Lead Accountant

Special Instructions to Applicants

UCLA only

This is an internal recruitment for UCLA employees. Priority consideration will be given to UCLA active employees or preferential rehires. External applicants may be considered if the applicant pool is not sufficient.

Extramural Fund Management (EFM) provides financial management services to the campus research community in support of more than $1 billion dollars of expenditures annually in sponsored awards. EFM is composed of three service areas that provide expertise and assistance to faculty and staff and serves as a liaison to research sponsors for financial management of externally sponsored awards. EFM serves as the institutional point of contact for funding agency representatives and relevant regulatory officials regarding post-award activities.

EFM has primary responsibility for the interpretation of University-wide and campus policy, sponsor guidelines, and applicable federal and state laws and regulations related to financial management of sponsored projects.

The Lead Accountant in UCLA's central Extramural Fund Management (EFM) office has wide-ranging, in-depth, experience in research administration finance and compliance and is an organization-wide expert. The incumbent is a lead advisor to UCLA faculty, audit and advisory services, corporate financial services, students, and staff regarding the most complex post-award financial matters that are of critical importance to the university. The incumbent independently reviews, analyzes, and resolves the most challenging and unique financial deliverables, post-award management issues, and advanced financial concepts that have organization-wide impact.

The Lead Accountant assesses and mitigates institutional risk; ensures institutional compliance obligations consistent with University and sponsor policy; serves as the signing authority for all financial activity reported to sponsoring agencies and other transactions prepared by analysts at all levels; directs and analyzes the implementation of a financial compliance program consistent with sponsoring agencies requirements that govern contracts/grants; and makes significant contributions to campus policies and procedures for the financial management of externally-sponsored projects.

The incumbent represents EFM and UCLA in system-wide initiatives, and with research sponsors and professional advocacy organizations.

The Lead Accountant communicates with professionalism, demonstrating exceptional skill and experience, enthusiasm, agile problem solving, commitment and loyalty to the profession and the organization. This position will have primary responsibility for post-award financial matters and oversight of fund management for the most complex sponsored awards and associated post-award activities. The Lead Accountant demonstrates specialized subject matter expertise and serves as the campus expert on a broad range of advanced financial concepts and post-award administration such as: allowability of expenditures, interpretation of sponsor terms and conditions, and identifying potential compliance and/or policy violations.

The Lead Accountant develops strategies to address complex problems and recommends changes to policies, processes, and resources. UCLA's Research Administration is seeking a highly motivated and effective research finance expert in the Extramural Fund Management (EFM). The Lead Accountant exercises a high degree of autonomy and independent judgement and reports to the EFM Assistant Director. The Lead Accountant serves as a special expert and campus point of contact for complex subject matter and serves as back-up in the absence of the Assistant Director.

The Lead Accountant mentors less experienced staff, and develops and delivers specialized training.

UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.

• 1. Expert knowledge of relevant federal, state, and local regulations, non-profit sponsor policies, campus and system-wide policies and procedures, and unique terminology pertaining to post-award financial matters in extramural research in the context of a large institution of higher education with a teaching hospital. Expert knowledge and understanding of advanced financial concepts and cost accounting standards related to Uniform Guidance, FAR, agency supplemental clauses, and Federal flow-through award terms.
  
  (Required)
• 2. Expert knowledge and experience necessary to manage a high volume of financial deliverables and related transactions involving the most complex federal terms and conditions; international…