Director, Clinical Research Finance (Abramson Cancer Center) at University of Pennsylvania

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U. S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America's Best Large Employers in 2023.

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The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.

Posted Job Title

Director, Clinical Research Finance (Abramson Cancer Center)

Job Profile Title

Director D, Research, Clinical

Job Description Summary

Penn Medicine's Abramson Cancer Center (ACC) seeks a full-time Director of Clinical Research Finance ("Director") to oversee all clinical research financial activities across the ACC, including expediting study start-up and budgeting, ensuring billing compliance, and aligning financial operations to support and strengthen collaborations among Penn entities. This involves collaborating with investigators, program managers, department administrators, sponsors, and others within the clinical research infrastructure about clinical research financial services; advising principal investigators, researchers, and staff in the compliant fiscal conduct of all projects; and ensuring financial compliance with institutional, federal, and non-federal policy, rules, and regulations. This position reports to the Associate Director of Clinical Research (via solid line) and to the ACC Chief Operating Officer (via dotted line).

Job Description

The Director will identify and oversee key processes to support consistent and effective financial operations. This involves working with research billing compliance on Medicare coverage analysis and prospective reimbursement analyses; working with financial staff in budget development, negotiation, and approval of both sponsored and investigator initiated clinical research contracts. The Director will work closely with the Director of Finance, Budgets, and Planning to ensure account reconciliation, invoicing, and AP/AR management of 300+ clinical trial and grant accounts. Collaboration with ACC Legal Affairs will be expected to align budget and contractual timelines.

Importantly, this position will play a key role in scaling these central services for use across the ACC and Penn Medicine using a shared services model. This includes Penn hospitals, ambulatory centers, departments, and other Penn Centers. The successful candidate will be committed to continual process improvement. This involves leveraging Penn electronic systems to improve financial operations and record-keeping (including cross-entity funds transfer according to the location of research services); managing and executing clinical research audit activities (financial) as needed; and structuring the clinical trials finance teams to meet the demands of increasing clinical trial volume, associated regulations, and institutional benchmarks (e. g., study start-up). This also involves attending regular status meetings with principal investigators and program managers, to stay informed of relevant study developments and to detect and help solve logistical, financial, and other operational challenges as they arise.

This position will work in partnership with the Director of Finance, Budgets, and Planning (ACC) in the oversight of the research portfolio, ensuring scope, budget and quality are meeting expectations. They will also collaborate in matters related to budget/fiscal planning, budgetary control, and financial reporting.

All work will be performed independently with minimal supervision or direction. Some work-related responsibilities may occur outside of regular business hours. Position is contingent upon continued funding.

QUALIFICATIONS:

An MBA with a bachelor's in accounting or finance and 5-7 years of experience in business management, administration, accounting, finance, operations management, or a closely related area, with 2-3 years of the required experience directly related to coordinating/managing sponsored grants or contracts or equivalent combination of education and experience required. Demonstrated organizational and prioritization skills, along with the ability to work within tight and often conflicting deadlines. Must have good interpersonal skills and communicate regularly and effectively. Advanced working knowledge of databases and electronic tools. Experience with Penn financial systems preferred. Experience in oncology preferred but not required.

Position contingent upon continued funding

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

Perelman School of Medicine

Pay Range

$90,860.00 - $160,000.00 Annual Rate

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, as well as internal and market factors and grade profile.

Affirmative Action Statement Penn adheres to a policy that prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, national or ethnic origin, citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected class.

Special Requirements Background check required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

+ Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.

+ Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your d