PLEASE NOTE:
- This position can be 100% remote
- Client required Health system/hospital experience
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Director of Financial Accounting serves as a core operational and strategic leader with the Client in Virginia. This role is responsible for driving the day-to-day management of organization’s financial accounting, month-end and year-end close processes, financial statement preparation, and internal controls.
Acting as leader, the Director oversees accounting staff, solutions complex technical accounting matters under, and ensures compliance across complex state, federal, and tax regulations (including Unrelated Business Income Tax / UBIT). This individual will liaise extensively with internal leadership, governing boards, external auditors, and government regulatory agencies.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
1. Operational & People Leadership
- Direct, lead, and mentor a high-performing team of accounting professionals.
- Establish clear operational performance metrics, cross-training initiatives, and succession plans to build a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and inclusion.
- Oversee workflow management, task delegation, and staff development within central accounting operations.
2. Financial Close & Technical Accounting
- Oversee month-end, quarter-end, and year-end financial close activities, including journal entries, ledger reconciliations, and variance analysis.
- Lead technical accounting research and solutioning for complex, evolving public sector standards (specifically GASB and U.S. GAAP).
- Supervise the preparation of annual accrual-based financial statements, Management’s Discussion & Analysis (MD&A), and footnote disclosures.
3. Internal Controls & Risk Management
- Design, implement, and maintain a robust internal control framework to safeguard organization’s assets, reduce financial reporting risk, and ensure fiscal integrity.
- Maintain and continuously refine the university’s Risk Control Matrix (RCM) and financial policies.
4. Tax, Government Agencies, & Executive Liaison
- Oversee compliance with state and federal financial regulations, including Code of Virginia directives. reporting mandates.
- Lead tax compliance processes, including Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) data collection, analysis, and reporting.
- Serve as a primary operational liaison to external auditors, Commonwealth of Virginia audit agencies (e.g., Auditor of Public Accounts / APA), and federal oversight bodies.
- Prepare and deliver financial analysis, reports, and strategic recommendations to Leadership, Vice Presidents, and Board Members.
5. Systems & Solutioning
- Evaluate, refine, and optimize core financial accounting processes, workflows, and system solutions.
- Drive chart of accounts maintenance and maximize the use of enterprise ERPs and reporting tools (specifically Oracle PeopleSoft Financials, Workday Financials, Adaptive/Anaplan, and Qlik/UBI).
6. Process Engineering, Policy Drafting & Defect Reduction
SOP Development & Policy Writing:
Demonstrated ability to author, standardize, and enforce comprehensive Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), desk manuals, and university-wide financial policies that ensure compliance and internal control rigor.
Continuous Process Improvement (CPI):
Proven track record of evaluating end-to-end accounting workflows to eliminate redundant steps, reduce cycle times (especially around month-end and year-end closes), and drive operational efficiency.
7. Procurement Integration & Public Purchasing Governance
Procure-to-Pay (P2P) Alignment:
Good understanding of the end-to-end Procure-to-Pay lifecycle, ensuring seamless alignment between financial accounting, accounts payable, purchasing, and vendor management teams.
Procurement Compliance & Policy:
Familiarity with public sector and higher education procurement regulations—specifically the Virginia Public Procurement Act (VPPA), Commonwealth of Virginia purchasing directives (eVA portal), and federal grant procurement guidelines (OMB Uniform Guidance).
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS
Must-Have Qualifications (Required)
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related business discipline.
- Experience: Minimum 5+ years of financial accounting/leadership experience specifically within a health system, hospital, or academic medical center environment.
Leadership Experience: Minimum of 3–5 years of direct supervisory/people management experience leading accounting teams.
- Hands-on operational experience with Oracle PeopleSoft Financials.
Technical Knowledge:
- Deep expertise in U.S. GAAP and/or GASB (Governmental Accounting Standards Board) frameworks.
- Demonstrated command over financial close cycles, complex ledger reconciliations, and internal control frameworks.
- Proven experience with tax compliance matters relevant to non-profit or public institutions (e.g., UBIT).
Communication & Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills, with a track record of building consensus with executive leadership, government auditors, and non-financial stakeholders.
- ERP today is People software
Good-to-Have Qualifications (Preferred)
- Master’s degree in Accounting (MAcc), Master of Business Administration (MBA), or Master of Science in Finance.
- Practical familiarity with modern enterprise platforms, such as Workday Financials, Adaptive Planning, or Qlik/Power BI reporting platforms.
- Big 4 or public accounting audit/advisory experience.
- Good functional knowledge of PeopleSoft ERP
Required Certifications & Licensures
Highly Preferred
- CPA (Certified Public Accountant): Active Virginia CPA license (or reciprocal license from another U.S. jurisdiction with the capability to obtain Virginia licensure). This is the single most critical industry certification for this role in Virginia.
Good-to-Have Certifications
- CMA (Certified Management Accountant)
- CGFM (Certified Government Financial Manager) – Highly respected in Commonwealth of Virginia agency roles.
- CGAP (Certified Government Auditing Professional)
- CIA (Certified Internal Auditor)