Sponsored Projects Accountant 4 

RSCH ADM 4 RP (005265)

UCPath Position ID: TBD_940798

Position Description History/Status

Approved Date:

1/6/2026 6:01:09 PM

Date Last Edited:

1/6/2026 6:01:06 PM

Last Action Effective Date:

Organization Details

Business Unit (Location):

LACMP

Organization Code:

3100O

Organization:

VC RESEARCH

Division Code:

3115D

Division:

OFFICE OF RESEARCH ADMINISTRATION

Department:

351500 - EXTRAMURAL FUND MANAGEMENT

Position Details

UCPath Position Number:

TBD_940798

Position Description ID

250372

UC Payroll Title:

RSCH ADM 4 RP (005265)

Personnel Program

Professional and Support Staff (PSS)

Salary Grade:

STEPS

Job Code FLSA:

Exempt

Union Code (Collective Bargaining Unit):

RP: RESEARCH AND PUBLIC SERVICE PR

Employee Relations Code:

E: All Others - Not Confidential

Employee Class (Appt Type):

2 - Staff: Career

Full-Time Equivalent (FTE)

1

SUPERVISION

UCPath Reports to Position Number:

40046436

Reports to Payroll Title:

Contracts and Grants Mgr 1

UCPath Department Head Position Number:

40046436

Department Head Payroll Title:

CONTRACTS AND GRANTS MGR 3

DIRECTION - Indicates that the incumbent establishes procedures for attaining specific goals and objectives in a broad area of work. Only the final results of work done are typically reviewed. Incumbent typically develops procedures within the limits of established policy guidelines.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Office of Extramural Fund Management (EFM) is part of the Office of Research Administration (ORA) and supports the $900 million research program at UCLA by providing leadership, professional guidance and administrative services to faculty, department research administrators, and students. Under the general direction of the Manager, the Sponsored Projects Accountant 4 is responsible for financial management of UCLA sponsored funds from federal, state and local government sources, as well as nonprofit, private and corporate sponsors. Ensures fiscal compliance with UCLA and sponsor policies, timely submission of reports and invoices to sponsoring agencies, and responsive customer service. Primary responsibilities include analyzing and reviewing expenditures, identifying potential compliance and/or policy violations, communicating concerns and financial issues to campus department personnel and Office of Contract and Grant Administration (OCGA) peers, facilitating resolution of post-award issues, and preparing complex financial reports. The incumbent is an active participant in the shared responsibility with the Principal Investigators, departmental fund managers and OCGA staff for ensuring responsible stewardship in financial management of sponsored projects. The Accountant 4 is well experienced in a wide variety of complex operational matters including a detailed understanding of various sponsoring agency requirements, UC policies, and OMB circulars A-21, A-110, and A-133. The incumbent must have a broad knowledge of federal, private and state sponsor reporting requirements. The incumbent assists the Manager in implementing process improvements, assessing staffing needs, and promoting the overall mission of the unit, and carries out other duties as assigned. Functions independently with minimal supervision. Consults with Manager on non-routine items and exceptions that may impact policy/procedure. Performance of a Sponsored Projects Accountant 4 is evaluated in terms of the team's efficiency and its contribution to overall enhancement of EFM's performance.   

The Office of Extramural Fund Management (EFM) is part of the Office of Research Administration (ORA) and supports the $900 million research program at UCLA by providing leadership, professional guidance and administrative services to faculty, department research administrators, and students.

Fund and Cash Management

1. Ensure proper system(s) are in place to consistently monitor financial compliance per agency and University requirements for all financial transactions and reports submitted to sponsoring agencies. 2. Make effective decisions that reflect proper interpretation and application of agency and University policies and offer guidance to department staff and faculty engaged in the management of sponsored projects. 3. Review, approve and utilize delegated signature authority for all financial activity documentation reported to sponsoring agencies (i.e., invoices, financial reports, cash requests) to ensure accuracy and manage risk on behalf of the institution. 4. Act as the main point of contact for sponsored agencies for all financial matters related to assigned departments/funds. 5. Lead and facilitate the resolution of complex problems that may arise involving sponsors, Principal Investigators, and other campus units by identifying key stakeholders, conducting in depth analysis, providing alternative solutions and chairing meetings. 6. Review and approve financial journals prepared by Accountant 1 - 3 positions involving sponsored funds and evaluate against federal regulations and the terms and conditions of the award. 7. Advise Principal Investigators, staff and sponsoring agency officials on issues of concern such as allowability of expenditures, interpretation of terms and conditions, and other financial management issues. 8. Initiate and foster effective partnerships between Central Administrative units, PI's, Dean's offices, Graduate Division, Audit and Advisory Services and other academic departments to maintain and enhance EFM's operational efficiency in managing sponsored funds. 9. In coordination with the Manager, develop, implement and/or modify new or existing workflow and procedures relating to the financial management of sponsored projects. 10. Independently determine when exceptions to policies are warranted and coordinate with OCGA staff to request for policy exception from the sponsoring agency. 11. Participate in audits of contracts and grants by collecting, analyzing and providing information, as appropriate and as requested by Audit and Advisory Services, and by attending audit entrance and exit interviews. 12. Keep abreast of frequently changing federal and other sponsoring agency regulations to reduce negative audit reports and disallowances, cancellation or non-renewal of contracts and grants, and to reduce confusion and misunderstandings among the central administrative units and campus departments.

