About the Department
The Development Innovation Lab at the University of Chicago uses the tools of economics to develop innovations with the potential to benefit millions of people in low- and middle-income countries. It was founded and is led by Nobel laureate Michael Kremer.
Job Summary
We are seeking a skilled financial professional to join DIL as our finance and accounting team member with responsibilities divided between core accounting functions (60%) and sponsored research administration (40%). The ideal candidate will bring strong technical accounting expertise, including experience with general ledger management, financial reporting, budget development, and complex financial modeling in Excel.
Beyond traditional accounting, this position offers the opportunity to develop or apply existing grant accounting expertise through managing post-award administration for our research and policy portfolio, including budget management, spending planning, and compliance monitoring. The role encompasses program management responsibilities, such as coordinating across multiple University departments, mentoring staff on financial procedures, and providing strategic financial analysis to support organizational decision-making. We’re looking for someone who can balance technical accounting precision with the customer service orientation and communication skills needed to support researchers and program managers in a changing environment.
This position will be based in a country with DIL Operations, with a preference for applicants in Colombia, Nigeria, or Kenya.
Responsibilities
Finance & Accounting – 60%
- Partner with program teams to develop creative financial solutions for multi-year projects, coordinating budgets across different funding sources and helping teams navigate complex grant requirements while staying aligned with their program goals
- Serve as Organization Financial Manager in Oracle: Approve transactions for restricted and unrestricted accounts, oversee gift accounts, departmental operating accounts, and faculty unrestricted research accounts, ensuring expenditures align with account budgets.
- Manage budgets and financial planning: Analyze and prepare budgets and projections, create accounts, oversee UCPlan budget management including consolidation of project budgets, build/maintain complex financial models using Excel, and ensure accuracy of DIL’s automated budgeting and forecasting systems.
- Process financial transactions and reconciliations: Approve and transfer payroll and non-payroll expenditures, monitor invoicing and payments, reconcile charges using monthly ledgers and Oracle, and perform monthly reconciliation of balance sheet accounts.
- Ensure accounting compliance and reporting: Maintain the general ledger in compliance with University policies, prepare monthly reports, develop income and balance sheet statements, consolidated statements, and specialized accounting reports, while correcting errors using established procedures.
- Support organizational decision-making: Provide budgeting and forecasting data analysis, advise on the financial impact of human resources and academic affairs decisions, and participate in implementing new accounting standards applicable to the University.
- Guide and mentor staff: Act as a resource on financial systems and cost recording procedures, using in-depth knowledge to perform complex operating or cost accounting activities while guiding others on accounting principles and practices
Sponsored Research – 40%
- Serve as primary account administrator and liaison: Act as the main point of contact between PIs, University administrative offices, and external agencies, providing professional support in a collaborative customer service environment while ensuring effective communication about grant policies and changes.
- Advise DIL team members on communications with funding agencies and subcontractors at the institutional level.
- Oversee, including coordination of teams, post-award finance grant administration for a portfolio of projects: Manage all aspects of the assigned portfolio, including award budgeting, regulatory compliance monitoring, and salary grant allocations, invoice preparation, payment processing, cost transfers, and award closeout.
- Prepare financial reports and projections: Coordinate with budget leads in preparation of grant projection summaries, coordinate completion of annual, final, and ad hoc financial requirements, and keep PIs informed of progress while responding to their questions.
- Collaborate across University departments: Work with University Research Administration, Faculty, Department Pre-Award Staff,
- Department Human Resources, Pre/Post Award staff in other departments, and Financial Services Office personnel to ensure standardized information and best practices development.
Other responsibilities – 5%
- Remains current with University and regulatory changes. Monitors department/ unit compliance with University,
- Divisional and Department policies and procedures and implements corrective actions for issues identified.
- Performs other related work as needed.
Minimum Qualifications
- Minimum requirements include a Bachelor’s degree in related field
- Work experience in accounting or related field
- English fluency
- Strong knowledge of accounting principles
Technical skills or knowledge
- Experience with general ledger management and month-end close processes
- Proficiency in financial reporting and variance analysis
- Experience with ERP systems (Oracle, SAP, NetSuite, or similar)
- Advanced Excel skills including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and financial modeling
- Experience with multi-currency transactions and foreign exchange
- CPA, CA, ACCA, CIMA, CMA, or equivalent professional accounting certification from candidate’s home country
- Experience with grant accounting or non-profit accounting
- Budget preparation and monitoring experience
- Financial compliance and internal controls knowledge
Competencies
- Communication & Collaboration: Communicates effectively across all organizational levels, from students to senior leadership; builds productive relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders including faculty, administrators, and international partners across multiple time zones
- Leadership & Development: Influences and motivates team members while embracing continuous improvement; demonstrates strong planning, problem-solving, and project management skills to handle multiple priorities simultaneously
- Professional Judgment: Exercises sound discretion with confidential and sensitive financial information; takes on new challenges with professionalism while maintaining absolute integrity in all dealings
- Resourcefulness & Innovation: Finds creative, cost-effective solutions to financial challenges; thinks like an owner when managing resources and identifies opportunities to maximize impact per dollar spent
- Mission-Driven Decision Making: Balances financial rigor with program impact, understanding that our ultimate goal is poverty alleviation; makes pragmatic trade-offs that advance our mission while maintaining fiscal responsibility
Application Documents
- Resume/CV (required)
- Cover Letter (required)
- References Contact Information (3)(required)