Lead Award Accountant - 138859

Business & Financial Services (BFS) at UC San Diego is a dynamic and essential part of the university's financial operations, overseen by the Assistant Vice Chancellor and UC San Diego Controller. BFS is comprised of several specialized divisions that collectively manage the university's financial resources and supports UC San Diego's academic and research mission. These divisions include Office of the Controller, Cash, Banking Receivables Management, InternalControls & Accounting, Portfolio Optimization & Finance Support, Sponsored Projects Finance, and Student Financial Solutions.

With an annual budget of approximately $20 million, BFS offers a collaborative and innovative environment where more than 150 career staff and a diverse team of student assistants, contractors, and casual employees work together to form the backbone of the university's financial infrastructure.

The Sponsored Projects Finance (SPF) division at UC San Diego is a cornerstone of financial oversight and compliance, managing $1.7billion in research funding-approximately 60% of the university's portfolio. Supporting more than 4,000 active research awards across the Health Sciences, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and General Campus, SPF ensures regulatory compliance, provides strategic guidance to principal investigators, department staff, and leadership, and drives continuous business process improvements. SPF empowers campus stakeholders with essential financial tools and training, enhancing their ability to navigate complex research funding requirements. Through its comprehensive services-including financial reporting, accounts receivable and cash management, effort reporting, payroll and expense transfer approvals, and cost share monitoring-SPF upholds the university's commitment to financial integrity, cost accountability, and the advancement of its research mission.

Incumbent serves as Lead Award Accountant, Academic Affairs, within Sponsored Projects Finance ---a division of Business and Financial Services (BFS). This position is considered subject matter expert and serves in a senior capacity to the division and the campus in support of sponsored research by providing exceptional post award financial management, to include support to campus departments and sponsoring agencies/entities.

Under the direction of the Assistant Director, incumbent provides work direction and oversight to a team of Award Accountants, promoting employee development directly through training and review of work performed, and ensuring standardization and compliance with funding entity regulations. This position is responsible for managing sponsored research awards of mixed complexity and for multiple sub-awards milestone reporting. Independently resolves unique issues and post award problems without precedent or structure. Incumbent also applies knowledge and education in direct support of federal regulatory compliance and continuously strives to identify areas of risk and actively implement mitigation processes and strategies. This position works directly with divisional staff and campus departments to identify areas of opportunity for quality improvement and provide leadership and guidance for new initiatives to achieve operational efficiency. Incumbent also serves in a critical role to promote partnership between SPF, the campus departments, and the sponsoring agencies. This position is one of four Lead Award Accountant positions within the division serving the Vice Chancellor's areas. All Lead Award Accountants assist in coordinating activities between assigned Vice Chancellor areas to ensure operating standards are established and maintained across the three Vice Chancellor teams.

• Work Schedule: the role is structured within a hybrid work environment, with a current expectation of two days on-site and three days of remote work, subject to change based on departmental and operational requirements.

• Extensive knowledge of program administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment.

• Demonstrated experience managing sponsored project finance transactions; ability to work independently with minimal direction, effectively prioritize responsibilities, and meet multiple conflicting deadlines to produce quality results. Ability to manage high volume and complex transactions.

• Demonstrated advanced knowledge of generally accepted accounting, fiscal, and reporting principles. Experience applying accounting and reporting principles in a sponsored project or post-award environment.

• Full knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulation, Code of Federal Regulations, sponsor-specific policies, intellectual property policy, conflict of interest requirements, publication rights, application of indirect cost rates, and other complex concepts in research administration.

• Proven comprehensive knowledge of contracts and grants post-award administration, especially relating to effort reporting, cost transfers, and cost sharing.

• Ability to perform highly complex financial analysis and customized reporting. Demonstrated analytical skills, ability to comprehend and reconcile financial data, and perform mathematical computations with accuracy in relation to post-award compliance, terms, and restrictions.

• Demonstrated advanced competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, fiscal management, and financial reports.

• Demonstrated experience supporting faculty, principal investigators, department administrators, central offices, and external sponsors with post-award/sponsored projects finance. Ability to maintain independent judgment; strong organization and communication skills; and a customer service focus across broad and diverse subject areas.

• Proven ability to apply independent judgment in interpreting award terms and conditions, sponsor regulations, and institutional policies to resolve complex financial issues and make sound decisions. Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills with the ability to exercise discretion, confidentiality, diplomacy, and professionalism in managing sensitive financial and compliance matters and maintaining effective working relationships.

• Maintains knowledge of and ability to interpret and apply sponsor, institutional, and departmental policies. Knowledge of current compliance regulations in all areas of research administration.

• Job offer is contingent upon satisfactory clearance based on Background Check results.

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Misconduct Disclosure Requirement: As a condition of employment, the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer.

a. "Misconduct" means any violation of the policies governing employee conduct at the applicant's previous place of employment, including, but not limited to, violations of policies prohibiting sexual harassment, sexual assault, or other forms of harassment, or discrimination, as defined by the employer. For reference, below are UC's policies addressing some forms of misconduct:

• UC Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy
• UC Anti-Discrimination Policy
• Abusive Conduct in the Workplace