored Programs (RDSP), Finance, Procurement, Human Resources, and Principal Investigators to promote a culture of compliance through education, policy development, monitoring, and risk mitigation.

The incumbent supervises professional staff responsible for sponsored programs administration and compliance functions, providing leadership, coaching, workload management, and performance oversight. The position serves as an institutional resource for regulatory guidance and compliance best practices. Responsibilities include developing compliance training programs, coordinating audit activities, internal audit, overseeing subrecipient compliance, reviewing proposal budgets and selected post-award actions for compliance, monitoring internal controls, and remaining current on evolving federal regulations and Uniform Guidance requirements. The incumbent regularly handles highly sensitive and confidential information and exercises sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism in all aspects of the position. The position may also include responsibility for fiscal compliance as related to expenditure of unrestricted funds to ensure unmodified audit opinions.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Compliance Program Administration

• Develop, implement, and continuously improve the College's sponsored programs fiscal compliance program.
• Monitor fiscal compliance with applicable federal, state, sponsor, and institutional regulations governing sponsored programs.
• Develop and administer quarterly internal audits of sponsored program expenditures and implement recommended changes regarding policy and process based on internal audit results
• Develop and maintain compliance policies, procedures, guidance documents, and standardized practices to ensure institutional practices remain aligned with evolving regulations and best practices.
• Maintain compliance calendars, regulatory reporting schedules, and risk monitoring tools.
• Monitor emerging regulatory developments, including proposed and final revisions to the Uniform Guidance and other federal regulations; assess institutional impact; and recommend policy and procedural changes as necessary.
• Develop implementation plans to ensure timely institutional compliance with new or revised federal regulations and sponsor requirements.
• Serve as one of the College’s primary resources on sponsored programs compliance requirements, collaborating with institutional partners to interpret and implement regulatory guidance.

Leadership and Supervision

• Supervise, coach, mentor, and evaluate assigned professional staff.

 

 

• Promote collaboration, accountability, and excellent customer service while ensuring compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements.

 

Training and Education

• Develop, coordinate, and deliver recurring compliance training for Principal Investigators and employees working on sponsored programs to promote continuous institutional compliance.
• Develop and maintain compliance training modules  and update Principal Investigator Handbook to promote continuous education and improve institutional compliance.
• Partner with RDSP to ensure consistent interpretation and communication of sponsor regulations and institutional requirements.

Proposal and Award Compliance

• Review and approve sponsored program proposal budgets and related financial and administrative documents to ensure compliance with sponsor regulations, Uniform Guidance, institutional policies, and applicable cost principles prior to submission.
• Review and approve federal post-award budget reallocations and selected financial transactions requiring compliance oversight.
• Provide compliance guidance regarding allowable costs, prior approvals, rebudgeting, and sponsor requirements.

Subrecipient Monitoring

• Manage the College's subrecipient monitoring program.
• Perform risk assessments of subrecipients and ensure required documentation is obtained prior to issuing subawards.

Audit Coordination and Internal Controls

• Serve as the primary point of contact for sponsored programs compliance audits.
• Coordinate institutional responses to audit requests.
• Evaluate internal controls related to sponsored programs administration and recommend improvements to strengthen compliance.
• Coordinate periodic compliance reviews to identify potential compliance concerns before external audits.

 

Additional Responsibilities

• Participate in institutional committees and special projects related to compliance, internal controls, and sponsored programs administration.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Budgets and Contracts.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Public Administration, Higher Education Administration, or a related field, with a minimum of seven years of progressively responsible experience in sponsored programs administration, research administration, grants compliance, financial compliance, auditing, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Demonstrated knowledge of federal regulations governing sponsored programs, including the Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200), federal agency requirements, and sponsored research compliance principles.

Demonstrated ability to interpret evolving federal regulations and translate regulatory requirements into institutional policies, procedures, and operational practices.

Demonstrated experience participating in federal Single Audits, including preparing audit documentation and responding to auditor requests.

Ability to research, interpret, and apply complex regulations, sponsor requirements, institutional policies, and professional guidance.

Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.

Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to present regulatory information to diverse audiences.

Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities independently while maintaining confidentiality and exercising sound professional judgment.

Strong customer service orientation with the ability to build collaborative relationships across academic and administrative departments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Research Administrator (CRA), Certified Financial Research Administrator (CFRA), Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), or similar professional certification.

• Experience coordinating sponsor audits, compliance reviews, or monitoring activities within a higher education environment.

Physical Demands

• The physical demands described here are representative of those required to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to: sit, use hands to handle and operate office equipment including the computer, reach with hands and arms, talk and hear, and lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. The employee is frequently required to: walk. The employee is occasionally required to: stand, stoop or kneel or crouch. Specific vision abilities required by this job include the ability to adjust focus.

 

• Shift
  • Days
• % Travel Required
  • 1% - 25% percent
• Full Time/Part Time
  • Full-time
• Work Location/Schedule
  • Eligible for hybrid work arrangement