Syed Ishrat Abbas

Accomplished with over 20 years of vast and diversified experience in the field of Research Management & Grants Administration, from the Pre-Award to Post-Award to Closure of the research grant. Extensive knowledge and experience in managing research grants administration including all aspects of Grants Administration, Funds Management, Financial reporting, Proficient in research projects, project management, Project specific audit.

Experience in preparing budgets for various research projects being funded by worldwide donor agencies (such as WHO, NIH Fogarty, IDRC, UNICEF, IAEA, SC USA Inc, JSI, Gates Foundation, Swiss Red Cross and many more), Funds Management, Annual Work Plan, Final Accounts, MIS reporting & supervise the specific grant audit.

Sr. Manager Research & Grants Administration - The Aga Khan University - Karachi, Pakistan

(2022-03)

Managing a team of 15 people in the Research and Grants Administration, Center of Excellence in Women and Child, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan.

• Initiating the research grants proposal along with the Principal Investigator
• Convert that proposal into a planning phase
• Convert the Planning Phase into its costing
• Prepare a project budget, based on the research planned scope of work
• Review the Granting Agencies' policies, budget guidelines and project submission mechanism
• Follow the University's internal due diligence process before submission to the granting Agency
• Follow all the guidelines as required by the Agency for the submission of the research project
• Review the Legal Agreement papers and consult with our Legal team about legality and for the safeguard of our institution
• After completing all the legal formalities, the agreement gets duly signed off
• Activate a new project in the system with a unique budget code
• Manage funds and closely monitor utilization
• Make sure utilization of funds is as per the approved budget categories and as per Granting agency's guidelines
• Prepare monthly or quarterly Grant Variance schedules and share with project PI
• Highlight the financial picture and seek advice for future programs
• Share the Financial Report with the Agency as per the need basis or as stated in the Agreement
• Prepare monthly/quarterly financial reporting to the granting agency
• Prepare monthly/quarterly grant variance report
• Approve payments from grant funding
• Approve procurements on grants
• Maintain Internal Audit mechanism to meet compliance as required
• Close the research grant as per the contract's legal terms & conditions
• Prepare the final financial report to show the status of funds received from the Agency
• Finalize the Asset disposal plan under Agency's guidelines and as per institution's own SOPs
• Ensure after completing all the close out steps the research grant gets officially closed
• Supervise the staff hiring, contract extension/conclusion
• Oversee the Annual Appraisal
• Supervise the field offices' (Outside Karachi) administrative matters, logistics, financial matters
• Handle administrative and logistics matters Karachi based Research office

Manager Research & Grants Administration - The Aga Khan University - Karachi, Pakistan

(2017-09 - 2022-02)

Assistant Manager - The Aga Khan University - Karachi, Pakistan

(2009-04 - 2017-08)

Sr. Budget Analyst - The Aga Khan University - Karachi, Pakistan

(2001-07 - 2009-03)

Senior Finance Officer - DWHP (Development of Women Health Professional Program.)

(1996-11 - 2001-01)

Accountant - Pakistan Mineral Water Bottling Plant (Pvt) Ltd.

(1992-12 - 1996-10)

Bachelors - Commerce - Karachi University