Director, Contracts and Grants Accounting (0687U), Extramural Funds Accounting - #66579 Job Listing at University of California in Berkeley, CA (Job ID 66579)

Description

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are committed to creating a community that fosters equity of experience and opportunity, and ensures that students, faculty, and staff of all backgrounds feel safe, welcome and included. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

The University of California, Berkeley, is one of the world's leading institutions of higher education, distinguished by its combination of internationally recognized academic and research excellence; the transformative opportunity it provides to a large and diverse student body; its public mission and commitment to equity and social justice; and its roots in the California experience, animated by such values as innovation, questioning the status quo, and respect for the environment and nature. Since its founding in 1868, Berkeley has fueled a perpetual renaissance, generating unparalleled intellectual, economic and social value in California, the United States and the world.

We are looking for equity-minded applicants who represent the full diversity of California and who demonstrate a sensitivity to and understanding of the diverse academic, socioeconomic, cultural, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, and ethnic backgrounds present in our community. When you join the team at Berkeley, you can expect to be part of an inclusive, innovative and equity-focused community that approaches higher education as a matter of social justice that requires broad collaboration among faculty, staff, students and community partners. In deciding whether to apply for a position at Berkeley, you are strongly encouraged to consider whether your values align with our Guiding Values and Principles, our Principles of Community, and our Strategic Plan.

At UC Berkeley, we believe that learning is a fundamental part of working, and our goal is for everyone on the Berkeley campus to feel supported and equipped to realize their full potential. We actively support this by providing all of our staff employees with at least 80 hours (10 days) of paid time per year to engage in professional development activities. To find out more about how you can grow your career at UC Berkeley, visit grow.berkeley.edu.

Departmental Overview

The Contracts and Grants Accounting unit includes 1) wide-range fiscal responsibilities involving post-award accounting; 2) compliance support in accordance with Uniform Guidance, the UC Contract & Grant Manual, UC Presidential Policies, and other rules and regulations established by the Systemwide Office of the President, federal and state governments, and other contract compliance restrictions; and 3) central oversight for campus-wide cost recovery and revenue collection procedures for sponsored research and financial aid support.

In addition to managing the Contracts Awards systems for post-award accounting, CGA also manages campus-wide contracts and grants related audits performed by federal and other external auditors. The unit develops responses to audit findings and corrective actions necessary to resolve audit issues.

CGA has campus-wide responsibility for providing financial analysis and systems, policies, procedures, and training to facilitate the management of contracts and grants across campus and provides education and outreach to the campus research community.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: April 8, 2024

Responsibilities

Leadership:

• Evaluates staffing needs and attracts, retains, and develops a high-quality team. 
• Establishes daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual priorities and assigns work within the department to ensure that university and other regulatory requirements have been met.
• Builds bridges across organizational units and motivates individuals at all levels to support overall department, university, and agency compliance objectives.
• Navigates complex organizational and political structures to introduce, develop, and successfully implement new systems and best-practice initiatives to improve the efficiency and accuracy of post award financial systems.

Fiscal Compliance:

• Develops protocols and implements campus-wide policies and procedures that ensure adherence to UC Policies, agency regulations, federal and state regulations (UG, A-133, etc.), and industry standards (GASB, CAS).
• Provides value-added financial information and analyses to campus research units that support high-quality decision-making regarding post award management of contracts and grants.
• Serves as primary contact and campus expert for interactions with federal and other external auditors on University contracts and grants. 
• Demonstrates creative problem-solving skills in working with campus research units to develop and implement processes to uphold accepted principles of sound fiscal management and ensure compliance with university policies and sponsoring agency regulations.
• Provides expertise and guidance to campus for complex research and problem resolution requiring specialized knowledge and accounting skills related to post award administration protocols and various federal, state, and local agency regulations.

