Join NORC as our new Vice President of Accounting! NORC at the University of Chicago is seeking an experienced Vice President of Accounting to assume the pivotal role of leading NORC’s Accounting Department.  This will include championing and overseeing the full range of accounting management activities at NORC, formulating internal controls, preparing financial statements, and ensuring compliance with regulations and accounting guidelines.  

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, the Vice President of Accounting oversees the day-to-day operations of the Accounting Department, ensuring not only strong internal controls but also a strong and energized team. This role also requires consulting with executives and senior management to identify accounting issues and strategic improvements. 

• Day-to-Day Operations: Lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the Accounting Department with a continuous improvement approach to increasing efficiencies, optimizing processes, and mitigating risk. 

• Financial Records Coordination: Prepare, analyze, and coordinate financial records for each period, serving as the department's expert in accounting software functionality.  

• Efficiency Identification: Manage all department activities, ensuring efficient delegation of tasks and identifying opportunities for process improvements.  

• Contract and Grant Management: Oversee the preparation of billings for all NORC contracts and grants.  

• Financial Reporting: Prepare and review financial reports to ensure accuracy and transparency.  

• Audits: Serve as a key point of contact for external auditors and establish and maintain robust audit trails for accountability.  

• Period and Year-End Closures: Manage accounting period and fiscal year-end closes.  

• General Ledger Integrity: Ensure the integrity of the general ledger.  

• Analysis: Perform analysis of accounting information and supporting processes.  

• Bank Transactions: Manage bank transactions and reconciliations.  

• Team management: Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing accounting team of 20 professionals. 

• Strategic planning: Lead the department’s strategic planning and budgeting processes. 

Education: Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance is required; a Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration is preferred.  

Certification: Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation required.  

Experience:  

• At least 15 years of directly related general accounting work experience, with at least 10 years in supervisory and accounting management roles in public or private industry.  

• Public accounting foundation (Big Four preferred) combined with in-house corporate reporting leadership required. 

• Experience working directly with auditors.  

• Experience working in a government contracting environment preferred.   

Skills and Knowledge: 

• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills with the ability to effectively interface with senior management, external business partners, and staff. 

• Excellent financial leadership and interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to collaborate across organization and functional teams that represent a rich diverse mix of talent, backgrounds, and perspectives. 

• Excellent judgment and creative problem-solving skills including negotiation and conflict resolution skills, with the ability to be an effective tactical and strategic thinker. 

• Attention to detail, risk management, quality control, deadlines, reconciliation, and compliance issues. 

• Experience and commitment to successfully developing, managing, and mentoring a team of accounting professional for the long-term benefit of the foundation. 

• Genuine intellectual curiosity, analytical capability and a pragmatic approach to business.  

• Demonstrated ability to handle sensitive, confidential information with tact and professionalism  

• Proficiency with automated accounting systems and MS Office Suite.  

• Expectation of hybrid work schedule of at least two days a week in our Chicago Loop office. 

• Generously subsidized health insurance, effective on the first day of employment 

• Dental and vision insurance  

• A defined contribution retirement program, along with a separate voluntary 403(b) retirement program  

• Group life insurance, long-term and short-term disability insurance 

• Benefits that promote work/life balance, including generous paid time off, holidays; paid parental leave, bereavement leave, tuition assistance, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP).