Research Accountant II

Application Instructions

Prospective candidates are required to submit a resume and cover letter. Please upload these documents in PDF format to the "Supporting Documents" section of your application to ensure proper formatting.

About Rice University

Located in Houston on a lush, 300-acre campus, Rice University consistently ranks among the top 20 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. The university prides itself on a 6:1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio and a unique residential college system. This system fosters intellectual, emotional, and cultural growth through various activities, including social events, intramural sports, student productions, lecture series, coursework, and student governance. Cultivating diverse, close-knit college communities is a core tradition, contributing to Rice's high rankings for quality of life and value among private institutions.

Rice is also recognized as an excellent workplace. Faculty, staff, and students at Rice share fundamental values that are crucial to building a healthy community. These values guide our decisions and behaviors, shaping the university’s culture and evident in how we interact with each other and welcome visitors. Our core values, embodied by the name RICE, stand for Responsibility, Integrity, Community, and Excellence.

Position Summary

The Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies (Rice360), a multidisciplinary institute at Rice University, leads in global health technology education, research, and implementation. It distinguishes itself with an emphasis on experiential and problem-based learning. Rice360 develops highly effective, affordable healthcare solutions for critical needs in underserved communities, while also educating future leaders to drive ongoing innovation and solution implementation. The institute partners closely with communities worldwide facing healthcare disparities, including those in low- and middle-income countries and within the United States.

Rice360 offers acclaimed experiential education initiatives, such as a Global Health Technologies Minor, international internships, and post-baccalaureate fellowships in Global Health Technologies. Participants in these programs actively engage in the design, fabrication, evaluation, deployment, and global expansion of innovative new technologies.

Rice360 collaborates extensively with partners in underserved global communities, spanning low- and middle-income countries and the United States. Its collaborators include entities within Rice University, the Texas Medical Center, and other educational and medical institutions domestically and internationally. Rice360 maintains permanent staff in Blantyre, Malawi; Nairobi, Kenya; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and Lagos, Nigeria, to bolster in-country educational and research collaborations.

Responsibilities

Reporting to the Director of Finance and Operations, the Research Accountant II will be responsible for the daily management of comprehensive and accurate financial records for the Rice360 Institute for Global Health Technologies. Key responsibilities include:

• Assisting with the oversight and tracking of gift, grant, and institutional funds.
• Reviewing and processing all financial documentation to ensure expenses adhere to university and sponsor guidelines, and that adequate funds are available in the correct accounts.
• Reconciling departmental financial records with the university's accounting system.
• Preparing detailed accounting reports and financial forecasts.

Please note: While this position is advertised as “Research Accountant II” for recruitment purposes, the successful candidate’s official title will be “Rice360 Senior Research Accountant.”

Ideal Candidate Statement

The preferred candidate is a meticulous research accounting and finance expert with advanced proficiency in accounting principles, contract and grant procedures, and compliance frameworks. This individual is a proactive problem-solver, adept at meeting deadlines, and possesses high proficiency in Excel and various financial systems. Preference will be given to candidates familiar with Rice University’s systems. Exceptional interpersonal and cross-cultural skills are essential for effective collaboration with diverse partners, particularly in low-resource environments.

Workplace Requirements

This is a full-time, Houston-based position with standard hours from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Occasional early morning, evening, or weekend work may be necessary to accommodate time zone differences for meetings with international partners. In accordance with Rice policy 440, work arrangements are subject to potential modification.

Hiring Range:

$61,000–$69,000/year, depending on qualifications and experience.

• Exempt (salaried) positions under FLSA are not eligible for overtime compensation. This role is 50% funded by grant, soft, and/or restricted funds. Continued employment is contingent upon ongoing operational need and the renewal of funding.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• Two or more years of experience in managing grant-funded research budgets, tracking expenditures, and conducting financial analysis.
  • In place of the experience requirement, additional relevant education—beyond the minimum degree—may be substituted on an equivalent year-for-year basis.
• Skills:
  • Advanced understanding of contract and grant procedures, with the ability to apply accounting best practices.
  • Extensive knowledge of accounting principles, concepts, and the analysis of accounting transactions.
  • Advanced knowledge of Uniform Guidance and Cost Accounting Standards.
  • Proficiency in Excel at an advanced working level.
  • Ability to independently identify and resolve problems using sound judgment and effective decision-making.
  • Strong customer service orientation.
  • Capacity for collaborative work with diverse process partners.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.

Preferences

• A Bachelor’s degree or higher in accounting, business administration, finance, or a related discipline.
• Relevant experience in research budget oversight within a higher education institution, government entity, or non-profit organization.
• Previous experience with Rice University financial systems (e.g., Banner, iO).
• Ability to meet deadlines with flexibility, tact, sound judgment, discretion, and initiative.
• Robust project management skills, including the ability to prepare materials and communicate information clearly and effectively.
• Demonstrated commitment to Rice360 Core Values: Innovation, Equity, Community, Integrity, Accountability, Empowerment, and Transformation.

Essential Functions

• Reviews and interprets legal documents to identify financial terms and conditions.
• Examines account setups in financial systems to ensure financial terms are accurately recorded with appropriate key attributes.
• Clarifies financial terms and verifies correct account setup to ensure compliance.
• Prepares comprehensive financial reports.
• Coordinates with Sponsored Projects and Research Compliance senior management, institutional representatives, and administrators to establish account structures for complex programs and centers.
• Monitors sponsored project activities throughout the project lifecycle—including cost overruns, cost sharing, and unallowable/administrative expenses—to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Performs reconciliation and overall analysis of expenditures, as well as final award closeouts, for assigned departments or sponsor award ranges.
• Interprets complex university and government policies.
• Serves as a liaison.