Position Summary 

As a member of the Controller’s office staff, the Assistant Controller of Accounting Operations will work directly with the Associate Vice President and University Controller and is responsible for leading and managing the university's main accounting functions that serve not only the reporting needs of the University, but also interact with the greater Rice community to meet their operational needs.

This position plays a critical role in ensuring prompt and accurate service to both our central and campus customers, suppliers, and regulatory agencies. This position oversees approximately 20 people and encompasses general accounting, capital and property accounting, accounts payable, pcard administration, expense reporting processing, and investment and endowment accounting. This position will be responsible for ensuring accurate and timely processing of transactions and assisting the greater university community with troubleshooting assistance. The Assistant Controller of Accounting Operations collaborates with various stakeholders, including the Controller, finance teams, executive management, the university community, and auditors. 

Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. This position requires extended working hours and working weekends once a quarter for cloud software updates.

Hiring Range: $157,000 - $173,000

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree 
  • In lieu of the education requirement, additional related experience, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted
• Five years of related experience including roles in finance or accounting, with supervisory/management experience 
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year for year basis may be substituted
• Which includes three years of public accounting experience
• Experience in a service environment that places high value on providing excellent customer service 
• Skills Required
  • Problem solving skills to identify complex problems and reviews related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions
  • Excellent analytical skills to analyze and interpret data
  • Ability to dig into and analyze data for trends, anomalies, and “ask the right questions”
  • Excellent verbal and written communications skills including report preparation and presentation to gather information and share recommendation and outcomes 
  • Excellent critical thinking skills to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint)
  • Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Standards

Preferences

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance
• Experience managing large department(s)
• Three years of experience with Oracle Cloud ERP
• Certified public accountant or equivalent certification

Essential Functions

1. Oversee day to day operations of the campus facing departments:
   1. Leads in the design and modification of business processes affecting the associated area(s)
   2. Collaborate with other Controller’s offices and relevant campus departments to ensure excellent customer service is maintained
   3. Oversee the development and deployment or continuation of applicable training and office hours for each area. This should focus on the specific aspects of that department and the interactions that our customers have with us. 
2. Financial Reporting and Analysis:
   1. Work with the Finance Systems and Reporting team to develop internal dashboards to better monitor efficiency, throughput, backlogs, anomalies, etc. 
   2. Work with the Finance Systems and Reporting team to assess the enhancements offered in Oracle Cloud and assist in the development plans to implement those that would benefit Rice University.
   3. Develop and maintain a comprehensive reporting framework, including regular management reports, quarterly brief book analyses, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
   4. Identify trends, risks, and opportunities through data analysis and provide recommendations to drive financial performance. 
3. Providing leadership and direction to staff:
   1. Manage a team of finance professionals, providing guidance, coaching and performance feedback.
   2. Foster a culture of continuous learning and development within the various teams 
   3. Establish clear goals and objectives, ensuring team members are equipped with the necessary resources and skills to achieve them. 
   4. Collaborate with other finance leaders to promote cross-functional collaboration and achieve overall finance department objectives.

Rice University HR | Benefits: https://knowledgecafe.rice.edu/benefits

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Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

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