Management & Planning:

• Promotes quality customer service, administrative innovation, and respect for colleagues, teamwork, and open channels of communication.
• Fosters a collaborative relationship between CGA and campus research units.
• Produces a flexible budget model and business plan for developing and allocating resources to achieve goals and objectives that align with the university's resources.
• Develops and maintains financial controls to measure performance, to reduce costs through innovative actions, to measure resource commitments against needs, and to ensure that spending patterns are within acceptable limits.
• Recommends allocation or reallocation of budget resources to support long-term plan.
• Develops and recommends changes to unit processes, as appropriate, to increase efficiencies and foster an environment of continuous improvement in all aspects of operation.

Communication:

• Exhibits clarity and conciseness of verbal and written communications, a confident and reassuring communication style, and command of financial information, policies, and regulatory requirements.
• Communicates the benefits of new procedures or systems in a tactful, compelling way which gains buy-in and support from senior administrators and academic leaders in both campus research units and central administrative units.
• Demonstrates persuasive presentation skills and political acumen in communicating and interpreting University and agency post-award policies and procedures to large campus communities.
• Exercises tactful communication and negotiation skills in mediating conflicts between research program imperatives and conflicting business and regulatory requirements, to control the campus exposure to risk.

Staff Development:

• Mentors subordinate managers and supervisors on fiscal compliance, management and planning, and communications to build skill sets that enable trust for the delegation of responsibilities and ensures that staff members represent the University and the Controller's Office as a trusted advisor to campus.
• Attends training/workshops toward present and future career development, participates in general staff meetings and contributes to the implementation of special projects when assigned.
• Provides continuous and timely training to team leads, direct reports, and all staff involved in the various aspects of post-award accounting.

Required Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of the organization's operational, personnel, and financial transactions and systems.
• Advanced knowledge of finance, accounting, business and systems operations and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Advanced interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels.
• Advanced skills using common desktop / web applications.
• Advanced service orientation skills; excellent skills in management and leadership.
• Advanced ability to use critical thinking, sound judgment, and decision-making skills to creatively solve problems.
• Advanced knowledge of industry best practices.
• Advanced verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to provide guidance and direction to subordinate supervisors and managers for achievement of objectives (operational and budget processes, staff FTE, finance, human resources, and space planning).

Education/Training:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Five years' minimum supervisory and/or management related experience.
• Five years' minimum accounting related experience, preferably in higher education or contracts/grants related area.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA and/or advanced degree in related area and/or equivalent experience/training.

Salary & Benefits

For information on the comprehensive benefits package offered by the University, please visit the University of California's Compensation & Benefits website.

Under California law, the University of California, Berkeley is required to provide a reasonable estimate of the compensation range for this role and should not offer a salary outside of the range posted in this job announcement. This range takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, analysis of internal equity, and other business and organizational needs. It is not typical for an individual to be offered a salary at or near the top of the range for a position. Salary offers are determined based on final candidate qualifications and experience.

The budgeted salary or hourly range that the University reasonably expects to pay for this position is  $146,200.00 - $291,600.00.

• This is a 100%, full-time (40 hours per week), career position that is eligible for full UC benefits.
• This position is exempt and paid monthly.
• This is a remote-friendly position, eligible for up to 100% remote capability.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit your resume and cover letter.

Conviction History Background

This is a designated position requiring fingerprinting and a background check due to the nature of the job responsibilities. Berkeley does hire people with conviction histories and reviews information received in the context of the job responsibilities. The University reserves the right to make employment contingent upon successful completion of the background check.

Diversity Statement

Please include, as part of your application a brief (1-2 paragraph) statement on your contributions to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in your professional experience.

Advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to our UC Berkeley Principles of Community, which states that “every member of the UC Berkeley community has a role in sustaining a safe, caring, and humane environment in which these values can thrive."

Equal Employment Opportunity

The University of California is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. For more information about your rights as an applicant, please see the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission poster.

For the complete University of California nondiscrimination and affirmative action policy, please see the University of California Discrimination, Harassment, and Affirmative Action in the Workplace policy.

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