UCLA · 2 days ago
Lead Accountant
Los Angeles, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Lead/Staff
$106K/yr - $234K/yr
15+ years expUCLA is seeking a Lead Accountant for their Extramural Fund Management (EFM) office, which provides financial management services for the campus research community. The Lead Accountant will serve as a lead advisor on complex post-award financial matters, ensuring compliance and managing financial deliverables for sponsored awards.
EducationHigher EducationUniversities
Responsibilities
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
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
Makes significant contributions to campus policies and procedures for the financial management of externally-sponsored projects
Represents EFM and UCLA in system-wide initiatives, and with research sponsors and professional advocacy organizations
Communicates with professionalism, demonstrating exceptional skill and experience, enthusiasm, agile problem solving, commitment and loyalty to the profession and the organization
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
Develops strategies to address complex problems and recommends changes to policies, processes, and resources
Mentors less experienced staff, and develops and delivers specialized training
Qualification
Required
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
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 issues; multi-site collaborations; city, county, and state contracts; non-profit contracts; and cooperative agreements
Expert skill and demonstrated experience to manage a financial portfolio of highly complex sponsored project funds independently with an understanding of strategies to optimize use and minimize financial risk to the institution; identify critical issues and requirements to proactively inform all stakeholders; analyze and interpret all terms and conditions to protect the high priority interests of the University
Demonstrated expert level competence in the use of spreadsheet and enterprise level systems/software for highly complex financial analysis, financial management, and customized financial reporting
Exceptional interpersonal skills to deliver effective professional post-award research administration expertise to all levels of faculty, staff, and non-University entities. Develop and maintain positive and effective interactions, demonstrating respect for the views of others; treat others with dignity and foster the values of diversity and inclusion
Exceptional written and oral skills to compose and deliver clear and concise communications to explain advanced financial/accounting concepts and procedures to individuals at various knowledge levels
Demonstrated in-depth experience and expertise in delivering high quality customer service to a diverse group of colleagues within the organization, in the campus research community, and in sponsor entities with a particular focus on: customer needs, negotiating mutually beneficial workflow and communications to achieve a common goal, establishing service expectations, and delivering accurate and complete services
Exceptional ability to mentor and train less experienced accountants as part of a team environment
As a recognized campus-wide expert with advanced training skills, effectively deliver on-going training in a broad range of advanced accounting and financial concepts in the research administration field to the campus research community and EFM staff to enhance skills and provide guidance in successfully navigating processes, procedures, and policies
Expert skill to analyze existing policy and procedure to offer substantive recommendations for improved efficiencies in office-wide operations and improve overall service to the campus research community
Bachelor's Degree preferred with generally 15 or more years of experience in post-award research administration or a related field or with transferrable skills/knowledge
Benefits
Benefits that start on day one
Company
UCLA
UCLA offers a combination that’s rare, especially among public research universities.
5001-10000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
UCLA has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (266)
2024 (223)
2023 (226)
2022 (182)
2021 (164)
2020 (172)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$157.89MKey Investors
California Institute for Regenerative MedicineUS Department of EnergyDepartment of Cannabis Control
2025-01-30Grant· $29.14M
2023-08-14Grant
2023-04-25Grant· $2M
Leadership Team
James Puffer
Professor Emeritus
Jenny Lester
Clinical Trials Director
Recent News
2026-01-05
2025-12-14
Company data provided by crunchbase