Suzanne Shearer Urban
North Wales,PA
Summary
Conscientious Grants Specialist with 10+ years of experience managing payments and contracts for clinical research trials in the pharmaceutical industry. Effective at processing payments, gathering detailed requirements, negotiating and managing contracts and tracking compliance. Known for willingness to get things done, being a productive team player and delivering on time.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Payment Analyst
ICON, formerly PRA Health Sciences
Blue Bell, PA, UNITED STATES
10.2021 - 08.2025
- Reviews and thoroughly understands executed CTAs, associated budgets and payment terms to determine payment requirements.
- Actively participates in set up calls for new studies
- Reviews budget set-up in CTMS and notify Central Budget group of any discrepancies with budget set-up
- Ensures payee details have been set up appropriately in CTMS and notifies Central Budget group immediately upon identification of discrepancies.
- Works cross functionally with Contracts, Central Budget group, SVT Coordinator, Project Management, Operations Finance, Clinical Operations and Accounts Payable to maintain integrity, timeliness and accuracy of grant payments.
- Initiates payment as per timelines outlined in executed CTA
- Monitors completed subject activities tracked via CTMS or EDC
US Census Non-Response Team Member
US Government Census Bureau
Philadelphia, PA
03.2020 - 10.2020
- Assisted with collection and verification of census data to ensure accuracy and completeness.
- Monitored compliance with federal guidelines during data collection activities to maintain integrity.
- Analyzed collected data for discrepancies, proposing corrective actions to enhance overall quality control.
Systems Analyst
ICON
Blue Bell, PA, UNITED STATES
06.2014 - 05.2018
- Provided system administration and support for investigator payment-related computing applications
- Facilitated timely and accurate delivery of investigator payments for 50+ studies ICON was contracted to conduct
- Interfaced with users to collect study setup requirements
- Completed technical setup of 50+ studies to track cohorts, office visits, and payments. Ensured 3,000 clinical sites would be accurately paid
- Key Accomplishments
Grant Payments Team Leader
DRUGDEV (FORMALLY CLINICAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC)
Wayne, PA, UNITED STATES
01.2013 - 06.2014
- Ensured medical professionals around the world were paid quickly and accurately for the work they completed
- Supervised 2 Grant Payment Specialists
- Maintained client and sponsor documents and records
- Reviewed legal contracts and extracted key data
- Managed and updated client banking information
- Communicated effectively with sponsors and payees regarding payments and associated documentation
- Responsible for data integrity of contract terms as entered into designated computing systems
- Key Accomplishments
Contracts Analyst
PRA FORMERLY RESEARCH PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, INC.
Blue Bell, PA, UNITED STATES
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Negotiated and finalized 100+ Clinical Trial Agreements (CTAs) with clinical trial project sites
- Drafted investigator grants according to sponsor’s grant pricing guidelines; utilized grant development databases
- Tracked documents and metrics
- Reduced cycle time, created savings, improved efficiency in initiation of clinical trial sites
- Reviewed and analyzed 100+ clinical trial agreements
- Managed contract amendments
- Assured contractual terms were in compliance with sponsors’ process, systems, and strategies
- Escalated any site specific issues that did not comply with established guidelines for contractual language and investigational budgets
- Key Accomplishments
Administrative Assistant
AGILE 1 / MERCK PROGRAM
Torrance, CA, UNITED STATES
01.2008 - 01.2011
- Supported an Associate Director by handling calendar management and special projects
- Supported a group of Medical Program Financial Specialists by processing payments for 1,000+ Consultants, Experimental Medicine and Clinical Pharmacology studies in Merck Grants & Consultant System (MGCS)
- Researched invoices and payment discrepancies
- Created grant reconciliations for Clinical Pharmacology studies
- Routed contracts to Financial Specialists for approval
- Key Accomplishments
Sample Accountability Analyst
MERCK & CO INC.
West Point, PA, UNITED STATES
03.1998 - 06.2004
- Audited inventories of sales representatives who fell outside the allowed variance in sample control
- Provided compliance support for field representatives and Business Managers in the Southeast Regional Business Group
- Key Accomplishments
Education
Bachelor of Science - Marketing/Management
Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA12.1983
High School - Academic
North Penn High School
Lansdale, PA06.1978
Skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Excellent communication
- Customer service
Timeline
Payment Analyst
ICON, formerly PRA Health Sciences
10.2021 - 08.2025
US Census Non-Response Team Member
US Government Census Bureau
03.2020 - 10.2020
Systems Analyst
ICON
06.2014 - 05.2018
Grant Payments Team Leader
DRUGDEV (FORMALLY CLINICAL FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLC)
01.2013 - 06.2014
Contracts Analyst
PRA FORMERLY RESEARCH PHARMACEUTICAL SERVICES, INC.
01.2011 - 01.2013
Administrative Assistant
AGILE 1 / MERCK PROGRAM
01.2008 - 01.2011
Sample Accountability Analyst
MERCK & CO INC.
03.1998 - 06.2004
High School - Academic
North Penn High School
Bachelor of Science - Marketing/Management
Elizabethtown College