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Date

Wednesday, 17 June 2026

Time

12:00 pm ET

Register

 https://info.grantengine.com/audit-ready-what-federal-grant-auditors-actually-look-for-and-why-it-matters-now

Duration

60 minutes (45 mins, 15 mins Q&A)

Speakers

Sam Tetlow, Nick Butterly, Neil Henry

Overview

Most organizations don’t get into trouble because they’re trying to be noncompliant. They get into trouble because they assume they can “figure it out later.” Then an audit threshold hits (or an agency request arrives), and suddenly they’re scrambling to reconstruct approvals, timesheets, invoices, and documentation that must exist as you go.

In this practical, audit-focused webinar, you’ll hear directly from an audit partner who performs federal grant audits and a grant accounting/compliance operator who has helped organizations build audit-ready systems across NIH/NSF (and beyond). We’ll walk through what auditors actually test, the most common failure modes, and the operational systems that keep you ready; without turning your finance team into full-time firefighters.

What You’ll Learn

  • Why “audit readiness” exists (and why it’s tightening right now)
  • What auditors actually sample-test in a federal grant audit (high-level)
  • The most common audit findings and where organizations get tripped up
  • The core compliance pillars that must be built day-one (not retrofitted)
  • Where there is (and isn’t) flexibility in allowability and documentation
  • Practical ways to reduce risk and stress when agencies request proof

Who Should Attend

  • SBIR/STTR awardees and teams preparing for growth in federal funding
  • CFOs, controllers, finance managers at grant-funded companies/nonprofits
  • Research administrators / operations leaders supporting sponsored programs
  • Founders and PIs responsible for compliant spending and documentation

Key Messaging

  • Federal grant compliance is not just about “allowable vs. unallowable.” It’s about evidence, approvals, and systems.
  • Timekeeping is consistently one of the biggest audit issues (signatures, approvals, completeness, accuracy, retrievability).
  • Good recordkeeping (invoices, receipts, purchasing policies) prevents downstream chaos.
  • The goal is not to teach you to DIY everything… It’s to help you recognize risks early and know what to prioritize.

 

Meet Your Speakers

Sam

Sam Tetlow is Founder & CEO of Grant Engine. Grant Engine has a proven model of delivering funding to leading life science companies through the NIH SBIR program as well as DARPA, BARDA and other DoD sources. Sam has successful experience as an entrepreneur and investor in life sciences companies such as EpiCypher (named best University Startup of 2016 by U.S. Congress), ILS Genomics, Immunologix, Gentris Corporation, and Tranzyme Pharma (IPO April, 2011) among others.

As a leader within companies Sam has a functional focus on product development, sales, finance and corporate development. Sam continues to build on his venture capital experience by investing into compelling companies as an Angel. Sam seeks results and has a proven track record.   Sam has generated a 5.8x return on invested capital, with 76% cash realization in his last 14 years of investing.

Sam holds a MBA from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School (Beta Gamma Sigma, 2003) and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (Honors, 1993). He has been on Mt. Everest, is a former competitive triathlete, and an avid proponent of doing good while doing well.

Neil Henry

As Senior Director of Operations, I bring more than a decade of experience in grant accounting, compliance, and financial operations, supporting organizations managing federally funded grants and contracts across a wide range of agencies, including the NIH, NSF, DoD, DoE, NASA, and others. I work closely with clients nationwide to design and implement scalable, audit-ready accounting systems and compliance frameworks tailored to the unique operational and regulatory requirements of each organization.

Over the course of my career, I have successfully guided clients through numerous audits and developed expertise in federal grant compliance, financial controls, and operational problem-solving. Prior to my current role, I served in various accounting and finance positions, including as Assistant Controller for a biotech startup and within a multinational investment bank, providing me with experience across both emerging and large-scale organizations.

I am particularly passionate about developing practical, customized solutions that balance compliance requirements with operational efficiency, recognizing that effective systems are rarely achieved through one-size-fits-all approaches.

 

Nick Butterly, CPA (1)

Nick is an audit partner in the Attestation Practice with ten years of experience in public accounting. Nick began his public accounting career in December 2014 with Thomas, Judy & Tucker, P.A.

Nick’s industry expertise includes:

  • Private Schools

  • Real estate and construction

  • Federal Grant Audits and Not-for-profit Entities (charitable

  • Contractors and Service Companies

  • Manufacturing and distribution

Nick graduated from Elon University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. Nick became a Certified Public Accountant in April of 2016. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the North Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants. Nick is up-to-date on all CPE.

Nick enjoys spending time with his wife (Rachel) and two young daughters, Camden (3) and Teagan (6 months)