Director of Financial & Accounting Services - UC Merced

At a glance

Description: What you'll be doing

Another Source's client, University of California, Merced, is recruiting a Director of Financial and Accounting Services to join their team in Merced, California. This is a hybrid opportunity with relocation support available. 

Here's a little about UC Merced: 

The University of California, Merced is the newest campus in the University of California system and the first American research university of the 21st century. Located in California’s San Joaquin Valley near Yosemite National Park, UC Merced was established with a mission to expand access to the UC system while building a research university focused on addressing some of the region’s, state’s, and world’s most pressing challenges. 

The Director of Financial and Accounting Services will join Business and Financial Services within the Division of Finance and Administration. The department supports the financial operations and systems that enable UC Merced’s continued growth, providing an opportunity for this leader to have an impact well beyond the accounting function. 

Learn more about UC Merced: https://www.ucmerced.edu/ 
Learn more about Business and Financial Services: https://bfs.ucmerced.edu/ 

About this role: 

Reporting to the Assistant Controller, the Director establishes objectives and work plans for managing data related to the University's actual financial results. Through month-end and annual closing processes, this leader is responsible for data processing and validation in the general ledger and related Oracle ERP subledgers. 

The Director manages, prepares, administers, and directs department resources while developing, modifying, and executing policies that affect immediate operations and may have an organization-wide impact. The role directs the development of financial models, strategies, and recommendations that inform executive-level decision-making and support campus-wide integrated strategic planning. 

This position supervises three General Accountant 4 employees and provides leadership across financial operations, reporting and compliance, department administration, fiscal close, and campus accounting support.  

How you will spend your time 

Financial Operations Management – 40% 

• Provide leadership, direction, and expertise to staff to achieve goals in accordance with established policies and support decentralized financial activities.  

• Manage the results of the University's financial operations, including general accounting, gifts and endowments accounting, capital projects, fixed assets, accounts receivable, grants, contracts, payroll feeds, and recharge accounting.  

• Oversee financial activity tracked within applicable Oracle modules, including the General Ledger and supporting subledgers.  

Financial Reporting and Compliance – 25% 

• Meet government reporting requirements for relevant financial activities and manage financial reporting and the Common Chart of Accounts.  

• Manage miscellaneous billing transactions through the accounts receivable module.  

• Ensure the accuracy and control of holistic financial data, including Oracle Cloud Fusion modules, Accounts Receivable, Record to Report/General Ledger, Fixed Assets, and integrations with other Oracle modules.  

• Create and maintain financial reports and complete monthly and year-end close of the general ledger.  

• Complete financial statements and applicable reporting and oversee monthly and fiscal year-end financial system close processing.  

• Research and interpret specific entries and review transfers of funds, transfers of expenditures, financial journals, ad hoc general ledger account reconciliations, and balance sheet account reconciliations completed by staff.  

• Support audit evidence collection and information gathering and assign audit-related tasks to staff and applicable campus partners.  

Operations Administration – 20% 

• Manage, maintain, develop, and set strategic direction for the department, determining overall objectives and the portfolio of work.  

• Assume responsibility for staffing, budgets, costs, productivity, and personnel activities.  

• Make recommendations and implement decisions on issues with department- and/or campus-wide impact.  

• Drive efficiencies through lean practices and continued review of key performance indicators established throughout financial lifecycles.  

• Provide training and professional development to ensure staff maintain subject matter knowledge in areas including general accounting, administration, fixed assets administration, gift accounting, and capital accounting.  

• Directly supervise professional and support staff, including recruitment, hiring recommendations, onboarding, training, work assignment, performance evaluation, employee development, corrective action, and resolution of employee concerns.  

• Exercise independent judgment in personnel matters and ensure compliance with University policies, procedures, and applicable labor agreements.  

Monthly & Annual Fiscal Close – 10% 

• Manage the fiscal close process for the campus and campus foundation, ensuring all requirements and steps are completed accurately and on time.  

• Coordinate monthly close activities with the campus and annual close activities with UCOP schedules.  

• Serve as the management liaison with UCOP for the system closing process and audits.  

• Review financial statements and diagnostic reports in the UC system-wide consolidated financial reporting system and record correcting entries.  

• Review outside audit firm requirements and supervise completion of the audit, management response, and sign-off.  

• Supervise and review completion of campus financial statements and related audit deliverables.  

Campus Support and Administration – 5% 

• Assist campus departments with complex accounting issues to ensure financial transactions are properly recorded.  

• Provide expert accounting guidance.  

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in a related area.  

• Five years of directly related, progressively responsible experience, or nine years of equivalent experience/training. An advanced degree in a related area is preferred and may substitute for one year of experience.  

• Thorough knowledge of organizational operational, personnel, and financial transactions and systems.  

• Thorough knowledge of finance, accounting, business and systems operations, and regulatory compliance requirements.  

• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work effectively across the organization at all levels.  

• Excellent skills using common desktop and web applications.  

• Excellent service orientation, management, and leadership skills, with the ability to use critical thinking, sound judgment, and decision-making to creatively solve problems.  

• Strong knowledge of industry best practices.  

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.  

• Thorough understanding and familiarity with GAAP, GASB, FASB, accounting law, professional systems and practices, plant funds, and capital accounting practices.  

• Demonstrated experience preparing monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and related presentations and detailed variance analysis.  

• Demonstrated experience improving business processes and accounting policies to ensure efficient and effective internal controls, data integrity, and compliance with internal and external policies and requirements.  

• Demonstrated ability to analyze, interpret, and document financial results, trends, and variances in a timely manner.  

• Demonstrated leadership experience in a large, diversified, and complex finance-focused environment.  

• Experience leading or managing staff.  

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree from an accredited university in a related area.  

• Professional certification.  

What's in it for you: 

The anticipated annual salary range for this position is $115,000 – $143,500. 

UC Merced offers employee benefits designed to support the health, well-being, and financial security of its employees. Learn more about benefits at: https://hr.ucmerced.edu/benefits 

Another Source works with their clients, on a retained project basis. We are committed to building inclusive candidate pools as we partner with hiring teams. As you read through the job posting and review the list of qualifications (required and/or preferred), please do not self-select out if you feel you do not meet every qualification. No one is 100% qualified. We encourage you to apply and share your story with us. 

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