Research Finance Officer

Essential Qualifications and Skills

• Degree (Level 8) in a relevant area.

• Experience supporting research funding applications, financial administration, grant administration or project administration involving budget preparation, financial review or compliance processes.

• Experience preparing, reviewing or analysing budgets.

• Strong numerical and analytical skills.

• Excellent organisational and communication skills.

• Experience working with multiple stakeholders and deadlines.

• Strong Excel and MS Office skills.

Desirable Qualifications and Skills

• Professional qualification in accountancy.

• Experience within a higher education, research or innovation environment.

• Knowledge of national and European research funding programmes.

• Familiarity with research costing methodologies.

• Awareness of State Aid principles and public funding requirements.

• Experience using research management or finance systems.

• Experience in designing or adapting user-focused tools (e.g. budget models, reporting templates, dashboards) to improve processes and support staff.

Overview of the Role

Atlantic Technological University (ATU) is seeking to appoint a Research Finance Pre-Award Officer to support the development of high-quality research funding applications by providing financial and budgetary expertise to academic and research staff. The post holder will prepare and review proposal budgets, advise on funder financial requirements, and coordinate the financial approval process for funding applications. Working closely with researchers, the Finance Office, Research Development Officers and other professional services departments, the role ensures that proposals are costed accurately and submitted in accordance with funder and institutional requirements. The post holder will also support the financial handover of successful projects to Finance and relevant post-award support teams.

Catalysing Research and Innovation for Regional Prosperity: RISE@ATU

ATU’s transformative and ambitious TU RISE programme (RISE@ATU) invests European Regional Development Funds to progress Ireland’s Smart Specialisation Strategy for Innovation (S3) in the Northern and Western region. RISE@ATU will advance institutional Research and Innovation (R&I) capacity while delivering tangible benefits to enterprises, empowering diverse beneficiaries, and ultimately fostering regional prosperity and cohesion. TU RISE is co-financed by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the ERDF Southern, Eastern & Midland Regional Programme 2021-27 and the Northern & Western Regional Programme 2021-27.

Duties

• Support researchers in the development of budgets for national, European and other externally funded research and innovation proposals.

• Prepare, review and validate project costings and budgets and interpret funding call financial requirements to support the development of accurate, compliant and competitive funding proposals.

• Advise Principal Investigators and research teams on eligible costs, funding rules and budget preparation.

• Work closely with the Finance Office to ensure proposals are costed in accordance with institutional financial policies and procedures.

• Liaise with Research Development Officers and other professional services staff to support the preparation and submission of funding applications.

• Coordinate the financial review and approval process for research funding proposals prior to submission.

• Maintain accurate records of proposal budgets, approvals, submissions and funding outcomes.

• Undertake a preliminary review of proposal eligibility and institutional compliance requirements and refer complex matters, including potential State Aid considerations, to appropriate colleagues for advice and resolution.

• Develop and maintain budget templates, guidance materials and related documentation to support researchers.

• Contribute to the delivery of training and information sessions on research costing, budgeting and funder financial requirements.

• Support the research information systems (RIMS) and CRM platforms to track funding applications and project lifecycles.

• Support the financial handover of successful projects to the Finance Office and relevant post-award support teams.

• Contribute to the continuous improvement of research support processes, systems and procedures.

• Undertake such other duties appropriate to the grade as may be assigned from time to time.

Salary

Salary Scale (€58,476 – 71,440)

Candidates external to the sector may be appointed up to the 3rd Point (€61,569) of the Salary Scale in accordance with University Policy

Hours of Work

35 hours per week