The Lead, Research Administration provides advanced financial and administrative oversight for pediatric clinical trials and research programs, with a primary focus on post-award financial management and revenue cycle performance of Neurology and Genetics porfolio studies. This role ensures timely invoicing, billing accuracy, financial reconciliation, and optimization of accounts receivable to support sustainable research operations. Serving as a subject matter expert, the position partners with institutional leadership, stakeholders, investigators, and sponsors to enhance financial compliance and revenue realization. The role also contributes to process improvement, staff development, and institutional initiatives that strengthen research finance operations.

The role is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement after completing onboarding and training on site. Employees working a hybrid schedule may be asked to attend in person meeting and trainings.

Employees with CRA certification are eligible for certification pay.

Job Duties

Billing, Invoicing & Revenue Cycle Management

• Leads study billing and invoicing processes, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and contract alignment
• Monitors accounts receivable, aging, and collections; resolves payment delays
• Identifies and mitigates revenue leakage risks, including underpayments and billing discrepancies
• Implements standardized billing workflows to improve revenue cycle performance

Financial Management & Reporting

• Oversees financial management of clinical trials and research portfolios, including budget development, forecasting, and long-range financial projections
• Performs financial reconciliation and variance analysis to ensure alignment with budgets and contractual terms
• Provides detailed financial reporting and analysis to investigators and leadership
• Monitors study expenditures and ensures compliance with sponsor and institutional requirements
• Tracks, and reports on key financial performance indicators (KPIs), including study margins, accounts receivable (AR) aging, invoice cycle times, revenue realization rates, and cash collections
• Analyzes and communicates trends, risks, and variances in clinical trial financial performance, providing leadership with insight to support strategic and operational decisions

Post-Award Administration

• Oversees post-award lifecycle activities including award setup, tracking, modifications, and renewals
• Ensures billing plans, invoicing schedules, and payment milestones are executed per contract
• Maintains compliance with sponsor, federal, and institutional requirements
• Leads reconciliation of study accounts and issue resolution

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Serves as liaison between institutional offices, investigators, sponsors, research teams and CRA clinical trial finance team members
• Coordinates with finance, contracting, legal, and compliance teams
• Provides guidance on billing, financial compliance, and post-award processes

Process Improvement & Strategic Initiatives

• Leads or contributes to initiatives to improve billing accuracy, AR performance, and workflows
• Identifies opportunities to enhance efficiency, scalability, and compliance
• Supports policy development and process standardization

Leadership, Mentorship & Training

• Provides mentorship and guidance to research administration staff
• Develops and delivers training on billing, reconciliation, and research finance
• Acts as a departmental resource for complex financial and compliance issues
• Provides financial oversight for Pediatric Neurology and Genetic clinical research portfolios
• Supports complex research programs including multi-site, collaborative, and international studies
• Acts as subject matter expert in clinical trial finance, billing compliance, and revenue cycle optimization
• Supports audit readiness and compliance monitoring activities
• Aligns study budgets, contracts, coverage analysis, and invoicing practices to ensure accuracy and compliance
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree. Certified Research Administrator certification through the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC) may substitute for the degree requirement.
• Six years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Six years of experience in clinical trial finance, or post-award management
• Strong knowledge of clinical trial billing compliance, sponsor regulations, and post-award processes
• Experience with financial reporting, forecasting, and revenue cycle management
• Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills
• Experience working with complex research portfolios and cross-functional teams
• Certified Research Administrator certification through the Research Administrators Certification Council (RACC)