Program Manager, Finance - GI Medical Oncology
Mission Statement
The mission of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is to eliminate cancer in Texas, the nation, and the world through outstanding programs that integrate patient care, research and prevention, and through education for undergraduate and graduate students, trainees, professionals, employees and the public.
Summary
This position is responsible for overseeing the financial management of clinical trials, including budget development, revenue cycle, and expenditure tracking. It involves ensuring compliance with sponsor agreements and internal policies, preparing detailed financial reports, and managing the financial performance of multiple trials. The role also includes leading and mentoring a team, driving process improvements, and collaborating with clinical operations to align financial goals with project objectives. Additionally, the position supports strategic planning, risk management, and provides recommendations to senior leadership for optimizing trial budgets and ensuring financial efficiency across clinical research operations.
Job-Specific Competencies
Research Finance Management and Strategic Planning
Research Finance Operations and Reporting (30%)
Oversee the financial management of a portfolio of clinical trials, ensuring efficient allocation of financial resources based on priority and strategic objectives.
Facilitate fund reallocation, inactivation, and setup to ensure accurate financial tracking, consistent with institutional policies and sponsor agreements.
Manage daily departmental research financial operations, ensuring compliance with all internal policies, sponsor agreements, and institutional regulations.
Evaluate internal control systems to ensure the integrity of financial operations and update policies as necessary to ensure compliance and efficiency.
Monitor income and expenses for clinical research, donor funds, and faculty funding, ensuring that funds are properly allocated and spent in accordance with sponsor guidelines.
Develop and present complex monthly financial reports using tools such as Excel, Access, SmartView, PeopleSoft, OBIEE, and Power BI, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and transparency.
Prepare and submit financial reports to sponsors, ensuring compliance with sponsor guidelines, contractual agreements, and institutional policies.
Lead monthly/quarterly financial meetings to review account balances, deficits, invoices, revenue, and expense projections, providing specialized financial reports as requested.
Prepare and submit ad-hoc financial analysis reports for senior management and stakeholders to assist in decision-making processes.
Engage with sponsors, clinical research teams, and stakeholders regarding financial updates, budget changes, and compliance issues.
Communicate effectively with PIs and project managers to resolve any financial discrepancies, ensuring a smooth flow of financial information between departments and external partners.
Ensure that financial discrepancies are addressed promptly and in accordance with sponsor and institutional policies, maintaining the integrity of the financial data.
Utilize clinical research financial systems and tools to ensure the accuracy and compliance of all financial transactions and records.
Continuously assess and enhance the efficiency of financial systems used in the clinical research environment, identifying opportunities for improvements in tracking, reporting, and reconciliation.
Clinical Research Revenue Cycle and Expenditure Management (30%)
Review and validate revenue and financial data to support strategic planning and decision-making.
Lead high-level analysis of departmental revenue and financial performance, collaborating closely with department leadership to identify trends and improvement opportunities.
Develop and implement systems to track research revenue, monitor project milestones, and provide regular financial analysis to Principal Investigators (PIs) and department heads.
Ensure timely invoicing and collection of funds from sponsors, based on established project milestones, while keeping faculty informed about regulatory changes that may affect financial processes.
Manage the processing of NSCT (Non-Sponsored Clinical Trials) and revenue transfer requests, ensuring all requests are properly documented and comply with financial protocols.
Maintain well-organized files for sponsored projects, ensuring all fiscal documentation is accurate and accessible for auditing and reporting purposes.
Oversee the On Account process, ensuring that all outstanding financial items are processed promptly and correctly.
Prepare and submit adjusting and closing entries, ensuring the accuracy of financial statements and compliance with institutional and sponsor requirements.
Oversee the closeout of research projects, ensuring that all expenses are captured and invoiced in a timely manner.
Work closely with department Clinical Research staff, Clinical Research Finance (CRF), Grants and Contracts Administration (GCA) teams to ensure timely processing of invoices and revenue, coordinating to resolve any discrepancies that arise.
Oversee the reconciliation of financial systems (e.g., EPIC and Armada), ensuring accurate tracking of expenses and invoicing, and resolving discrepancies in real time.
Advise clinical research teams on fund reallocation and transfer processes, ensuring that budget adjustments are made in compliance with sponsor policies and institutional guidelines.
Resolve financial discrepancies related to clinical trials, providing clear guidance to research teams on expense tracking, invoicing, and compliance matters to maintain financial accuracy and integrity.
Lead the reporting and analysis of clinical research revenue, providing insight into departmental financial performance and helping to identify areas for improvement or cost-saving opportunities.
Clinical Research Budget and Forecast (30%)
Assist in the preparation and planning of the department's annual budget and financial forecast, ensuring alignment with departmental goals and business objectives.
Prepare and input data for annual revenue and expense budgets, participate in budget planning meetings, and submit capital equipment budget requests as needed.
Oversee the planning, development, and management of budgets for clinical trials, ensuring financial resources are allocated efficiently across multiple trials.
Develop and manage complex financial reports across multiple clinical trials for Principal Investigators (PIs) and department leadership, ensuring clarity and accuracy.
Ensure accurate and comprehensive budget forecasting, covering site costs, investigator fees, patient recruitment, lab work, monitoring visits, and other trial-related expenses.
Collaborate with clinical operations and project management teams to align financial goals with operational plans and timelines.
Continuously monitor actual versus forecasted trial expenditures, identifying potential cost overruns and opportunities for savings, and implementing corrective actions as necessary.
Provide regular financial reports and analysis to senior leadership, highlighting key trends, risks, and opportunities for financial optimization.
Lead the preparation of financial forecasts and adjustments for clinical trials, accounting for changes in study scope, timelines, and unforeseen costs.
Identify and assess financial risks across clinical trials and proactively manage risk mitigation strategies.
Provide input on the potential impact of financial risks, supporting decision-making regarding budget adjustments and prioritization of trials.
Participate in negotiating contracts with vendors, Contract Research Organizations (CROs), and clinical sites, ensuring that financial terms align with trial budgets and objectives.
Collaborate with research teams, sponsors, and vendors on fund transfers, budget amendments, and other financial adjustments, ensuring timely and accurate processing.
Implement and maintain financial tracking systems to monitor clinical trial milestones, deliverables, and financial progress, ensuring accuracy and alignment with project goals.
Identify and implement process improvements to streamline the budget development, tracking, and reporting processes.
Stay current on industry best practices, tools, and technologies for clinical trial budgeting and financial management, ensuring continuous improvement in financial operations.
Work closely with senior leadership to develop long-term strategic financial goals and plans for clinical trial operations, ensuring alignment with overall business objectives.
Drive the financial strategy for clinical development, providing key insights on resource allocation, cost projections, and long-term budget impacts.
Provide strategic recommendations to senior management on optimizing trial budgets, improving financial performance, and ensuring alignment with corporate priorities.
Take a strategic role in managing vendor contracts, ensuring all financial terms support trial objectives and budgets.
Analyze historical performance and financial data to inform future vendor negotiations and identify cost-saving opportunities.
Oversee the management of protocol budgets, including salary allocations and invoicing, ensuring compliance with institutional and sponsor guidelines.
Proactively manage and adjust budgets in response to evolving project needs, working closely with PIs and project managers to align financial resources with operational goals.
Maintain and manage databases related to protocol budgets, ensuring all financial data is accurate and up to date.
Ensure all financial
