Senior Accounting/Financial Manager

Senior Accounting Financial Manager

University of Southern California

Provost Finance

Application Procedure: 

To be considered for this position, candidates should include a cover letter with their resume during the application process.

About USC:

The University of Southern California (USC), founded in 1880, is located in the heart of downtown L.A. and is the largest private employer in the City of Los Angeles. As an employee of USC, you will be a part of a world-class research university and a member of the “Trojan Family,” which is comprised of the faculty, students and staff that make the university a great place to work. 

About Provost Finance:

USC Provost Finance is the business services department of the Office of the Provost. We oversee the financial operations of Provost units, including transaction processing, financial reporting, budgeting, financial planning, and internal service support. Our team is responsible for consistent delivery of financial accounting, planning, analysis, operations and compliance, in support of USC’s budget and operational objectives.

USC Provost Finance is part of Provost Shared Services, a group of five business units within the Office of the Provost which provide strategic expertise on a wide range of business, technology and personnel functions.

Vision

Empower university employees through financial expertise, strategic business support, and responsible budget management.

Core Values

• Deliver efficient support services and responsible budget management.
• Foster collaboration with client groups and campus partners.
• Uphold the highest standards of financial stewardship and integrity.
• Continuously adapt to evolving university financial practices and policies.

About the Opportunity:

The University of Southern California (USC) is seeking a Senior Financial Accounting Manager to support administrative units of the Office of the Provost. The Senior Financial Accounting Manager will provide strategic financial leadership and oversight for a diverse portfolio of administrative units, ensuring sound fiscal management, accurate financial reporting, and compliance with university policies and applicable accounting standards.

This role serves as a trusted advisor to university leaders, partnering with departments to enable informed decision-making through financial analysis, forecasting, and reporting while fostering a culture of accountability and service excellence. The Senior Financial Accounting Manager will oversee complex accounting operations, guide financial planning and budget administration, and lead efforts to strengthen internal controls, mitigate financial risk, and ensure the integrity of financial data.

In addition to managing and developing a high-performing team, the successful candidate will champion operational excellence by identifying opportunities to improve business processes, streamline financial operations, and enhance service delivery across Provost Finance. This position offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact by collaborating with academic and administrative partners to advance USC's mission, promoting effective financial stewardship, innovation, and continuous improvement. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time. This position reports to the Senior Administrative Director of Provost Finance and Payroll for the Office of the Provost.

Key Responsibilities:

Finance Department / Administrative Unit related:

• Manages staff and operations of multiple financial departments in an administrative unit. Directs managers and supervisors in short and long-term planning, setting goals and strategies, development of departmental policies and procedures, regulatory interpretations and interface, and ongoing evaluation of operational effectiveness.
• Plans and administers departmental budgets in conjunction with subordinate managers and supervisors. Provides historical data and projections as required for budget development and planning.
• Oversees account reconciliations and production of regularly scheduled summary reports, income and financial statements for assigned accounting operations. Analyzes reports for accuracy prior to distribution. Evaluates employee performance and provides guidance and feedback to assigned staff.
• Maintains responsibility for the fiscal integrity of financial reporting and operations for multiple departments. Meets with managers and supervisors on a regular basis for status reports and to assist with policy, procedural or regulatory interpretation and problem resolution.
• Advises on university financial policies and procedures, agency laws and regulations, and generally accepted accounting principles.
• Other duties as assigned.

Service Level related:

• Perform Daily/Weekly/Monthly Account Reconciliation/Analysis; Research account discrepancies; Prepare manual journal entries
• Prepare Monthly/Quarterly Financial Projections/Reports
• Responsible for revenue account deposits (wires, checks)/reconciliation
• Support departments in procurement, requisitions, expense reimbursements
• Audit and identify potential financial risks and implement mitigation measures
• Identify and recommend business process improvements or alternative solutions for efficiency and cost savings
• Other duties as assigned

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, or related degree
• 7 years of directly related accounting experience
• Strong Excel and computer skills
• Thorough knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and procedures
• Ability to use a variety of accounting/financial software applications
• University budget experience and knowledge of university financial systems, policies, and procedures
• Budget experience includes knowledge of government and fund accounting
• Experience managing staff and operations in multiple financial departments

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Accounting, or related degree
• 2+ years of general accounting experience
• Strong Excel and computer skills
• In addition, the successful candidate must demonstrate, through ideas, words and actions, a strong commitment to USC’s Unifying Values.

Benefits

• We offer an excellent package of benefits and programs including, but not limited to:
  • Tuition assistance for you and your family
  • Comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance options
  • 401A retirement account with matching 5% w/ additional contributions up to 4% after eligibility is met
  • 50% subsidy off Metro, LADOT, and Metrolink passes

The max annual salary for this position is $155,608 -160,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at uschr@usc.edu. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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