Senior Accountant

University of Washington Medical Center•Seattle, WA

13d

About The Position

Finance, Planning, and Budgeting (FPB) encompasses the major central financial, planning, analytical, and budgeting functions for the University of Washington, including: Finance Stewardship & Operations Institutional Analytics & Decision Support Budget, Policy & Strategy University Business Services Reporting to the Enterprise Accounting & Governance Director, the Senior Accountant serves as a strategic accounting advisor to campus stakeholders and central administrative units, providing authoritative guidance on complex and technical accounting matters. The role is responsible for the execution of specific month-end and year-end close activities, including the preparation and review of journal entries, accruals, and account reconciliations, and may provide leadership and mentorship to junior accounting professionals. In addition, the Senior Accountant leads specific advanced financial accounting and external reporting functions for the institution, ensuring full compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) standards, and applicable federal regulations. This position manages highly complex accounting activities, including the preparation of specialized external reports such as the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA), Section 117 Foreign Gifts and Contracts Report, and the National Science Foundation’s Foreign Financial Disclosure Report, and plays a key role in supporting Single Audit requirements and other regulatory filings.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field and CPA Certified Public Accountant (CPA); active or recently lapse within 6 months of application
5 years of progressively responsible accounting experience, featuring substantial leadership roles in higher education or large-scale organizations
Demonstrated expertise in external financial reporting, audit management, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations
Advanced accounting knowledge, including expertise in GAAP, GASB, Uniform Guidance (UG), and state accounting standards (SAAM)
Experienced in Internal Controls & Risk Management with an ability to design and implement ICOFR frameworks and monitor compliance
Skilled in creating and maintaining institutional accounting policies and manuals
Advanced analytical and problem solving skillset with an ability to interpret complex regulations and apply them to institutional processes
Ability to initiate clear, professional communication with senior executives, auditors, Deans Offices and leads of other units
Proficiency in Excel pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and data visualization for financial analysis as well as Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint), SharePoint, Teams, and other documentation and collaboration tools
Demonstrated experience in working with diverse groups and teams; create a culture of inclusion and equity throughout the team while supporting the overall culture of FPB

Nice To Haves

Experience with Workday Financials
Strong understanding of Single Audit/SEFA requirements, and Section 117/NSF disclosure reporting

Responsibilities

Accounting and Analysis Interpret and apply complex GAAP, GASB, and federal regulatory requirements to non-routine, high-risk transactions requiring significant professional judgment and documentation
Lead the preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) for all federal research activity, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and compliance, and supporting inclusion in the University’s and State’s consolidated financial statements subject to annual audit
Perform advanced financial analysis, reconciliations, and issue corrective journal entries across multiple systems and Workday companies to resolve non-compliant items and ensure the integrity of institutional financial records
Prepare and review complex schedules and adjustments for annual financial statement preparation, including incoming funds, accounts receivable, and sponsored program activity
Reconcile data across multiple accounting and reporting systems to produce accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports under strict reporting deadlines
Enterprise Accounting Support Serve as the primary institutional accounting resource for campus stakeholders, including Shared Environments (SEs), Deans’ Offices, and departmental leadership, providing authoritative guidance on complex accounting and reporting matters
Collaborate with campus partners to optimize the use of Workday while establishing and maintaining strong accounting practices aligned with internal policies, GAAP, GASB standards, and federal regulatory requirements
Translate highly technical accounting standards, audit requirements, and regulatory guidance into clear, actionable direction for non-accounting stakeholders
Support institution-wide audits and regulatory reviews, including Single Audit activities, by coordinating documentation, responding to auditor inquiries, and resolving findings
Promote consistent application of accounting policies, reporting standards, and internal controls across a decentralized operating environment, balancing compliance, risk management, and operational needs
Process Improvement & Project Support Lead and support initiatives to strengthen accounting processes, internal controls, and reporting accuracy in a complex and evolving regulatory environment
Support the Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting (ICOFR) strategic plan
Lead initiatives to update, maintain, and govern the institutional accounting policy manual, ensuring alignment with evolving regulatory requirements, accounting standards, and best practices
Evaluate and reconcile workflows and data across disparate systems to identify inefficiencies, control gaps, or compliance risks, and implement sustainable improvements
Drive continuous improvement by recommending best practices that enhance efficiency, transparency, and audit readiness