Enterprise Accounting & Governance Director

University of Washington•Seattle, WA

5d•$100,008 - $155,004

About The Position

Finance, Planning, and Budgeting (FPB) encompasses the major central financial, planning, analytical, and budgeting functions for the University of Washington, including: Financial Stewardship & Operations Institutional Analytics & Decision Support Policy, Planning & State Operations University Business Services The Enterprise Accounting & Governance Director serves as the University’s lead authority on institutional accounting practices, providing expert guidance to campus stakeholders and central offices on complex financial matters. This role ensures the integrity and compliance of external regulatory reporting, including federal disclosures and audits, while also overseeing internal control frameworks such as Internal Controls Over Financial Reporting (ICOFR). By interpreting and implementing evolving regulatory standards such as GASB, GAAP, Uniform Guidance, and Washington State Administrative & Accounting Manual (SAAM)—the director ensures that institutional accounting policies remain current, accurate, and aligned with best practices. Additionally, the Director provides strategic oversight of the Controller’s Office Accounting Support & FDM Governance team, ensuring alignment with institutional reporting needs and governance standards. This team serves as the primary point of engagement for campus stakeholders for the Controller’s Office, handling inquiries, resolving complex accounting issues, and delivering guidance to units across the institution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a closely related field; Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation is required and 6 years of progressively responsible accounting experience, featuring substantial leadership roles in higher education or large-scale organizations, expertise in external financial reporting, audit management, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations, to include 3 years in advanced management or leadership positions, showcasing a strong ability to mentor, coach, and cultivate emerging leaders within the organization
Demonstrated expertise in external financial reporting, audit management, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations
Demonstrated experience implementing internal control frameworks and managing risk
Experience interpreting and applying GASB, GAAP, UG, and state accounting standards
Proven track record of policy development and process improvement in financial operations
Advanced accounting knowledge, including expertise in GAAP, GASB, Uniform Guidance (UG), and state accounting standards (SAAM)
Internal Controls & Risk Management with an ability to design and implement ICOFR frameworks and monitor compliance
Demonstrated understanding of enterprise systems design, configuration, analysis of downstream impacts, and reporting
Skilled in creating and maintaining institutional accounting policies and manuals
Advanced analytical and problem-solving skillset with an ability to interpret complex regulations and apply them to institutional processes
Ability to initiate clear, professional communication with senior executives, auditors, Deans' Offices, and leads of other units
Proficiency in Excel pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and data visualization for financial analysis, as well as Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint), SharePoint, Teams, and other documentation and collaboration tools
Demonstrated experience in working with diverse groups and teams; create a culture of inclusion and equity throughout the team while supporting the overall culture of FPB

Nice To Haves

Experience with Workday Financials
Strong understanding of Single Audit/SEFA requirements and Section 117/NSF disclosure reporting

Responsibilities

Develops and communicates a clear vision for institutional accounting operations, aligning team goals with broader university priorities
Leads the design and implementation of enterprise-wide financial control frameworks (e.g., ICOFR), ensuring long-term compliance and risk mitigation
Integrates unit-level priorities into institutional financial strategy, balancing decentralized needs with central governance
Advises senior leadership on programmatic direction, regulatory changes, and strategic growth opportunities across financial operations
Champions continuous improvement initiatives that modernize accounting systems, streamline workflows, and enhance data-driven decision-making
Provide leadership and manage the Accounting Support & FDM Governance team, in addition to two Senior Accountants.
Manages the day-to-day operations of the Enterprise Accounting & Governance team
Works with a diverse group of individuals to create an inclusive environment and culture
Creates and manages the budget of the Enterprise Accounting & Governance team with discretionary authority
Manages a team of professionals who will lead institutional accounting practices, providing expert guidance to campus stakeholders and central offices on complex financial matters
Leads Accounting, Compliance & Governance’s (ACG) Enterprise Accounting & Governance team, including guidance and oversight of projects and workflow, and general project timelines
Responsible for management, staff development, career enrichment, and training
Oversees resolution of accounting-related tickets and inquiries.
Acts as an escalation point for complex accounting issues and transactions, working with relevant institutional partners as needed to resolve
Leads initiatives to update and maintain the institutional accounting policy manual, aligning with best practices and regulatory changes
Creates and maintains a system for collecting, evaluating, and incorporating customer feedback across ACG
Work with ACG’s Education & Outreach team to develop and deliver training materials and documentation to guide units on proper accounting practices
Develops and implements the ICOFR strategic plan to strengthen institutional financial controls
Drives continuous improvement in accounting systems and processes to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and risk mitigation
Ensures training and cross training on business processes and systems
Other duties as assigned