Associate Director-Sponsored Award Accounting

UT Health Sciences; Memphis (TN); On-site; USD 68,000 - 96,000; Full time

Job summary

UT Health Sciences in Memphis seeks an Associate Director Sponsored Award Accounting to oversee sponsored award accounting operations, supervise the accountant ladder, and hold defined approval authority over sponsored funds.

You will approve non-salary and salary transfers, allocate awards by workload, oversee reconciliations and reporting, and coordinate with Research Administration to clarify award terms.

Qualifications

• Five years of grants and contracts accounting experience.
• Master’s degree with three years related experience.
• CPA license preferred.

Responsibilities

• Approves non-salary cost transfers with documentation and explanation.
• Approves salary/wage transfers in coordination with Payroll.
• Allocates award portfolio based on workload and complexity.
• Oversees monthly reconciliation of sponsored receivables and prepares reports for statements.
• Escalates complex sponsor and departmental financial issues beyond accountant level.

Skills

Uniform Guidance

Cost principles

Allowability determination

Internal controls

Staff supervision

Decision making under pressure

Auditor communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Job Description

Market Range: 14

Hiring Salary: $6,123.04 - $8,572.25/Monthly

The Associate Director Sponsored Award Accounting directs sponsored award accounting operations, supervises the Sponsored Award Accountant ladder, and holds defined approval authority over transactions affecting sponsored funds.

Responsibilities

• Approves non-salary cost transfers affecting sponsored and cost share funds, confirming documentation, timeliness, allowability, and adequacy of explanation.
• Approves salary and wage cost transfers affecting sponsored funds in coordination with Payroll.
• Allocates award portfolio based on complexity and workload, adjusting assignments as award volume and mix change.
• Approves financial reports and invoices prepared by accountants prior to certification to the sponsor, above the delegated accountant threshold.
• Oversees monthly reconciliation of sponsored receivables and resolution of outstanding or unreconciled balances.
• Oversees accurate establishment of sponsored awards based on approved award documentation.
• Serves as the escalation point for complex sponsor and departmental financial issues beyond the accountant level.
• Coordinates with Research Administration when award terms require clarification rather than independently interpreting executed agreements.
• Provides sponsored programs receivable balances and supporting reconciling schedules for annual financial statement preparation in coordination with the Controller.
• Monitors invoice aging, unbilled balances, and collection status and directs appropriate follow-up and intervention.
• Conducts quality reviews of financial reports and award closeouts and uses finding to strengthen staff training and performance.
• Maintains effective backup coverage to ensure continuity of award administration.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. (Master’s Degree preferred.) (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

EXPERIENCE: Five (5) years of related responsible grants and contracts accounting experience; OR Master’s Degree and three (3) years of related responsible grants and contracts accounting experience; OR a combination of related education and work experience to equal nine (9) years. (Certified Public Accountant license preferred.)

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Expert knowledge of Uniform Guidance, cost principles, and allowability determination.
• Knowledge of institutional accounting policy, indirect cost recovery, and cost share requirements.
• Knowledge of internal control principles including segregation of duties and approval authority.
• Skill in supervising professional accounting staff.
• Ability to make and document approval decisions under regulatory and time pressure.
• Ability to explain institutional practice to auditors and sponsors.

WORK SCHEDULE: This position may occasionally be required to work weekends and evenings.