75%

Training and Special Projects

1. Lead and/or facilitate workgroups to guide participants through EFM business processes and functionality and actively contribute to identify potential enhancements and/or solutions for continuous improvement. 2. Represent EFM on campus-wide, system-wide, and federal workgroups/committees to ensure issues related to special projects / systems and financial management of sponsored funds are considered by central campus units as they create new or modify existing systems. 3. Develop various types of training materials including PowerPoints presentation, on-line video training, Quick guides, etc. and conduct training sessions for the campus research community and additional interested parties including other institutions as requested. Recommend best practices to proactively address policy/compliance issues. 4. Increase the effectiveness and efficiency of UCLA, ORA and EFM's systems and internal procedures by actively participating in the enhancement, development and replacement of such systems and the improvement of business procedures and processes. 5. Generate ad hoc reports for use by management and others to evaluate the status and progress of various activities and/or overall key performance metrics.

25%

•

Performs other duties as assigned.

•

Complies with all policies and standards.

•

Complies with the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Principles of Community.

•

This position description is not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties or skills required for the job and is subject to review and change at any time, with or without notice, in accordance with the needs of the organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor's Degree

and/or four years of experience in related field and/or equivalent experience/training.

Required

Detailed knowledge of Code of federal regulations. OMB circulars A-21, A-110 and A-133, NIH grants Policy Statements, NSF grants Policy Manual and regulations of other federal and state agencies.

Required

Demonstrated professional experience, business acumen, judgment and integrity to effectively deliver high quality service to internal and external customers.

Required

Demonstrated skill in delivering high quality customer service to a diverse group of colleagues both within the organization and to external customers.

Required

Working knowledge of the most current versions of Excel, Word, Access and other database query programs to effectively complete primary job functions.

Required

Demonstrated ability to manage a high volume of assignments and to set priorities, which reflect relative importance of the task to overall job responsibilities.

Required

Skill in organizing material and information in a systematic way to optimize effective and efficient operations.

Required

Demonstrated experience in delivering effective presentations to large (100+) and small (25 or less) audiences ranging in experience from novice to advanced in the subject matter. Strongly Preferred.

Preferred

Ability to analyze and evaluate the impact of changes in federal, state and other sponsoring agency regulations and provide assistance to the Director to plan proper implementation of such changes.

Required

Ability to analyze and interpret financial data in order to approve financial reports, ledgers and accounting journals to ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, University accounting, and terms and conditions of various sponsoring agencies.

Required

Skill in analyzing information and objectives to define problems, identify patterns, relationships, formulate logical and objective conclusions and recognize alternatives and their implications.

Required

Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills to establish and maintain cooperative, tactful, effective, and harmonious working relationships with co-workers, supervisors, university employees, sponsors and the public.

Required

Skill in writing clear, concise, and grammatically correct business correspondence, analysis and financial reports intended for audiences ranging in experience from novice to advanced in the subject matter.

Required

Superior written and oral communication skills to ensure effective communication with a wide range of audiences including internal staff, Principal Investigators, departmental fund managers and OCGA staff.

Required

Ability to adapt to changes as a result of automation including re-training, workflow changes, procedural adjustments, and interactions with the campus research community.

Required

Advance skill and experience in accounting and financial management practices, including a basic understanding of systems of internal control sufficient to review, analyze and interpret procedures and results in order to determine whether transactions and activity comply with laws, regulations, terms and conditions of award document, policies and procedures.

Required

Working knowledge of customer service, performance measurements and quality service principles to ensure delivery of EFM services meets established standards.

Required

Thorough knowledge of University policies governing the administration of contracts, grants, cooperative agreements and subcontracts.

Preferred

Working knowledge of University financial system and Contract and Grants award system.

Preferred

Working knowledge of University accounting, payroll, personnel, material management policies and procedures to effectively review and correct financial transactions using manual forms and electronic media.

Preferred

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS AND/OR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.

Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.

LOCATION AND PHYSICAL, ENVIRONMENTAL, MENTAL (PEM) REQUIREMENTS

Environment and Work Location Information

Environment Type:

Non-Clinical Setting

Location Setting:

Campus

Location:

Los Angeles

Standing/Walking

X

Sitting

X

X

Bending/Stooping

X

Squatting/Kneeling

X

Climbing

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 0-25 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull 26-50 lbs

X

Lifting/Carrying/Push/Pull over 50 lbs

X

Physical requirements other

X

Chemicals, dust, gases, or fumes

X

Loud noise levels

X

Marked changes in humidity or temperature

X

Microwave/Radiation

X

Operating motor vehicles and/or equipment

X

Exposures other

X

Sustained attention and concentration

X

X

Complex problem solving/reasoning

X

X

Ability to organize & prioritize

X

X

Communication skills

X

X

Numerical skills

X

X

Mental demands other

X

X

Classification 3:  Position in which exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues is not part of the position description. The normal routine task involves no exposure to blood, body fluids or tissues and the employee can decline to perform tasks which involve a perceived risk without retribution.