Marla Harris
Wexford,PA
Summary
Strong leader and problem-solver dedicated to streamlining operations to decrease costs and promote organizational efficiency. Uses independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact company success. Encouraging manager and analytical problem-solver with talents for team building, leading and motivating, as well as excellent customer relations aptitude and relationship-building skills. Proficient in using independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to positively impact company success. Dedicated to applying training, monitoring and morale-building abilities to enhance employee engagement and boost performance.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director, Research and Sponsored Program Adm
Allegheny Health Network Of Highmark Health
08.2023 - Current
- Executive team lead responsible to provide administrative leadership, financial management and daily oversight Allegheny Health Network's AHN Research Institute and Highmark Health's newly formed Highmark Health Research Institute, standalone 501(c)(3). Effectively works with organizational leadership to guide operational strategy for clinical, translational, and other sponsored programs.
- Directs and leads operations of five centralized administrative units including Office of Grants and Contracts, Office of Sponsored Research, Post-award Services, Accounting and Reporting, and Clinical Trial Billing. Lead team of twenty-five professionals.
- Oversees award/program lifecycle and regulatory processes to best serve researchers, academic principals and program directors ensuring compliance with proposal submissions and onboarding grants/contracts (average ~350 funded programs) and clinical trial agreements/programs (average ~250 trials open to enrollment).
- Perform new program or existing program feasibility studies and/or analysis to determine financial impact and operational effects of program expansion/elimination.
- Ensures appropriate financial controls and , fiduciary stewardship consistent with missions and goals of external and internal constituents.
- Ensures compliance with federal, state, local regulations governing research and sponsored program activities related to operations and administration of such programs.
- Develops and implements institutional policies related to all applicable regulations related topical areas and effectively communicates to executives, researchers, academic principals, and administrative staff.
- Prepare annual budget, financial forecasts, and manage budget effectively to ensure optimal use of resources while maintaining financial stability.
- Developed high-performing teams by providing mentorship, guidance, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Negotiates favorable, compliant and high-quality financial and non-financial agreements for translational, clinical and other sponsored programs (includes but not limited to funding, collaboration, subawards, contracted service, material transfer, non-disclosure, and data use agreements).
- Other responsibilities include but not limited to: physician/staff recruitment, 990 reporting, academic training labs, organizing annual internship program, development and management of recharge centers, space planning, and personnel effort planning and reporting.
- Responsible for compliant Uniform Guidance, program specific, and agency audits. Prepare SEFA and COSO's.
- Responsible for preparation and negotiation of facility and administrative and fringe benefit rate proposal with Department of Health and Human Services.
- Collaborate with other administrative departments and clinical institutes to achieve organizational goals, fostering teamwork across various functions.
- Identify requirements and research solutions for information technology needs to support fast-growing infrastructure. Successful rollout of IT projects of clinical trial management system (CTMS) and Oracle Cloud Financials.
Director of Fiscal Operations
University Of Pittsburgh, School Of Medicine
03.2004 - 08.2013
- Senior level associate responsible for advancing and implementing executive management's strategic planning initiatives and business operational priorities.
- Responsible for development, managing and reporting of overall operating, core facility service centers, restricted, and grant and contract budget portfolio totaling ~$25 million.
- Management and oversight areas included: proposal development and pre-award administration; budgeting and pro forma analysis; grant/contract negotiations; oversight for sponsor and institutional regulatory and audit compliance; program and project management; accounting, forecasting, and financial reporting; purchasing, contracting and expense processing; personnel planning and administration; benchmarking and statistical analysis; database management; and space analysis and distribution.
- Instrumental role within executive management team ensuring visionary, operational, programmatic, faculty/student, and facility matters were addressed timely and running efficiently.
- Lead team of five professionals.
Independent Consultant
Institute For Transfusion Medicine
10.2011 - 06.2013
- Provided professional expertise, guidance, and staff training in managing externally sponsored programs including federal contracts.
- Services included sponsored award and contract assessment, interpretation and management functions meeting financial, audit and reporting requirements.
- Assisted with drafting subcontracts and negotiation of contract language.
Supervisor, Research Accounting and Reporting
Children's Hospital Of Pittsburgh UPMC
01.1997 - 03.2004
- Responsible for financial management and reporting of Children's Hospital annual research budget totaling $40 million.
- Duties included general ledger; cash flow; billing and accounts receivables; asset management; budget forecasting, actual, and variance reporting; contract review and pricing; report writing; space analysis and allocation; cost accounting; and financial reporting to all external Sponsors.
- Prepared facility and administrative cost, fringe benefit, and patient care rate proposals for negotiations with Department of Health and Human Services.
- Coordinated month-end financial closing, and prepared financial statements for executives and Board of Directors.
- Monitored federal regulations, identified policy needs, and provided resolution of internal policy to maintain compliance with regulatory statutes.
- Prepared training presentations and manuals and conducted educational training sessions on functional use of systems, and changes of policies and procedures.
- Acted as prime liaison with both internal and external auditors ensuring compliance with OMB A-133 and program specific audits.
- Contributed to development and implementation, acting as functional lead, for PeopleSoft Financials, and Grants Management system install and associated upgrades.
- Coordinated business processes and associated reporting between University of Pittsburgh, UPMC, UPP, and Children's.
- Supervised five professional staff members.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Accounting And Business Management
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Edinboro, PA12.1993
Master Certificate - Contract Management
Villanova University
Villanova, PALeadership Development Program -
Center For Creative Leadership
San Diego, CAGrants Management Certificate Program - Recipient Track
Management Concepts
Vienna, VASkills
- Team leadership and Mentoring
- Empowers others
- Project management
- Process improvement
- Problem solver
- Agile and adaptable
- Financial minded, ANALYTICAL
- Full cycle award, grant and contract management
- Contract and budget negotiations
- Advanced financial management, reporting, and accountability
- Audit compliance
- Expert knowledge in federal programs (DOD, DOE, FEMA, HRSA, NIH, SAMHSA, Treasury, USDA, etc)
- 2 CFR 200 compliance
- GAAP
- Medicare coverage analysis
- Quick leaner
Certification
- Certified Research Administrator (CRA) Research Administrators Council - Certification # 200510690
System and Computer Competencies
Advance knowledge and experience with Oracle Cloud, Workday Human Capital and Payroll, Strata (budget application), Salesforce for Personnel Activity Report Certification, Allscripts Financials, Clinical Conductor – Clinical Trial Management System (CTMS), Financial Record Systems (FRS), PeopleSoft, financial queries and report writing, on-line purchasing systems such as Coupa, Grants Administrator, and Microsoft Professional Suite.
Timeline
Director, Research and Sponsored Program Adm
Allegheny Health Network Of Highmark Health
08.2023 - Current
Independent Consultant
Institute For Transfusion Medicine
10.2011 - 06.2013
Director of Fiscal Operations
University Of Pittsburgh, School Of Medicine
03.2004 - 08.2013
Supervisor, Research Accounting and Reporting
Children's Hospital Of Pittsburgh UPMC
01.1997 - 03.2004
Bachelor of Science - Accounting And Business Management
Edinboro University of Pennsylvania
Master Certificate - Contract Management
Villanova University
Leadership Development Program -
Center For Creative Leadership
Grants Management Certificate Program - Recipient Track
Management Concepts
- Certified Research Administrator (CRA) Research Administrators Council - Certification # 200510690
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