Event
Event Details
Where:
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan, Puerto Rico
When:
March 19 - 20, 2026
March 19 - 20, 2026
Hear from Attain Partners during NCURA FRA 2026
Attain Partners is a proud sponsor of NCURA’s 27th Annual Financial Research Administration (NCURA FRA) Conference, taking place March 19 – 20 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Are you attending? Add these informative sessions to your conference agenda—or stop by Attain Partners Booths #13 and #14 to talk with our experts one-on-one. We’d love to discuss solutions for any current issues your institution may be facing. Contact us today.
Thursday, March 19
Post-Award Internal Audit Assessment Training: Strengthening Compliance and Readiness
Thursday, March 19 | 2:30p – 3:30p
This session provides a comprehensive overview of the internal audit process as it relates to post-award grants management. Designed for grants administrators, compliance officers, and research administrators, the training will demystify internal audits, clarify roles and responsibilities, and offer practical strategies to ensure audit readiness and compliance. Participants will gain insights into common audit focus areas, documentation best practices, and how to respond effectively to audit findings. Through real-world case studies and interactive discussions, attendees will leave equipped with tools to proactively manage risk, support institutional integrity, and foster a culture of continuous improvement in post-award administration.
Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Define the purpose and scope of internal audits within the context of post-award grants management.
- Identify key regulatory frameworks and audit standards, including Uniform Guidance and institutional policies.
- Describe the roles and responsibilities of post-award grants administrators during an internal audit.
- Recognize common audit focus areas such as cost principles, time and effort reporting, and unallowable costs.
- Apply best practices for audit documentation, communication tracking, and maintaining audit trails.
- Develop effective responses to audit findings, including corrective action plans and sponsor communications.
- Implement preventive measures such as internal controls, self-assessments, and ongoing training to reduce audit risks.
- Engage in scenario-based learning to practice resolving audit-related challenges in a collaborative setting.
Speakers
- Leah Acajabon, Senior Consultant, Attain Partners
When the Winds Shift: Navigating the Latest Federal Changes in Post-Award Administration
Thursday, March 19 | 2:30p – 3:30p
The winds of change are in the air. How is your organization keeping up with recent federal funding developments, how are you responding, and how are you planning to remain agile in the future? The presenters in this session will discuss their experiences and success in navigating the open waters of post-award administration over the past year. We will discuss current guidelines and polices, how we’ve responded, and what we recommend for best practices moving forward.
Learning Objectives
- We will discuss recent federal development updates and current guidelines in effect at the time of our presentation.
- We will share our experiences and real-life examples of how we responded to a whirlwind of changes.
- We will present best practices and takeaways so you all can (hopefully) sail smoothly forward in the world of post-award administration.
Speakers
- Jeff Derr, ALM, CRA, Manager, Attain Partners
- Liliana Keany, Senior Director of Cost Analysis and Financial Reporting, Howard University
When the Winds Shift: Navigating the Latest Federal Changes in Post-Award Administration (Follow-up Discussion Group)
Thursday, March 19 | 4p – 5p
The winds of change are in the air. How is your organization keeping up with recent federal funding developments, how are you responding, and how are you planning to remain agile in the future? The presenters in this session will discuss their experiences and successes in navigating the open waters of post-award administration over the past year. We will discuss current guidelines and polices, how we’ve responded, and what we recommend for best practices moving forward.
Learning Objectives
- We will discuss recent federal development updates and current guidelines in effect at the time of our presentation.
- We will share our experiences and real-life examples of how we responded to a whirlwind of changes.
- We will present best practices and takeaways so you all can (hopefully) sail smoothly forward in the world of post-award administration.
Speaker
- Jeff Derr, ALM, CRA, Manager, Attain Partners
Friday, March 20
From Bad Bunny to Bad Findings: Keeping OIG Out of Your Spotlight
Friday, March 20 | 8:30a – 9:45a
Recent results from OIG audits at several research organizations have given us insight as to what OIG is testing and looking for. Many organizations discuss audits and stress the importance of complying with them, but what are those auditors looking for in 2026? In this session, the presenters will provide a background on OIG audits, cover several recent case studies (good and bad!), and discuss how your organization can prepare for and comply if you are selected next.
Learning Objectives
- We will briefly discuss why OIG audits are happening and what they are looking for.
- We will dive into recent OIG audit results and discuss findings.
- Attendees will take away a knowledge of how to proactively manage research so as to adhere to rules and regulations enforced by OIG.
Speakers
- Jeff Derr, ALM, CRA, Manager, Attain Partners
- Kim Melville-Smith, Director of Post Award, Colorado State University
- Brigette Pfister, Financial Compliance Manager, Colorado State University
Cost Share Demystified
Friday, March 20 | 10:15a – 11:30a
This session will focus on Cost Share, inception to close. We will go over the types of cost share, the impact of cost share for both Federal and Non-federal awards, Pre and Post Award action items and tips and best practices for documenting and tracking approved cost share.
Learning Objectives
After attending this session, attendees will:
- Understand the possible types and sources of cost sharing
- Be able to identify common pitfalls and also language to watch for
- Review examples of cost sharing and their true cost
Speakers
- Leah Acajabon, Senior Consultant, Attain Partners
- Danforth Nicholas, Research Administration Manager, Dana-Farber Cancer Center
Hot Issues in Grants Including the Latest on Uniform Guidance Revisions
Friday, March 20 | 10:15a – 11:30a
Speaker
- Gil Tran, CPA, Senior Specialist Leader, Attain Partners
Saturday, March 21: Shared Workshop Day
WS06: Excel Pivot Tables and More: Practical Tools for Smarter Data Analysis
Saturday, March 21 | 8:15a – 11:45a
Are you ready to master Excel pivot tables? If you’ve been curious about them but didn’t know where to begin, here’s your chance to dive in! Pivot tables may seem complex, but with just a few simple techniques, you’ll unlock a powerful toolset for summarizing data, visualizing trends, and managing large datasets effortlessly. Join us as we explore basic pivot tables that anyone can create using general ledger data, providing you with practical skills you can start using right away. We will explore more advanced applications, showing you how to analyze data like a pro with Excel formulas and formatting techniques as well as troubleshooting common data formatting anomalies. And, to top it all off, we’ll guide you through creating replicable templates to transform and streamline your data analytics. With just a little Excel know-how and a spark of creativity, you’ll discover how pivot tables can transform your data analysis, empowering you to tackle a wide range of tasks with confidence and precision.
Learning Objectives
- Unlock the Power of Pivot Tables: Dive into the essentials of pivot tables, learning how to transform general ledger data into insightful summaries with just a few clicks.
- Master Intermediate Techniques: Explore additional pivot table techniques that allow you to model and analyze the same data in multiple, insightful ways which will uncover trends and patterns.
- Bring Your Data to Life: Elevate your analysis with visualization techniques and tools to manipulate and interpret data relevant for their purposes through replicable models.
Speakers
- Shacey Temperly, Principal, Attain Partners
- Chloe Campbell, Finance Implementation Senior Team Lead, CFO Division, University of Florida
Hear from us during NCURA PRA and the Fourth Annual AI Symposium
Indirect Cost Rate Policy Updates and Guidance
With decades of experience in the research ecosystem, Attain Partners is ready to help your institution navigate these changes.
Uniform Guidance Resources and Insights
Attain Partners brings decades of federal grants expertise to help institutions interpret evolving Uniform Guidance requirements and apply them across the research enterprise.
