Manager, General Accounting

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

About Rice:
Boasting a 300-acre, tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas, Rice University is ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report . Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally, and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lecture series, courses, and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.

Rice is also a wonderful place to work. Rice faculty, staff, and students share values that are essential to our success as a healthy community. Those values guide our decisions and behaviors and shape Rice’s culture. They come through in the way we treat each other and the welcome we extend to our visitors. These values can be recalled simply by our name — RICE — Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Position Summary:
This position reports to the Assistant Controller of Accounting Operations in the Controller’s Office. The General Accounting Manager provides accounting leadership and supervision of accounting staff while managing complex accounting and control functions.

Ideal Candidate Statement:
The ideal candidate is a seasoned financial reporting leader with deep expertise in central accounting operations, including month-end and year-end close, financial statement creation and analysis, accounting policy, and internal controls. They have a demonstrated ability to ensure accurate, timely, and compliant financial reporting in a complex, decentralized organization while maintaining strong governance and transparency. This individual excels at leading and developing accounting teams, with experience managing performance and fostering consistency and accountability across functions. They bring a proven track record of leading high-impact process improvements, strengthening reporting quality, modernizing systems, and enhancing audit readiness. The ideal candidate applies strong analytical judgment and a continuous improvement mindset to support institutional stewardship and informed decision-making.

Workplace Location:
Hybrid position: This position is offered as a hybrid role, combining both in-office and remote work to provide flexibility and support collaboration. Per Rice policy 440 , work arrangements may be subject to change.

Hiring Range: Salary range starts at $106,400 and up, based on experience and qualifications.

*Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree

  • In lieu of the education/experience requirement, additional related education and/or experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis

• 4 years of directly related experience

  • In lieu of the education/experience requirement, additional related education and/or experience, above and beyond what is required, may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis

Skills:

• Advanced knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, email, and database software

• Knowledge of and ability to apply GAAP

• Advanced knowledge of accounting systems

• Leadership skills
  

Preferences:

• Experience working in an institution of higher education

• Experience working in an automated accounting system such as Oracle Cloud Financials

• CPA
  

Essential Functions:

• Manages the accounting function and operations for a university-wide accounting function

• Manages the work of other employees and determines staffing needs

• Makes hiring decisions; provides coaching, training, and mentoring; and manages performance

• Develops and ensures succession planning within area of responsibility

• Acts as lead on major initiatives; leads complex, high-visibility process redesign and innovation projects; develops and implements initiatives

• Establishes operational objectives and assignments and program and project goals

• Develops and delivers both short- and long-term complex analyses and high-level strategic modeling

• Manages the organization’s accounting activities and structure; develops system and procedure requirements to support organizational reporting

• Creates and executes programs, processes, and policies to support the university’s stewardship of resources

• Makes recommendations; negotiates and influences issues related to university accounting policy; and provides strategy, vision, and direction with wide scope and impact

• Drives continuous critical analysis of existing systems and processes; identifies the need for new systems; develops and presents proposals

• Provides excellent customer service and training to university stakeholders involved in the accounting function

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

Rice University is committed to ensuring Equal Employment Opportunity and welcoming the fullness of diversity into our candidate pools. Rice considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. Rice also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified persons with disabilities. If an applicant requires a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process, please get in touch with Rice University’s Human Resources Office via email at facstaffada@rice.edu for support.

If you have any additional questions, please email us at jobs@rice.edu . Thank you for your interest in employment with Rice University.