Clinical Trial Financial Manager

Posted:
7/10/2026, 1:19:43 AM

Location(s):
Illinois, United States ⋅ Chicago, Illinois, United States

Experience Level(s):
Mid Level ⋅ Senior

Field(s):
Finance & Banking

Workplace Type:
Hybrid

Pay:
$75k–$100k/yr

Department

BSD OCR- Post Award


About the Department

The Office of Clinical Research (OCR) is the nucleus of the clinical research enterprise, providing services, training, tools and compliance oversight to support the conduct of clinical research across the entire Biological Sciences Division and University of Chicago Medicine human subject research portfolio.

The mission of the Office of Clinical Research is to catalyze clinical research by providing expertise, resources, infrastructure, and systems that facilitate clinical research operations and enable collaboration across the enterprise while promoting compliance and human subject protection on behalf of our diverse community of patients and volunteers. Together, we elevate the human experience with knowledge and health care.


Job Summary

The job provides professional support for pre-award and/or post-award activities relating to grant and contract proposals and funding within a department or unit. Pre-award activities include research, preparing applications, and editing proposals. Post-award activities include compliance monitoring, payment processing, and salary allocations. Performs work with moderate guidance and utilizes knowledge of University and business drivers.

The Clinical Trial Financial Manager provides administrative support in an intensive customer service environment for the Clinical Trial Financial Group CTFG within the Office of Clinical Research for the Biological Sciences Division.

Responsibilities

  • Serves as a primary account administrator for clinical research study accounts.

  • Creates accounts and works within the financial accounting system, Oracle.

  • Allocates, authorizes, monitors, and controls expenses on clinical research study accounts.

  • Manages check and wire-transfer deposits and earnings invoicing for industry-funded clinical trials.

  • Maintains accurate accounts receivable and payable data in OnCore CTMS and VETS (Visit Earnings Tracking System).

  • Facilitates timely reconciliation and close-out of terminated clinical trial financial accounts.

  • Maintains, oversees, reconciles, and corrects errors in accounts. Processes clinical research and core bills for payment.

  • Partners with CT Contracts Managers on budgetary amendment implementation.

  • Communicates regularly with study staff on accrual tracking and provides training in study financial management.

  • Works with other administrators on the procurement process including purchasing, internal requisitioning, and personal and travel reimbursements.

  • Partner with grants administrators to manage financial and administrative aspects

  • Project proposal preparation, submission, and post-award grant administration.

  • Advises and assists in relationship management and communications with funding agencies, subcontractors, and others.

  • Monitors expenditures on approximately 560 - 700 active individual faculty accounts.

  • Proposes solutions to discovered problems and fixes according to proper policy and compares actual spending to original budget and identifies any variances with the particular attention being paid to faculty salary.

  • Develops a working knowledge of University policies and procedures as well as a working knowledge of policies and procedures of various funding agencies.

  • Creates and maintains excel spreadsheets and databases to track Division’s clinical research.

  • Works closely with Section Administrators and Department Leadership to effectively manage faculty clinical research accounts and ensure proper spending.

  • Seeks new avenues for funding and grant opportunities and ensures that notices of relevant opportunities are brought to faculty attention. Works with sponsors to draft proposal budgets in accordance with University needs, with a moderate level of guidance and direction.

  • Handles straightforward post-award activities including account creations, regulatory and compliance monitoring, salary allocations, effort reporting, grant projections, cost allocations, cost center charges, equipment inventory, invoice preparation, grant closing process, and account closing.

  • Prepares summaries of grants and effort allocations for Principal Investigators, meets with them and responds to their questions. Coordinates with other departments/units/divisions regarding multi investigator grants. Serves as department contact for annual audits and agency site visits.

  • Performs other related work as assigned.


Minimum Qualifications

Education:

Minimum requirements include a college or university degree in related field.


Work Experience:

Minimum requirements include knowledge and skills developed through 2-5 years of work experience in a related job discipline.


Certifications:

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Preferred Qualifications

Education:

  • Bachelor's degree.

Experience:

  • Working knowledge in Oracle, Business Objects, and academic medical operations.

  • An understanding of fund accounting principles, federal and major non-federal post-award policies, allowable cost policies, and fundamental academic policies, allowable cost policies, and fundamental academic medical research accounting.

Preferred Competencies

  • Strong computer skills including word processing, database management, and spreadsheet skills.

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

  • Attention to detail.

  • Flexible and adaptable.

  • Knowledge of general accounting standards and auditing.

  • Strong organizational skills.

  • Sound financial and analytic skills.

  • Research issues and propose solutions to problems.

  • Demonstrated initiative in improving processes and enhancing systems.

  • Exercise sound judgment, discretion and tact.

  • Exceptional time management skills and the ability to handle multiple, concurrent tasks within deadlines.

  • Work with individuals from across the division and University.

  • Proficient in research methods and funding sources.

  • Expertise with clinical trials.

  • Background with federal and non-federal regulations for grant management.

  • Proficiency with fund accounting.

  • Familiarity with federal and non-federal grant and contract policies

Working Conditions

  • Office environment.

Application Documents

  • Resume (required)

  • Cover Letter (preferred)


The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

When applying, the document(s) MUST be uploaded via the My Experience page, in the section titled Application Documents of the application.


Job Family

Financial Management


Role Impact

Individual Contributor


Scheduled Weekly Hours

40


Drug Test Required

No


Health Screen Required

No


Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No


Pay Rate Type

Salary


FLSA Status

Exempt


Pay Range

$75,000.00 - $100,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.


Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.


Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.

 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.

 

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