University of Georgia

Posting Number S13658P

Working Title Associate Director of UGA Foundation Internal Control and Business Process Improvement

Department DAR-UGAF Financial Accounting

About the University of Georgia

Since our founding in 1785, the University of Georgia has operated as Georgia’s oldest, most comprehensive, and most diversified institution of higher education (https://www.uga.edu/). The proof is in our more than 235 years of academic and professional achievements and our continual commitment to higher education. UGA is currently ranked among the top 20 public universities in U.S. News & World Report. The University’s main campus is located in Athens, approximately 65 miles northeast of Atlanta, with extended campuses in Atlanta, Griffin, Gwinnett, and Tifton. UGA employs approximately 3,100 faculty and more than 7,700 full-time staff. The University’s enrollment exceeds 41,000 students including over 31,000 undergraduates and over 10,000 graduate and professional students. Academic programs reside in 19 schools and colleges, including our newly formed School of Medicine.

About the College/Unit/Department

Division of Development and Alumni Relations

The Division of Development and Alumni Relations at the University of Georgia advances the goals, objectives, and priorities of the university by generating private financial support, building, and maintaining relationships with alumni and donors, and assisting students with career development opportunities.

University of Georgia Foundation

The mission and purpose of the University of Georgia Foundation is to provide support for the teaching, research, public service and outreach programs of the University of Georgia by means of volunteer leadership and assistance in development and fundraising activities; fiduciary care for the assets of the foundation for the long-term benefit and enhancement of the university; and broad advice, consultation and support to the president of the university. The foundation shall operate as a cooperative organization in accordance with policies of the University System of Georgia Board of Regents.

College/Unit/Department website https://give.uga.edu/uga-foundation/ and https://dar.uga.edu/

Posting Type External

Retirement Plan TRS or ORP

Employment Type Employee

Benefits Eligibility Benefits Eligible

Full/Part time Full Time

Work Schedule

Additional Schedule Information

8:00am–5:00pm; Must be willing and able to work evenings and weekends as necessary

Advertised Salary $85,000+, commensurate with qualifications and experience

Posting Date 05/27/2025

Open until filled Yes

Closing Date

Proposed Starting Date 07/01/2025

Special Instructions to Applicants

• This position is structured as a permanent position within the Division of Development & Alumni Relations. We are unable to sponsor a work visa for this position.

Location of Vacancy Athens Area

EEO Policy Statement

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status or other protected status. Persons needing accommodations or assistance with the accessibility of materials related to this search are encouraged to contact Central HR (hrweb@uga.edu).

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning, as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found online at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.

Classification Title Audit Professional

FLSA Exempt

FTE 1.00

Minimum Qualifications

Requires at least a baccalaureate degree in the field. Please contact your Human Resources office for an evaluation of education/experience in lieu of the required minimum qualifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting, business administration or related field, CPA license, Master’s Degree in a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience in accounting and/or auditing, with audit experience most preferred.
• Experience in higher education or non-profits, particularly those of similar scope
• Experience with tax law, especially as it relates to donations and gifts.
• Expertise in understanding and reporting financial activities for an entity overseeing over $1B in donated assets.
• Exhibits behavior that supports the mission, vision, and values of the University of Georgia and the University of Georgia Foundation.

Position Summary

The role of this position is to provide overall direction and leadership for enhancing the effectiveness of financial processes and internal controls within the UGA Foundation (UGAF). This role involves collaborating with various teams to design, document, and implement internal controls, while also addressing technical and operational accounting challenges through business process improvement. Additionally, the role includes managing the effectiveness of internal controls, operational procedures and risk through audit test work and overall risk management of the UGA Foundation financial records.

This position should provide value-added leadership and analysis to business operations and data driven information for the benefit of the UGA Foundation, Division of Development and Alumni Relations and the University community. In addition, this role will continually develop, evaluate, and implement long and short-term goals to aid in the enhancement of the Foundation’s business processes and rules, with an emphasis on compliance, controls, and efficiency.

A thorough understanding of policies, procedures, and systems are necessary, and a successful candidate must be able to analyze and provide solutions to problems as requested. The incumbent is expected to have demonstrated adherence to confidentiality, the ability to demonstrate the highest standards of professionalism and performance as evidenced by collaborative teamwork, initiative, critical thinking, good judgment, consistency of output, timeliness of follow-through, ability to prioritize and to participate in high level strategies and leadership discussions.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and/or Competencies

• Self-starter, highly motivated, takes initiative, and can work independently as well as in a team environment
• Highly organized and able to handle multiple projects
• Analytical, with adherence to self-guided goals and deadlines
• Adept at navigating complex environments with evolving priorities
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality and responsibility regarding information related to university and foundation business and confidential information
• Creative thinker with ability to receive constructive feedback on ideas
• Strong people management skills and time management skills
• Knowledge of investments, trusts, and fund accounting
• Exemplary communications skills (both verbal and non-verbal)
• Excellent writing skills with extreme attention to detail and confident, strong verbal communication
• Demonstrates a commitment to outstanding customer service
• Advanced computer skills in comparing data and logic
• Knowledge of Word, Excel, database management, and email skills
• Communicates and employs interpersonal actions that model high standards of professional, responsible, accountable, and ethical conduct
• In depth knowledge of UPMIFA, state laws, state regulations, GAAP, and FASB

Additional Division Expectations:

• Through open, honest, and respectful communication, all staff, supervisors, and colleagues of the Division of Development & Alumni Relations are expected to interact with fairness, compassion, and decency. All employees will be held accountable for meeting the expectation of promoting a stable, productive, and healthy work environment.
• Adherence to CASE standards and commonly accepted industry standards relating to fundraising reporting are expected of all fundraisers. All fundraisers will be held accountable for meeting this expectation.

