University of Tennessee College of Arts & Sciences

Director, Sponsored Projects Accounting

University of Tennessee College of Arts & Sciences

full-time

Posted on:

Origin:  • 🇺🇸 United States • Tennessee

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Job Level

Lead

Tech Stack

Oracle

About the role

  • Provides effective and efficient post-award support for externally funded research, extension and teaching activities while ensuring compliance.
  • Establishes goals, initiatives, priorities, policies, and strategic planning for SPA.
  • Oversees the compliance of all grant and contract funding, including the set-up, invoicing, compliance, close-out, and audit for all federal, state, local, and private grants for all research, teaching, and outreach extramural funding at UTIA.
  • Provides leadership in identifying, evaluating, and deploying best practices and innovative processes to support the education and research missions of UTIA.
  • Trains, partners, and leads change management efforts to improve effectiveness, efficiency, compliance, education, and customer service aspects of sponsored project accounting.
  • Leads a team of 5-6 professional accounting staff; directs onboarding, training, supervision, and performance management.
  • Conducts and monitors compliance activities, interprets and applies fiscal regulations, oversees audits, and initiates corrective actions.
  • Engages and collaborates with stakeholders, including faculty, researchers, departmental accounting staff, UTK campus administration, and external sponsors.
  • Provides strategic oversight of post-award fiscal administration including approval of ledger reconciliations, invoicing, letter of credit draws, HR and payroll transactions, account close out, and managing accounts receivable.

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s Degree with a concentration in finance or accounting
  • 5 years of accounting experience; current experience in post-award, sponsored projects accounting
  • Knowledge of research administration issues including financial management and the ability to interpret and communicate federal, state, and local laws and regulations relevant to research administration operations, policies, and procedures.
  • Knowledge of Uniform Guidance.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, including active listening skills, plus the ability to work with a wide-ranging group of faculty, staff, administrators, and other stakeholders.
  • Ability to prioritize and manage a high-volume of projects simultaneously to meet constant deadlines.
  • Ability to be detail-oriented with strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
  • Ability to be flexible, have sound judgment with an open and collaborative style of leadership that encourages teamwork and cooperation.
  • Skills to be a strong role model, manager, and coach.
  • Ability to provide excellent customer service with a commitment to exceptional quality.
  • Ability to think analytically, quantitatively, creatively, and strategically.
  • Skill to be an independent thinker with professional skepticism.
  • Ability to be a team player who works well collectively and collaboratively with colleagues to achieve common goals.
  • Knowledge of SAP, Oracle, and Microsoft Office.
  • Preferred: Master’s Degree with a concentration in finance, accounting, or similar field of study
  • Preferred: Sponsored projects accounting experience with agricultural grants and contracts
  • Preferred: Knowledge of UTIA and UTK fiscal, human resource, and research policies.
  • Preferred: Knowledge of DASH and Huron research suite.
  • Preferred: Data management and interpretation experience.