Principal Accountant - General Accountant - Hybrid

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UCOP Budget, Financial Planning & Analysis provides strategic support in financial planning, policy analysis, and fiscal administration to UCOP. The group provides analyses of policies and programs, assists in the determination of UCOP’s financial priorities and develops strategies designed to achieve these priorities. The team partners with departments to align UCOP's resources with its strategic needs and goals and delivers insightful financial analysis and forecasting to support UCOP leadership to make effective and strategic funding, financial and operational decisions.

The UCOP Principal Accountant is responsible, under general direction, for all aspects of UCOP's accounting function, including oversight of accounting entries, capital/fixed asset recording, reconciliations, financial reporting, and compliance with applicable accounting standards. The Principal Accountant leads monthly and annual fiscal close activities, and interfaces, as needed, with external auditors. This role ensures appropriate use of restricted fund sources and reconciles all UCOP funds.

The Principal Accountant advises leadership on documentation and updates for relevant processes and procedures, to ensure accuracy and integrity of financial data. Reporting to the Executive Director of Budget, Financial Planning & Analysis, the Principal Accountant is responsible for providing financial expertise and analysis related to UCOP's accounting and financial reporting functions. The position collaborates closely with colleagues in Budget, Financial Planning & Analysis, the Systemwide Controller's Office, and the Business Resource Center, among others, to accurately reflect operating and capital transactions and support comprehensive financial reporting.

As a newly established role, the Principal Accountant will exercise a high degree of independence, initiative, and professional judgment in developing and implementing financial accounting and reporting processes and tools that may not currently exist. The incumbent will play a key role in establishing financial dashboards, developing performance metrics, and recommending best practices to improve the quality, consistency, and accessibility of financial information across the organization.

Having wide-ranging accounting-related experience, the incumbent uses accounting concepts and standards aligned with organizational objectives to resolve complex accounting issues. Handles assignments where analysis of…