Heather Grassi
UCSD Cellular and Molecular Medicine
ESCONDIDO
26
years of professional experience
Experienced with strategic planning, financial analysis, and process optimization. Utilizes collaborative approach to drive team success and adapt to dynamic business needs. Track record of improving operational efficiency and achieving business objectives.
Work History
Department Business Officer
4 Years 4 Months- Developed and implemented strategic plans aligning with organizational goals.
- Analyzed financial reports to inform budgetary decisions and resource allocation.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams to improve project outcomes and collaboration.
- Streamlined operational processes to enhance departmental efficiency.
- Mentored junior staff members, promoting professional growth and a positive work environment.
- Built strong relationships with key stakeholders to foster collaboration and ensure project success.
- Led initiatives to optimize resource management, reducing operational costs significantly.
- Made the organization-wide financial decisions aligned with long-term fiscal health of the organization.
Director of Finance
3 Years 7 Months- Financial Operations:
- Oversee $75 million operating budget for a twelve division department.
- Key financial support to the AVC, Department Chair and Division Chiefs.
- Monitored and analyzed department operational expenses and budget expenditures, providing variance findings to ensure fiscal accountability.
- Provide financial consultation, perform analytical studies at the highest levels and oversee the preparation of financial expenditure reports.
- Provided recommendations, forecasts, and reporting for fund transfers and department reserves to optimize financial management.
- With AVC, completion of department budget and variance and reserves reports.
- Work closely with AVC and Chair in the development of cost savings strategies and other operational matters at the department level.
- Faculty Compensation:
- Work with AVC and Division Chiefs on clinical compensation plans.
- Oversight and administration of annual faculty salary budgeting process to include an analysis of salary sources, preparation of salary profiles/FSWs, and adjustment of salaries consistent with negotiated agreements.
- Performed salary analysis to support faculty salary negotiations. Recommended strategies for salary adjustments.
- Monitor use of salary savings and Faculty FTEs.
- Monitor faculty payroll activity and incentives, including monthly Z payments.
- Academic and Staff Personnel:
- Involvement in Faculty recruitment, new appointment files, and academic review. Postdoc and Project/Research Scientist appointments and re-appointments.
- Experience in working through and implementing corrective action plans.
- PPS (prior to HR Service Corps utilization).
- Work with AVC and Chair to determine staffing plans based on strategic goals and resources.
- Department Administration:
- Oversight of Department and SOM space reviews.
- Oversight of facilities and IT support.
- Serve as secondary reviewer and signer of Sponsored Project forms
Assistant Department Business Officer
11 Years 6 Months- Assistant Department Business Officer (effective 10/2015)
- Previously: Fiscal Core Manager
- 9/17 – 08/18, Acting Department Business Officer
- All aspects of Department administrative, fiscal, and staffing management.
- Financial Operations:
- Oversee $40 million operating budget for a four division department.
- Key financial support to the AVC and Department Chair.
- Monitor and analyze department operational expenses, expenditures to budget and provide variance findings. Ensure fiscal accountability.
- Provided recommendations, forecasts, and reports for fund transfers and department reserves to enhance financial planning and resource allocation.
- With AVC, completion of department budget and variance and reserves reports.
- Work closely with AVC in development of cost savings strategies and other operational matters at the department level.
- Research and Sponsored Projects Management:
- Conducted financial analysis, managed fiscal operations, and administered a full range of extramural grants, contracts, subcontracts, and service agreements totaling approximately $18 million.
- Effectively supervises all members of the Fiscal Core Unit, including assignment of duties and monitoring of workload and work product of unit members.
- Primary responsibility for the training of new fund managers, fiscal assistants and faculty training on department, university, and agency regulations, policies, and procedures.
- Solve complex grant- and fiscal-related problems and address faculty concerns.
- Manage the administration of the service agreement process from contract to billing and collection to ensure compliance with SOM, contract requirements, Department and University policies and procedures.
- Analyzed internal controls and recommended improvements, developing office procedures aligned with University and agency guidelines.
- Responsible for all aspects of management of funds awarded to the Department of Pathology.
- Served as the key liaison for the department to Research Service Core, HSSPPO, OCGA, and OPAFS, providing recommendations, oversight, and implementing changes as departmental services evolved.