Physical Demands

• Travel in state, out of state, and internationally, if necessary
• Work evenings and weekends as necessary
• Work in a standard office environment and with standard office equipment
• Sit and work at a computer workstation for extended periods of time
• Work using electronic mail, telephone, face-to-face discussions, paper form correspondence
• Communicate effectively in writing, speaking, and listening
• Organize and establish priorities; Remember detail; multi-task
• Lift and/or move up to 20 pounds
• Walk, stand, stoop, lift, kneel, climb

Is driving a responsibility of this position? No

Is this a Position of Trust? Yes

Does this position have operation, access, or control of financial resources? Yes

Does this position require a P-Card? No

Is having a P-Card an essential function of this position? No

Does this position have direct interaction or care of children under the age of 18 or direct patient care? No

Does this position have Security Access (e.g., public safety, IT security, personnel records, patient records, or access to chemicals and medications) Yes

Credit and P-Card policy

Be advised a credit check will be required for all positions with financial responsibilities. For additional information about the credit check criteria, visit the UGA Credit Background Check website.

Background Investigation Policy

Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation including, a criminal background check demonstrating your eligibility for employment with the University of Georgia; confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in your application materials (including reference checks) as they relate to the job-based requirements of the position applied for; and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. You may also be subject to a pre-employment drug test for positions with high-risk responsibilities, if applicable. Please visit the UGA Background Check website.

Duties/Responsibilities

Internal Control Implementation and Business Process Improvement

• Collaborate with cross-functional partners to define strategy and set goals for internal controls, testing, and analysis. Work closely with control owners to ensure effective design and implementation of internal controls.
• Lead efforts to continuously improve financial and operational controls, business processes, and system capabilities. Design and document processes to support new business initiatives and strengthen the control environment.
• Partner with Advancement IT and UGA Foundation staff to identify and develop technological solutions that enhance business process efficiency and control monitoring. Explore opportunities to leverage data and systems to meet organizational needs.
• Coordinate with UGA campus partners, UGAF staff, and Development and Alumni Relations to drive improvements in business processes and internal controls.
• Document internal control solutions and business process enhancements. Develop analytics and reporting tools to measure and communicate impact and success. Utilize data analytics to continually identify opportunities for business process improvement.
• Assist with the design, development, and implementation of financial systems.
• Collaborate with Financial and Gift Accounting teams to fulfill audit data requests. Serve as point person during internal audits performed by external parties as deemed necessary by the board.

Percentage of time 40

Duties/Responsibilities

Monitoring and Compliance

• Ensure business processes comply with applicable UGA, UGAF, IRS, Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) policies and standards. Monitor specific processes, including the donor database (GAIL) to the UGAF financial management system (FAME) interface, document management applications, and PCI compliance.
• Maintain familiarity with CASE counting guidelines and UGA’s fundraising and campaign reporting guidelines, as well as FASB and IRS standards for accurate and proper accounting of financial records.
• Oversee adherence to UGAF policies and procedures.
• Ensure UGAF leadership and staff are informed of newly implanted regulations and laws, as well as GAAP and FASB standards, Board of Regents, UGA, and DAR policies and procedures.
• Implement a risk-based approach to monitor and analyze revenue, expenditures, and investment transactions processed directly by UGAF, as well as transactions processed by affiliate organizations on behalf of UGAF.
• Conduct internal audit procedures to evaluate the effectiveness of operational controls, ensure compliance with donor intent, and assess adherence to policies. Track and follow up on results to confirm corrective actions are completed.
• Support the review of gifts submitted to the Gift Acceptance Committee (GAC) and evaluate other complex or non-standard gifts outside GAC review, as needed.

Percentage of time 25

Duties/Responsibilities

Risk Management and Reporting related to Internal Controls

• Lead efforts in risk management and internal control by providing guidance on effective control design, operational efficiency, and risk mitigation strategies.
• Perform recurring risk assessments of UGAF financial processes to evaluate the effectiveness of existing controls.
• Report identified risks and control deficiencies to the UGAF CFO. Partner with the Finance Division as needed to develop corrective measures.
• Prepare and deliver reports to the UGAF Audit Committee outlining control testing plans and key findings. Support discussions with leadership and the Committee regarding significant test work and observations.
• Design and implement staff development plans focused on internal control best practices, tailored to address identified strengths and weaknesses within the organization.

Percentage of time 20

Duties/Responsibilities

Policies and Procedures

• Continuously review and enhance policies and procedures to align with industry best practices and regulatory requirements.
• Review policy updates with UGAF legal counsel.
• Oversee the maintenance of UGA Foundation policies and review all proposed policy updates, taking appropriate action with the UGAF Audit Committee before finalizing any updates.
• Create a communication plan to disseminate updates to UGAF policies and procedures by working with UGAF staff and other interested parties.
• Maintain awareness of UGA policies and procedures to assist in control test-work and complement improvements to UGA Foundation policies and procedures.

Percentage of time 15

Contact Details

For questions concerning this position or recruitment progression, please refer to the Recruitment Contact listed below.

Recruitment Contact Name Development & Alumni Relations’ Office of Talent Management

Recruitment Contact Email dartalent@uga.edu

Recruitment Contact Phone

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