Associate Director-Sponsored Award Accounting

About the job

Market Range: 14

Hiring Salary: $6,123.04 - $8,572.25/Monthly

The Associate Director Sponsored Award Accounting directs sponsored award accounting operations, supervises the Sponsored Award Accountant ladder, and holds defined approval authority over transactions affecting sponsored funds.

Responsibilities

• Approves non-salary cost transfers affecting sponsored and cost share funds, confirming documentation, timeliness, allowability, and adequacy of explanation.
• Approves salary and wage cost transfers affecting sponsored funds in coordination with Payroll.
• Allocates award portfolio based on complexity and workload, adjusting assignments as award volume and mix change.
• Approves financial reports and invoices prepared by accountants prior to certification to the sponsor, above the delegated accountant threshold.
• Oversees monthly reconciliation of sponsored receivables and resolution of outstanding or unreconciled balances.
• Oversees accurate establishment of sponsored awards based on approved award documentation.
• Serves as the escalation point for complex sponsor and departmental financial issues beyond the accountant level.
• Coordinates with Research Administration when award terms require clarification rather than independently interpreting executed agreements.
• Provides sponsored programs receivable balances and supporting reconciling schedules for annual financial statement preparation in coordination with the Controller.
• Monitors invoice aging, unbilled balances, and collection status and directs appropriate follow-up and intervention.
• Conducts quality reviews of financial reports and award closeouts and uses finding to strengthen staff training and performance.
• Maintains effective backup coverage to ensure continuity of award administration.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field. (Master’s Degree preferred.) (TRANSCRIPT REQUIRED)

EXPERIENCE: Five (5) years of related responsible grants and contracts accounting experience; OR Master’s Degree and three (3) years of related responsible grants and contracts accounting experience; OR a combination of related education and work experience to equal nine (9) years. (Certified Public Accountant license preferred.)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Expert knowledge of Uniform Guidance, cost principles, and allowability determination.
• Knowledge of institutional accounting policy, indirect cost recovery, and cost share requirements.
• Knowledge of internal control principles including segregation of duties and approval authority.
• Skill in supervising professional accounting staff.
• Ability to make and document approval decisions under regulatory and time pressure.
• Ability to explain institutional practice to auditors and sponsors.

WORK SCHEDULE: This position may occasionally be required to work weekends and evenings.

Additional Information

• Job Identification: 10246
• Job Category: Financial
• Posting Date: 2026-10-06
• Job Schedule: Full time
• Locations: 62 South Dunlap Street, Memphis, TN, 38163, US ()