Accountant III | Wyant College of Optical Sciences

The position performs professional accounting activities for Wyant College of Optical Sciences, requiring the expert knowledge, expertise, and professional application of accounting principles, practices, and techniques in accordance with industry standards and university financial procedures. The position is responsible for the daily financial operations of one of our main research areas. The candidate will be responsible for assisting several investigators with appropriate expenditure management, inquiries related to document processing and procedures, and providing professional accounting support. The incumbent must have the ability to effectively assess and respond to customer needs, pay close attention to detail, be flexible and adaptable.
 

This position will work with the College's senior leadership team and Business Office personnel. This position requires a high level of expertise in the management of research-sponsored activities in accordance with the post-award OMB policies and procedures. This expertise will be essential in developing, interpreting, and implementing financial and resource planning systems while meticulously monitoring actual performance against budgets and compliance metrics.

Professional demeanor, customer service, and teamwork are required for this position while maintaining sensitivity to confidential information.

Federal regulations require that the incumbent be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or have another protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) to be ITAR/EAR compliant.

Outstanding UA benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance plans; life insurance and disability programs; paid vacation, sick leave, and holidays; UA/ASU/NAU tuition reduction for the employee and qualified family members; retirement plans; access to UA recreation and cultural activities; and more!

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• Perform reconciliation of designated and major federal research program accounts while reviewing expenditures for compliance according to sponsors' guidelines and expenditure authority. Assist with financial and budget models for planning and operational needs. Prepare data and assist with planning, preparation, monitoring, and analysis of research programs. Provide financial analysis for planning and forecasting to College's stakeholders. Monitor fund balances in accordance with approved budgets, including matching and cost-sharing funds.
• This position will serve as a Fiscal Officer for several major sponsored activities and local accounts. While conducting monthly reconciliations, this position will be responsible for processing any necessary ledger corrections and updating any position funding distributions as needed based on planning and analysis.  This position will provide monthly financial reports to the principal investigator/ faculty, advise on spending forecasts, and inform the PI's of any discrepancies in their accounts. Perform accounting tasks of a difficult nature, which requires experience and professional knowledge of accounting principles and practices. May prepare difficult journal entries, maintain complex ledgers, reconcile and analyze difficult funding sources. The incumbent is responsible for establishing, reviewing, and adhering to all sub-recipient monitoring policies set forth by the University of Arizona.
• Review pcard, disbursement voucher, internal billings and any miscellaneous operational transactions for compliance with university and federal grant policies. Communicate with appropriate personnel regarding concerns with compliance and funding for such transactions.
  Review all financial expenditure documentation for accuracy, completeness, and compliance before approval. Follow up with the department for corrections and missing documents as needed.
• Facilitate good award management techniques by disseminating information to Principal Investigators on a wide range of topics related to sponsored research activities.
• Maintain open and active channel of communication with PIs from UArizona, PIs from collaborating partnering institutions and other personnel associated with the programs including students, postdocs, research scientists, and Program Officers from different federal and non-federal agencies.
• Review payroll expenditures and allocations of salaries based on effort.
• Inventory monitoring, will process cannibalization requests, asset change location and off campus forms. Assist with the biennial inventory process.
• Generate financial reports for the Director, Finance and Operation using data from the auxiliary services, income, expenditures, and encumbrances. Assist with formulation of special reports and tasks as assigned by Director and Administrator, Business-Finance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of accounting principles and standards for compliance with all relevant regulations, laws and reporting requirements.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field of study.
• At least 5 years of relevant work experience is required.
• Federal regulations require that the incumbent be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, or have another protected status under 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) to be ITAR/EAR compliant.