Rice University · 20 hours ago
Senior Research Accountant
Houston, TX, United States
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$61K/yr - $69K/yr
2+ years expRice University is a prestigious institution located in Houston, TX, known for its commitment to global health technology education and research. The Senior Research Accountant will manage financial records for the Rice360 Institute, ensuring compliance with university and sponsor guidelines while preparing detailed accounting reports and financial projections.
EducationHigher EducationService IndustryUniversities
Responsibilities
Assisting in the management and tracking of gift, grant, and institutional funds
Reviewing and processing all financial documents to ensure that expenses follow university and sponsor guidelines and that sufficient funds are available on the appropriate fund
Reconciling departmental records with the university accounting system
Preparing detailed accounting reports and financial projections
Reviews and interprets legal documents for financial terms and conditions
Reviews account setup in financial systems to ensure financial terms are recorded with appropriate key attributes
Clarifies financial terms and ensures correct account setup to ensure compliance
Prepares financial reports
Coordinates and works with Sponsored Projects and Research Compliance senior management, institutional representatives, and administrators to set up account structures for complex programs/centers
Monitors sponsored project activity—including cost overruns, cost sharing, and unallowable/administrative expenses—throughout the project lifecycle to ensure compliance
Performs reconciliation and overall analysis of expenditures and final award closeouts for assigned departments or sponsor award ranges
Interprets complex university and government policies
Serves as liaison between the university, sponsors, and department staff
Completes other duties as assigned
Performs highly analytical, complex finance and control functions; conducts multidimensional and complex reconciliations and related analysis; prepares, reviews, and approves complex transactions and higher-dollar-value transactions
Develops complex budget and forecasting scenarios, long-range planning, and analyses for financial reporting and presentations; designs and runs ad hoc reports
Recommends and develops solutions that may require policy changes or the development of new processes; maintains broader organizational and university perspectives in decision-making
Manages the compliance program for the area of responsibility
Leads and executes unit or cross-functional projects and teams, making decisions regarding projects and programs affecting operational effectiveness, policies, or processes
Engages in continuous critical analysis of existing systems and processes; makes recommendations to achieve greater efficiencies and improve internal controls
Defines requirements, develops and implements complex test cases, performs testing, and analyzes results
Leads and supports unit and organizational strategy and change management initiatives
Represents the organization to client groups and external partners; serves as a subject matter expert on matters involving complex technical, financial, or subject matter expertise
Assesses client and business needs and formulates recommendations to determine approaches to managing and completing processes
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree
2+ years of experience in grant-funded research budget oversight, expenditure tracking, and analysis in a higher education academic setting
Advanced knowledge of contract and grant procedures and the ability to apply accounting practices
Advanced knowledge of accounting principles, concepts, and analysis of accounting transactions
Advanced knowledge of Uniform Guidance and Cost Accounting Standards
Advanced working knowledge of Excel
Ability to independently diagnose and solve problems using sound judgment and decision-making abilities
Strong customer service skills
Ability to work collaboratively with different process partners
Excellent oral and written communication skills
Preferred
Bachelor's degree or higher in accounting, business administration, finance, or a related field
Prior experience working with Rice University financial systems (e.g., Banner, iO), the Office of Sponsored Research, Research Compliance, and/or the Office of Research and Cost Accounting
Related experience in complex research budget oversight, including expenditure tracking and analysis, and assessment of multiple international sub-awards
Related experience working with research faculty and staff to communicate financial status and prepare financial reports for a multiyear, multi-institution international research project
Advanced knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning and financial systems
Ability to work under deadlines with flexibility, tact, good judgment, discretion, and initiative
Advanced professional communication skills, including the ability to prepare materials for and clearly and effectively communicate information to internal and external audiences, client groups, and management
Strong project management skills and the ability to contribute to or lead part of a multifunctional team
Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, with demonstrated sensitivity to low-resource settings
Demonstrated support for Rice360 Core Values: Innovation, Equity, Community, Integrity, Accountability, Empowerment, and Transformation
Company
Rice University
Rice University is a private research university that focuses on providing undergraduate education services.
1001-5000 employees
H1B Sponsorship
Rice University 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 (113)
2024 (81)
2023 (71)
2022 (65)
2021 (82)
2020 (86)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageTotal Funding
$80.9MKey Investors
National Heart, Lung and Blood InstituteAdvanced Research Projects Agency for HealthUS Department of Energy
2024-09-19Grant
2024-08-13Grant· $18M
2023-07-27Grant
Leadership Team
Ken Medlock
James A Baker III and Susan G Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics
Kyle Judah
Executive Director, Liu Idea Lab for Innovation & Entrepreneurship (Lilie)
Recent News
2026-01-25
2026-01-19
Company data provided by crunchbase