Accountant Team Lead

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; Chapel Hill (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill seeks an Accountant Team Lead to manage financial transactions for the Offices reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Research. You will oversee expenditures, compliance, and reporting across multiple funds in the Service Center.

The role requires 3+ years in accounting for sponsored research, strong data analysis, and proficiency with UNC systems. The position emphasizes collaboration and process improvement in a high-demand environment.

Qualifications

• Three or more years of accounting/finance experience with sponsored research and fund types.
• Strong data analysis skills and regulatory interpretation.
• Excellent math and algebra skills.
• Extensive experience with effort certification processes.
• Ability to interpret diverse funding regulations.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools.
• Strong organizational and prioritization abilities.
• Ability to work independently.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate all financial transactions for Centers and Institutes reporting to the Vice Chancellor.
• Approve, monitor, and project expenditures across multi-fund accounts.
• Lead effort to improve workflow tools (RASR, SEP) and ensure compliance with policies.
• Provide special financial analysis projects for the division as needed.

Skills

Accounting

Data analysis

MS Office

Communication

Organizational skills

Independent work

Education

Masters degree

Bachelors degree

Tools

RAMSeS

PeopleSoft

Infoporte

Effort Certification

Job description

Department: ResServiceFirst-Finance-621900

Career Area : Accounting/Finance/Auditing

Posting Open Date: 08/06/2026

Application Deadline: 08/20/2026

Open Until Filled: No

Position Type: Permanent Staff (EHRA NF)

Working Title: Accountant Team Lead

Appointment Type: EHRA Non-Faculty

Position Number: 00037132

Vacancy ID: NF0009947

Full Time/Part Time: Full-Time Permanent

FTE: 1

Hours per week: 40

Position Location: North Carolina, US

Hiring Range: Dependent on Qualifications

Proposed Start Date: 09/01/2026

Be a Tar Heel!

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill consistently ranks as one of the nation's top public universities. Known for its beautiful campus, world-class medical care, commitment to the arts and top athletic programs, Carolina is an ideal place to teach, work and learn. One of the best college towns and best places to live in the United States, Chapel Hill has diverse social, cultural, recreation and professional opportunities that span the campus and community. University employees can choose from a wide range of professional training opportunities for career growth, skill development and lifelong learning and enjoy exclusive perks for numerous retail, restaurant and performing arts discounts, savings on local child care centers and special rates on select campus events. UNC-Chapel Hill offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package, paid leave, and a variety of health, life and retirement plans and additional programs that support a healthy work/life balance.

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit

The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Research (OVCR) oversees, develops, supports, and grows UNC-Chapel Hill's $1 billion research enterprise. The offices reporting to the OVCR set strategic priorities for research, manage proposals and awards, provide research infrastructure, identify funding opportunities, develop research teams and partnerships, oversee regulatory compliance, and communicate the impact and value of the University's research enterprise. The OVCR enables research endeavors for faculty, students, and scholars; encourages interdisciplinary research collaboration across campus; and fosters expansion and diversification of the University's sponsored research portfolio by collaborating with foundations, federal agencies, corporations, and the state and federal governments. The Vice Chancellor for Research also oversees multiple pan-University, multidisciplinary research centers and institutes.

Position Summary

The Accountant will serve as Team Lead and will be responsible to manage and coordinate all financial transactions for the Centers and Institute reporting to the Vice Chancellor in the Service Center, including approval, monitoring, and projection of expenditures on all accounts. In this complex, multi fund task, it is imperative that the accountant have a thorough understanding of UNC accounting and HR systems, university policies and procedures, the mission and workings of the Office of the Vice Chancellor and its Research and Centers and Institutes who utilize the Research Service Center. The Accountant will ensure that policies, procedures, guidelines, rules and regulations of the university, department and granting agencies are followed consistently and aid in establishing and documenting departmental policies and procedures. Utilizing the Software's, Salary and Expenses Projections (SEP), Research Administration Service Request (RASR), and the web based file storage system that utilizes OneDrive, this position will also be the primary manager of effort certification statements for the supported units, will lead initiative to improve the workflow tools RASR and SEP. This position will also evaluate program, policy, and rule changes to determine their impact on existing systems and to assure compliance with University requirements.

Working directly with the Director of the VCR Research Administration Service Center, the Accountant will be assigned special financial projects that require special effort, and/or independent analysis that are above and beyond current expectations and will serve the entire division.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements

Mid-career with Masters and 1-2 years experience; or Bachelors and 2-4 years experience

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

• Three or more years of extensive experience maintaining accounting records or separate accounts receivable/payable and payroll functions involving sponsored research, State, F&A, Trust and other fund types.
• Knowledge of and experience with analyzing data for accuracy, problem solving, and interpreting regulations.
• Excellent basic math and algebraic skills
• Extensive experience with the effort certification process and reviewing effort statements.
• Thorough understanding of how to interpret regulations and guidelines from a wide variety of funding agencies.
• Excellent interpersonal, customer service, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Access.
• Strong organizational and prioritization skills.
• Ability to function independently.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience

• Extensive experience with UNC-CH Systems: RAMSeS, Connect Carolina/PeopleSoft, Infoporte and Effort Certification.
• Knowledge of and experience with creating spreadsheets and developing formulas in Excel.
• Ability to work effectively and diplomatically with a wider range of people including University administrators, faculty, staff, and students.
• Superior analytical thinking and decision making skills.
• Ability to communicate obstacles and solutions clearly and concisely.
• Experience managing or providing work direction to peers and clients/customers.

Campus Security Authority Responsibilities

Not Applicable.