- Faculty Compensation:
- Work with AVC and Division Chiefs on clinical compensation plans.
- Oversight and administration of annual faculty salary budgeting process to include an analysis of salary sources, preparation of salary profiles / FSWs, SALPRO, and adjustment of salaries consistent with negotiated agreements.
- Prepare necessary analysis for negotiation of faculty salaries. Advise and make recommendations on faculty salary issues.
- Monitor use of salary savings and Faculty FTEs.
- Monitor faculty payroll activity and incentives, including monthly Z payments.
- Academic and Staff Personnel:
- Participated in faculty recruitment, managed new appointment files, and conducted academic reviews, including postdoc and project/research scientist appointments and re-appointments.
- Writing and reviewing job cards.
- Experience in working through and implementing corrective action plans.
- Work with AVC and Chair to determine staffing plans based on strategic goals and resources.
- Department Administration:
- Oversight of Department and SOM space reviews.
- Oversight of facilities and IT support.
- Serve as primary reviewer and MSO/DBO signer of Sponsored Project forms (e.g., ePD, PI Exceptions)
Grant Specialist
9 Months- Prepared agency billings and supporting documentation for complex Navy delivery and foreign entity awards, ensuring compliance with federal and private funding requirements.
- Managed resource development, application of awards, and date management for extramural funding, facilitating successful funding acquisition.
- Maintained a comprehensive database of historical and multi-year statistical information to support informed decision-making.
Grant Specialist
5 Years 6 Months- Previous: Fiscal Assistant and Administrative Assistant
- Directly responsible for the fiscal management, analysis, and administration of sponsored projects totaling $7.3 million dollars for faculty, postdocs and fellows.
- Broad scope of awarding agencies and types of grants include NIH research grants, Program Projects (PPG) and SCOR grants; federal and international fellowships; federal, state and private contracts.
- Maintained budgets and approved all expenditures.
- Generated monthly fund summary reports for PIs detailing current expenditures, projections, and balances of contracts and grants.
- Assisted fund managers in award management with award management, i.e. monthly ledger reconciliation to ensure compliance with University and agency regulations.
- Processed check requests for memberships and reimbursements (e.g. memberships, subscriptions, reimbursements) and travel reimbursement.
- Acted as purchasing agent for Center for Aids research and AIDS research laboratory.
Education
Skills
Budget oversight
Sponsored Projects Administration
Operations Management
Compensation Analysis
Financial forecasting
Data Management and Analysis
Regulatory Compliance
Human Resource Strategy and Employee Relations
Verbal communication
Continuing Education, over 100 classes
- Continuing education efforts demonstrate dedication to improving utility and contribution to the organization. Representative courses listed below. In addition to classes taken, I have been an instructor in Research administration A-Z.
- Financial
- Fund management A-Z, Research administration A-Z, IFIS/Financial Link 101 & 102, DSA basics, Contract and grant financial management, Accounting principles, Transaction sampling, Operating and encumbrance ledgers, Risk-based financial analysis, Financiallink: 100% Reconciliation, My funds, Purchasing and pay auth, Express card, Purchasing online training, Cost Accounting Standards, Microsoft computer courses.
- Management
- Supervisory Training Laboratory (9 days), Risk management, Middle Management Advance (Multi-Year), Practice of listening, How to communicate with practically anyone, Building productivity through respect and dignity, Developing your assertive skills, Behavioral threat training.
- Academic Personnel and HR
- Faculty Compensation A-Z, PPS (9 classes), Diversity education.
- Research
- NIH grant preparation, Post Award Administration Workshop, Subcontracts Process and Administration, UCSD Gift processing, UC San Diego Foundation Financial.
Timeline
Department Business Officer
UCSD Cellular and Molecular Medicine
04.2022 - CurrentRead More
Director of Finance
UCSD Surgery
09.2018 - 04.2022Read More
Assistant Department Business Officer
UCSD Pathology
02.2007 - 08.2018Read More
Grant Specialist
UCSD Scripps Institute of Oceanography
04.2006 - 01.2007Read More
Grant Specialist
UCSD Medicine
10.2000 - 04.2006Read More
Grossmont College
Read More