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Location and Work Mode

Colombia. Hybrid Remote

Who we are

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.

Our impact

DIL's research and policy work have the potential to benefit millions of people in low- and middle-income countries

Purpose of the Position

The purpose of this position is to ensure the financial integrity, accuracy, and operational reliability of DIL’s financial management. This role exists to safeguard the organization’s financial health by leading core accounting processes and providing strategic financial support to research and programmatic activities.

The position plays a critical role in maintaining compliant, transparent, and timely financial operations—from managing the general ledger and financial reporting to overseeing post-award administration for sponsored research. Its purpose is to enable informed decision-making across the organization by ensuring that financial data is reliable, budgets are well-managed, and spending aligns with institutional and grant-related requirements.

Ultimately, this role ensures that DIL’s financial resources are responsibly managed, risks are mitigated, and teams have the financial clarity they need to advance the mission of the organization.

Key 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.

Requirements and competences to work with us

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is required.

Experience

• Work experience in accounting or a closely related field, with strong knowledge of accounting principles.

Knowledge and Skills

• 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

Our team profile

Diverse and multicultural team, with staff based around the world in the United States (Chicago & Washington DC), Colombia, Nigeria, and Kenya.

Key interests for working with us

• Development Economics

Reasons to join our team

Join a phenomenal Finance and Operations Team who are dedicated to advancing the objectives of the Development Innovation Lab's research and policy work.

Relevant details before applying for this vacancy

This position will be based in a country with DIL Operations, with a preference for applicants in Colombia, Nigeria, or Kenya.