Job description

The Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior is seeking to hire a full-time Accountant to join its Office of Finance team. In this role, you will support the financial administration of philanthropic, endowment, and gift-funded programs that advance groundbreaking research, education, and clinical initiatives. Key responsibilities include: • Manage financial activity for foundation, endowment, gift, and other designated funds • Review and process expenditures, transfers, interdepartmental recharge transactions, deposits, and procurement requests • Reconcile financial ledgers and analyze account activity to ensure accuracy and compliance • Prepare monthly financial reports, forecasts, variance analyses, and year-end financial documentation • Monitor fund balances and projections to identify and prevent overdrafts • Process gift-related transactions and coordinate with appropriate campus offices regarding donor contributions • Assist with budget development, financial data collection, and special financial projects • Serve as resource to faculty and staff regarding account status, financial policies, and funding utilization Salary range: $25.43/hr - $42.27/hr Required: • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Economics or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience • Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and financial accounting practices • Experience preparing financial reports, reconciling accounts, and maintaining accurate financial records • Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including the ability to create spreadsheets, perform data analysis, and generate reports • Experience reviewing and processing financial transactions with strong attention to detail • Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills • Excellent written and verbal communication skills • Ability to work independently, prioritize multiple assignments, and consistency meet deadlines • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish effective working relationships with faculty, staff, vendors, and campus partners Preferred: • Professional accounting or finance experience in higher education, healthcare, research, nonprofit, or public-sector environments • Knowledge of UCLA financial systems, policies, and procedures • Experience using institutional systems such as UCPath, OFC/OASIS, QDB, or similar enterprise financial platforms As a condition of employment , the final candidate who accepts an offer of employment will be required to disclose if they have been subject to any final administrative or judicial decisions within the last seven years determining that they committed any misconduct; or have filed an appeal of a finding of substantiated misconduct with a previous employer. Current/former UC employees are subject to a personnel file review.

Requirements

Must-haves

Review and process expenditures, transfers, interdepartmental recharge transactions, deposits, and procurement requests
Reconcile financial ledgers and analyze account activity to ensure accuracy and compliance
Prepare monthly financial reports, forecasts, variance analyses, and year-end financial documentation
Monitor fund balances and projections to identify and prevent overdrafts
Process gift-related transactions and coordinate with appropriate campus offices regarding donor contributions
Assist with budget development, financial data collection, and special financial projects
Serve as resource to faculty and staff regarding account status, financial policies, and funding utilization
Required: • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Economics or related field or an equivalent combination of education and experience
Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and financial accounting practices
Experience preparing financial reports, reconciling accounts, and maintaining accurate financial records
Proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including the ability to create spreadsheets, perform data analysis, and generate reports
Experience reviewing and processing financial transactions with strong attention to detail
Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to work independently, prioritize multiple assignments, and consistency meet deadlines
Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish effective working relationships with faculty, staff, vendors, and campus partners

Nice-to-haves

Professional accounting or finance experience in higher education, healthcare, research, nonprofit, or public-sector environments
Knowledge of UCLA financial systems, policies, and procedures
Experience using institutional systems such as UCPath, OFC/OASIS, QDB, or similar enterprise financial platforms
Current/former UC employees are subject to a personnel file review.

Application prep

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