Manager, Sponsored Projects Accounting – Financial Services

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Missouri.

📋 Description

• Direct, oversee, and manage the operations of the Sponsored Projects Accounting Private Team.

• Supervise, mentor, coach, and assess the performance of Private Team members.

• Set team priorities, objectives, performance standards, workload distribution, and service benchmarks.

• Manage financial reporting, invoicing processes, billing schedule establishment, review of pending payments, and closeout activities for private foundation, industry, and gift-funded awards.

• Provide oversight for complex and high-risk awards and address escalated issues effectively.

• Ensure adherence to sponsor guidelines, foundation standards, University policies, and regulatory mandates.

• Maintain internal controls, documentation, audit readiness, and quality assurance processes.

• Spearhead initiatives for workflow optimization, standardization, documentation, training, system improvements, automation, and data integrity.

• Act as a liaison to the Director of Sponsored Projects Accounting, communicating on performance, risks, workload, and recommendations.

• Collaborate with managers, faculty, departmental administrators, foundations, technology teams, and University stakeholders.

• Create and provide training and educational materials.

• Engage in strategic planning, special projects, system implementations, policy assessments, process redesign, and change management initiatives.

• Offer technical guidance and personally review complex, high-risk, or sensitive awards.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required.

• Minimum of 4 years of experience in Research Administration.

• In-depth understanding of private, foundation, and gift award structures, sponsor requirements, and University policies.

• Familiarity with financial reporting, invoicing processes, billing schedule setup, pending payment review, and award closeout procedures.

• Experience with the Arch system and associated tools.

• Proven ability to ensure compliance with sponsor and foundation terms, gift and grant policies, and relevant regulatory requirements.

• Capability to identify risks and implement controls and corrective measures.

• Experience in leading, supervising, coaching, and developing team members.

• Strong analytical thinking and writing skills.

• Proficient in computer literacy.

• Knowledge of general accounting and financial information.

• Skills in organizational project management and process enhancement.

• Professional judgment and ability to make independent decisions.

• No specific certification or professional license required.

• A driver's license is not necessary.

🏝️ Benefits

• Up to 22 days of vacation.

• 10 recognized holidays.

• Sick leave.

• Competitive health insurance packages featuring priority appointments and reduced copays/coinsurance.

• Complimentary Metro transit U-Pass for eligible employees.

• Defined contribution (403(b)) Retirement Savings Plan, with employee and university contributions beginning at 7%.

• Wellness challenges.

• Annual health screenings.

• Mental health resources.

• Mindfulness programs and courses.

• Employee assistance program (EAP).

• Financial resources.

• Access to dietitians.

• Four weeks of caregiver leave to bond with your newborn.

• Resources for family childcare needs.

• Support for adult care resources.

• Tuition coverage for employees and their families, including up to 100% of dependent undergraduate-level college tuition at WashU and 40% at other institutions after seven years.