Award Accountant

Payroll

Title:

RSCH ADM 3

Department: BFS - SPF

Hiring Pay Scale: $85,000 - $94,000 / Year

Worksite: Hybrid

Appointment Type: Career

Appointment Percent: 100%

Union: Uncovered

Total Openings: 2

Work Schedule: Days, 8 hrs/day, Mon-Fri

Extended Deadline: Fri 3/13/2026

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This position will work a hybrid schedule two days onsite which includes a combination of working both onsite at Campus and remote.

This position will be a part of the UAW union moving forward.

The Sponsored Projects Finance (SPF) division at UC San Diego is a cornerstone of financial oversight and compliance, managing $1.7 billion in research funding—approximately 60% of the university’s portfolio. Supporting more than 4,000 active research awards across the Health Sciences, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and General Campus, SPF ensures regulatory compliance, provides strategic guidance to principal investigators, department staff, and leadership, and drives continuous business process improvements.

SPF empowers campus stakeholders with essential financial tools and training, enhancing their ability to navigate complex research funding requirements. Through its comprehensive services—including financial reporting, accounts receivable and cash management, effort reporting, payroll and expense transfer approvals, and cost share monitoring—SPF upholds the university’s commitment to financial integrity, cost accountability, and the advancement of its research mission. Incumbent serves as an Award Accountant, Health Sciences within the Sponsored Projects Finance (SPF) — a division of Business and Financial Services (BFS).

This position provides vital support to UC San Diego campus departments to coordinate and oversee the post award accounting and financial administration of funds received from federal and non-federal sponsors. Incumbent ensures timely and accurate fund control activities and management of financial reporting requirements to the awarding agencies/entities. The Award Accountant provides knowledge in regulatory compliance support services to the department administrators and Principal Investigators to ensure all applicable government and private regulations are met during the executed award period.

The Award Accountant is responsible for supporting and enhancing a culture of quality services that supports the research mission of the University of California system. Incumbents assume a broad level of responsibility in the post award accounting administration of executed awards, providing project leadership and support on a multitude of campus wide and organizational initiatives.

• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training.
• Thorough understanding of research administration guidelines of Federal and non-Federal sponsors supporting research and educational activities, preferably in a university environment.
• Ability to perform complex financial analysis and customized reporting. Demonstrated analytical skills, ability to comprehend and reconcile financial data, and perform mathematical computations with accuracy.
• Demonstrated competence in the use of spreadsheet and database software in financial analysis, fiscal management and financial reports. Intermediate proficiency Microsoft suite of applications, and the ability to quickly master additional software as needed. Demonstrated ability to effectively use information technology and process redesign methodologies in creating, designing and implementing new processes.
• Demonstrated knowledge of generally accepted accounting, fiscal and reporting principles. Demonstrated knowledge of accounting principles theory and practice.
• Ability to manage significant volume of transactions.
• Ability to maintain independent judgment; strong organization and communication skills; and a customer service focus across broad and diverse subject areas. Demonstrated ability to effectively exercise independent judgment, solve problems and make decisions. Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills with ability to exercise tact, mature judgment, confidentiality, diplomacy and flexibility to promote positive working relationships and job…