Divisional Accounting Director

Primary Purpose of Organizational Unit:

As the largest unit on campus, the College of Arts and Sciences is the academic heart of the Carolina experience. The College consists of 43 academic departments and curricula, 30+ programs, centers and institutes; home to more than 19,000 undergraduate students and approximately 2,400 graduate students, nearly 1,000 tenured, tenure-track and fixed-term faculty and more than 600 EHRA Non-Faculty and SHRA employees.

The College of Arts & Sciences, administered by the Dean, consists of seventy-one academic departments, curricula, programs, centers, and Institutes. The College is divided into multiple divisions, which are overseen by Senior Associate Deans. All academic departments and curricula are assigned to one of the following three divisions Fine Arts & Humanities, Natural Sciences & Mathematics, and Social Sciences & Global Programs. A fourth division, Undergraduate Education, houses curriculum and instructional innovation, honors and distinguished scholarships, and student academic support. These Senior Associate Deans, along with the Senior Associate Deans for Operations and Strategy, Research and Innovation, and Development; Associate Deans for Human Resources and Communications, all report to the Dean.

The College’s Business Operations, led by the Senior Associate Dean for Operations and Strategy, comprise of nearly 70 staff and include the divisions of Finance and Budget Management, Human Resources, Information Technology and Data Analytics, Facilities, and Dean’s Office administration.

To learn more about the College’s mission, vision, and values, please visit the overview section of our website: https://college.unc.edu/overview/.

Position Summary:

INTERNAL ONLY: Internal posting for permanent, time-limited and layoff priority employees of UNC-Chapel Hill only.

The Divisional Accounting Director will serve as the senior accountant for one of the divisions within the College of Arts and Sciences and will provide advanced-level accounting, financial analysis, and budget oversight for departments within the division. This role will support complex financial operations, ensure compliance with University, state, and federal policies, and serve as a subject matter expert for departmental leadership, faculty, and staff.

In addition to technical accounting responsibilities, the Divisional Accounting Director will supervise a team of accountants within the Shared Services accounting team and support operational coordination, mentorship, and quality assurance of financial services provided to departments.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

Mid- to late-career with Masters and 2- 4 yrs experience; Bachelors and 3-5 yrs experience

Required Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

• Demonstrated expertise in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and complex university financial operations across multiple fund types.
• Demonstrated advanced proficiency in financial systems including ConnectCarolina, InfoPorte, and PeopleSoft, with experience in data analytics tools such as Tableau.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and provide technical oversight to accounting staff while establishing performance standards and ensuring compliance with state, federal, and university policies.
• Demonstrated experience managing dynamic financial operations including budget preparation, cost projections, fiscal allocation, and annual financial reporting for review by internal and external auditors.
• Demonstrated record of cross-functional collaboration, strategic communication, and coalition-building with departmental leadership, campus stakeholders, and central finance offices.

Preferred Qualifications, Competencies, and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree and 4-years minimum experience with accounting functions, strongly preferred.
• Experience with UNC-CH financial policies and systems, including InfoPorte, ConnectCarolina, purchasing cards, and travel systems are strongly preferred.
• Experience managing multiple fund types including state, trust, grants and contracts, F&A, and sponsored research funds in university or government setting.
• Strong interpersonal, customer service, and training skills with a record of successfully communicating complex financial policies to non-financial audiences.