EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ASSOCIATE CONTROLLER MAA
Req #: | 169785 |
Department: | UWFIN - CONTROLLER'S OFFICE |
Job Location: | Seattle Campus |
Posting Date: | 07/12/2019 |
Closing Info: | Open Until Filled |
Salary: | Salary is commensurate with experience and education |
Shift: | First Shift |
UW faculty and staff also enjoy outstanding benefits, professional growth opportunities and unique resources in an environment noted for diversity, intellectual excitement, artistic pursuits and natural beauty. All of which has allowed the UW to be nationally recognized as a “Great College to Work For” for five consecutive years.
The Director leads three units with four major processes responsible for complex costing, accounting and compliance with federal Uniform Guidance: Facilities and Administrative Rate Review and Negotiation, Fringe Benefit Rate Negotiation, Effort and Grant and Contract Certification, and Service and Recharge Center rate review and approval. The Director is responsible for participating in the planning and execution of outreach to campus to establish solid cost accounting practices that are compliant with federal regulations and maximize cost recovery.
The Director is responsible for execution of the University of Washington’s Facilities and Administrative (F&A) Rate proposal and for negotiation of rates based on a complex set of costing rules and University-wide data from many sources that must be synthesized. The Director must develop a proposal compliant with federal guidelines that maximizes recovery of costs. The Director is responsible for reviewing the annual Fringe Benefit rate for compliance with costing guidance and for negotiating the rate with the federal government. The Director is responsible for Effort and Grant and Contract Certification compliance and for coordinating with UW IT professionals on the maintenance of the University’s Effort Certification system. Effort and Grant and Contract Certification have university-wide implications for compliance and costing and direct impact on faculty, Department Chairs, and Deans. The Director is responsible for overseeing the review of rate structures for all University Service and Recharge Centers at inception and ongoing reviews of Service Center rates, corresponding financial statements, and cash positions of operating budgets. Related to all of these processes, the Director is responsible for understanding the detailed, complex, and unique set of costing standards in the federal Uniform Guidance relevant to each discipline, understanding the University’s complex accounting structure, and applying Uniform Guidance standards to all aspects of the work of the team.
Each of the units managed has significant impact on the University, on campus departments, and on faculty. The F&A rate results in over $263 million in annual reimbursement to the institution. Service and Recharge centers at the University of Washington charge millions of dollars in expenditures to federal grants and contracts (total number of accounts reviewed is over 300 and with total annual billings to all sources of funds exceeding $190 million), requiring strict compliance with costing principles. Effort Certification and Grant and Contract Certification Reports are complex and can be challenging for faculty with multiple sources of funding, part-time appointments, NIH K Awards, salary exceeding the cap and reduced funding under the Reduced Responsibility policy. An ability to work with faculty through these complexities is essential. The unit oversees over 4,300 Effort Certifications and over 7,500 Grant and Contract Certification Reports per year. The Director must be able to work creatively and proactively with new and unique situations crossing costing/financial accounting, and federal compliance disciplines and provide sound and effective guidance to campus.
Duties & Responsibilities
Supervisory
o Lead three teams responsible for F&A rate proposal development, Effort and Grant and Contract Certification, and Service and Recharge Center rate review.
o Participate in the oversight of costing model structure and preparation of F&A proposal in CRIS software.
o Negotiate the University's F&A and fringe benefit rates with Health and Human Services Cost Allocation Services.
Collaboration and Advisement
o Serve as a subject matter expert in each of the areas of responsibility and work with members of administration, both central and academic, on new and unique costing situations requiring a breadth of knowledge, experience, analytical ability, and excellent interpersonal skills.
o Collaboration and Leadership with Industry and Government Partners
o Develop and maintain relationships with federal, state, and local auditors and negotiators. Serve as contact with those individuals and with University process partners, peers, and national professional organizations on complex costing issues.
o Report development and Analysis
o Support senior UW leaders in their interactions on behalf of the institution with report development, analysis, and costing guidance.
Project Management
o Oversee major projects including systems development and implementation plans, or major policy development and/or changes.
o Perform duties and functions of Associate Vice President (AVP) in their absence and all other special projects and duties as assigned.
o Strategic Planning and Continuous Process Improvement
o Responsible for participating in developing and implementing long range organizational plans both within Management Accounting and Analysis and within UW Finance and the Controller’s Office as a member of the senior leadership teams. Lead all teams in improving processes and customer service using Lean methodology.
Lead Campus Training and Presentations
o Serve as a trainer and mentor to campus administrators, faculty, Department Chairs, Deans and members of the Management Accounting and Analysis and Grant and Contract Accounting staff for complex costing issues. Develop training curriculum and make presentations on complex costing topics to a variety of audiences including campus administrators, faculty, Department Chairs, Deans, the Research Advisory Board, and the Faculty Council on Research.
Requirements
o Bachelor's degree in accounting, business, finance or a related field; and
o A minimum of eight years of costing and/or financial accounting experience;
o Demonstrated experience with federal cost accounting principles, F&A rate proposal preparation and negotiation, Fringe Benefit rate proposal negotiation, and federal recharge and service center rate review;
o Requires experience at an institution(s) of higher education developing F&A rate proposals in accordance with OMB Circular A-21 and/or Federal Uniform Guidance.
Equivalent education/experience will substitute for all minimum qualifications except when there are legal requirements, such as a license/certification/registration.
Desired
o MBA and CPA/CGFM/CMA, or equivalent experience.
o Experience working with accounting software and proprietary systems, project management experience, and ability to perform complex functions with software such as MS Access, Excel, Project, and FoxPro.
Benefits
As a UW employee, you will enjoy generous benefits and work/life programs. For detailed information on Benefits for this position, click here.
Application Process:
The application process for UW positions may include completion of a variety of online assessments to obtain additional information that will be used in the evaluation process. These assessments may include Workforce Authorization, Cover Letter and/or others. Any assessments that you need to complete will appear on your screen as soon as you select “Apply to this position”. Once you begin an assessment, it must be completed at that time; if you do not complete the assessment you will be prompted to do so the next time you access your “My Jobs” page. If you select to take it later, it will appear on your "My Jobs" page to take when you are ready.
Please note that your application will not be reviewed, and you will not be considered for this position until all required assessments have been completed
Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, the University of Washington will honor your experiences, perspectives and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable and welcoming.
The University of Washington is a leader in environmental stewardship & sustainability, and committed to becoming climate neutral.
The University of Washington is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. To request disability accommodation in the application process, contact the Disability Services Office at 206-543-6450 / 206-543-6452 (tty) or dso@uw.edu.