Senior Philanthropy Accountant

Senior Philanthropy Accountant

The Senior Philanthropy Accountant is responsible for managing the financial reporting of philanthropic funds, ensuring compliance with benefactor intent in partnership with the Development Department, regulatory requirements, and internal policies. This role supports development by maintaining accurate financial records, preparing benefactor financial reports, and assisting with audits and reconciliations. Reporting to the Controller with a dotted line to the Director of Development, External Relations the Philanthropy Accountant collaborates closely with Development External Relations, grant managers, finance and accounting teams, and legal and compliance staff. This position plays a critical role in stewarding benefactor trust and supporting the organization's philanthropic mission.

Manages Fund Accounting and Reconciliation

• Analyzes fund use and reconciles fund balances monthly and ensures alignment with benefactor intent in partnership with development.
• Prepares journal entries and adjustments as needed.
• Coordinates with general accounting to ensure proper fund classification.
• Reviews and resolves discrepancies in fund transactions, ensuring integrity of financial transactions.
• Collaborates with, and presents to, faculty, department leadership, and school leaders.
• Serves as a strategic partner to departmental, finance, and development leaders in the annual budgeting process, ensuring the ethical and exemplary application of philanthropic resources and safeguarding the precise and responsible fulfillment of benefactor intent.

Prepares Financial Reports and Benefactor Statements

• Generates timely and accurate financial reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Prepares benefactor-specific financial statements and endowment reports.
• Supports development staff and leadership with financial data for stewardship activities.
• Ensures transparency and clarity in financial communications.
• Assists in preparing reports for board and committee meetings.

Leads Grant & Gift Financial Compliance & Disbursement

• Maintains audit-ready documentation and evidence within a governed repository aligned to retention and regulatory standards.
• Reviews and interprets benefactor agreements at scale; codifies terms into metadata, rules libraries, and system controls to ensure financial compliance across the grants/gifts lifecycle.
• Ensures timely and accurate fund disbursements in partnership with Development, pre/post?transaction controls, and automated validation against benefactor criteria; owns KPIs for on?time rate and disbursement accuracy.
• Builds executive dashboards and exception monitoring (utilization, restriction compliance, timing risk, exception rates) with predictive flags; drives remediation with accountable owners and deadlines.
• Leads audit and regulatory engagements and closes findings with root?cause analysis and corrective action plans.
• Strengthens data governance for restricted funds and aligns Legal, Finance, and Development on policy, controls, and system configuration.
• Delivers quarterly, executive-ready insights translating analytics into policy/process changes that reduce cycle time and exception rates year over year.

Collaborates with Development and Finance Teams

• Partners with Development External Relations team to align financial tracking with fundraising goals.
• Assists with benefactor account setup.
• Participates in cross-functional meetings to support strategic initiatives as defined by Development and school leadership.
• Provides training on fund usage, through partnership with development, and reporting to development and development staff.
• Supports budgeting and forecasting for philanthropic funds.

Maintains Financial Systems and Data Integrity

• Utilizes financial systems (e.g., Workday, UT's general ledger) for data entry and reporting.
• Ensures data accuracy and consistency across platforms.
• Participates in system upgrades and testing.
• Develops and maintains documentation for financial processes.
• Troubleshoots system issues and coordinates with IT as needed.
• Identifies and executes efficient methods of reporting.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or other business-related field.
• 5 years of relevant experience in financial analysis, business operations, or data analytics.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree in Business Administration, Finance or other related field
• 7 years of experience in health care, academic, or research setting
• Experience with Tableau, SQL, ERP systems, and financial modeling
• Familiarity with sponsored projects and philanthropic gifts.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA)
• Project Management Professional (PMP)

Salary Range

$70,086 + depending on qualifications

Working Environment/Equipment

• This is a full-time position; remote work is expected with limited possibility of hybrid work.
• Standard office environment and equipment.
• Requires occasional travel to local, state, and national meetings.
• May be exposed to such occupational hazards as communicable diseases, blood borne pathogens, ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, hazardous medications and disoriented or combative patients, or others.

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest