"Senior Research Accountant"

Position Summary:

The Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies (Rice360), a multidisciplinary institute at Rice University, is a leader in global health technology education, research, and implementation, with a distinctive focus on experiential and problem-based learning. Rice360 develops highly effective, low-cost healthcare solutions addressing critical healthcare needs in underserved communities and educates a cadre of future leaders to continue to innovate and implement solutions. Rice360 works closely with partners in underserved communities throughout the world, including low- and middle-income countries and the United States.

Rice360 offers award-winning experiential education programs, including a Global Health Technologies Minor, international internships, and Global Health Technologies post-baccalaureate fellowships. Program participants engage directly in the design, fabrication, evaluation, deployment, and global scaling of innovative new technologies.

Rice360 works closely with partners in underserved communities throughout the world, including low- and middle-income countries and the United States. Rice360 collaborators can be found within Rice University, the Texas Medical Center, and other educational and medical institutions in the U.S. and across the globe. Rice360 has staff permanently located in Blantyre, Malawi; Nairobi, Kenya; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and Lagos, Nigeria, who support in-country education and research partnerships.

Working under the supervision of the Director of Finance and Operations, the Senior Research Accountant is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of complete and accurate financial records for the Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies. This includes:

• Assisting in the management and tracking of gift, grant, and institutional funds
• Reviewing and processing all financial documents to ensure that expenses follow university and sponsor guidelines and that sufficient funds are available on the appropriate fund
• Reconciling departmental records with the university accounting system
• Preparing detailed accounting reports and financial projections

Ideal Candidate Statement:

The ideal candidate is a detail-oriented research accounting and finance professional with advanced knowledge of accounting principles, contract and grant procedures, and compliance frameworks. They are proactive problem-solver who work well under deadlines, with high proficiency in Excel and financial systems, and a strong preference for candidates familiar with Rice University systems. They possess excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, allowing them to collaborate effectively with diverse partners, including those in low-resource settings.

Workplace Requirements:

This is a Houston-based full-time position (Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.) with occasional early morning, evening, or weekend work required to accommodate time zone differences for meetings with partners. Per Rice policy 440, work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range:

$61,000-$69,000/year, contingent upon qualifications and experience.

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.*
This position is 50% funded by grant, soft, and/or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent upon ongoing need and the renewal of funding.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree
• 2+ years of experience in grant-funded research budget oversight, expenditure tracking, and analysis in a higher education academic setting
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education--above and beyond what is required--may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis
• Skills:
  • Advanced knowledge of contract and grant procedures and the ability to apply accounting practices
  • Advanced knowledge of accounting principles, concepts, and analysis of accounting transactions
  • Advanced knowledge of Uniform Guidance and Cost Accounting Standards
  • Advanced working knowledge of Excel
  • Ability to independently diagnose and solve problems using sound judgment and decision-making abilities
  • Strong customer service skills
  • Ability to work collaboratively with different process partners
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills

Preferences:

• Bachelor's degree or higher in accounting, business administration, finance, or a related field
• Prior experience working with Rice University financial systems (e.g., Banner, iO), the Office of Sponsored Research, Research Compliance, and/or the Office of Research and Cost Accounting
• Related experience in complex research budget oversight, including expenditure tracking and analysis, and assessment of multiple international sub-awards
• Related experience working with research faculty and staff to communicate financial status and prepare financial reports for a multiyear, multi-institution international research project
• Advanced knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning and financial systems
• Ability to work under deadlines with flexibility, tact, good judgment, discretion, and initiative
• Advanced professional communication skills, including the ability to prepare materials for and clearly and effectively communicate information to internal and external audiences, client groups, and management
• Strong project management skills and the ability to contribute to or lead part of a multifunctional team
• Excellent interpersonal and cross-cultural skills, with demonstrated sensitivity to low-resource settings
• Demonstrated support for Rice360 Core Values: Innovation, Equity, Community, Integrity, Accountability, Empowerment, and Transformation

Essential Functions:

• Reviews and interprets legal documents for financial terms and conditions
• Reviews account setup in financial systems to ensure financial terms are recorded with appropriate key attributes
• Clarifies financial terms and ensures correct account setup to ensure compliance
• Prepares financial reports
• Coordinates and works with Sponsored Projects and Research Compliance senior management, institutional representatives, and administrators to set up account structures for complex programs/centers
• Monitors sponsored project activity--including cost overruns, cost sharing, and unallowable/administrative expenses--throughout the project lifecycle to ensure compliance
• Performs reconciliation and overall analysis of expenditures and final award closeouts for assigned departments or sponsor award ranges
• Interprets complex university and government policies
• Serves as liaison between the university, sponsors, and department staff
• Completes other duties as assigned

Additional Functions:

• Performs highly analytical, complex finance and control functions; conducts multidimensional and complex reconciliations and related analysis; prepares, reviews, and approves complex transactions and higher-dollar-value transactions
• Develops complex budget and forecasting scenarios, long-range planning, and analyses for financial reporting and presentations; designs and runs ad hoc reports
• Recommends and develops solutions that may require policy changes or the development of new processes; maintains broader organizational and university perspectives in decision-making
• Manages the compliance program for the area of responsibility
• Leads and executes unit or cross-functional projects and teams, making decisions regarding projects and programs affecting operational effectiveness, policies, or processes
• Engages in continuous critical analysis of existing systems and processes; makes recommendations to achieve greater efficiencies and improve internal controls
• Defines requirements, develops and implements complex test cases, performs testing, and analyzes results
• Leads and supports unit and organizational strategy and change management initiatives
• Represents the organization to client groups and external partners; serves as a subject matter expert on matters involving complex technical, financial, or subject matter expertise
• Assesses client and business needs and formulates recommendations to determine approaches to managing and completing processes

Special instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.