Richard Killian Research Accounting, Grant Finance & Budget Leadership

Richard Killian is a finance, accounting, budgeting, and reporting professional with more than 25 years of experience across university research accounting, nonprofit finance, county government, water irrigation utility, and public-sector financial management. His work has included research accounting, sponsored programs, accounts receivable, grant billing, annual budgeting, treasury operations, cash-flow analysis, financial reporting, internal controls, and audit readiness.

Throughout his career, Richard has been known as a practical problem solver who connects financial strategy with day-to-day operations. He has helped organizations improve reporting accuracy, strengthen budget processes, modernize financial workflows, and create clearer financial reporting tools and dashboards for leadership decision-making. His background includes experience with complex public-sector and university finance environments, including sponsored research activity, grant-related financial reporting, treasury operations, public investments, and budget coordination.

Richard specializes in designing internal control systems that protect organizational assets while improving operational efficiency, reporting accuracy, compliance, and decision-making. His approach combines strong financial discipline with practical process improvement, helping organizations reduce risk while making financial processes clearer, faster, and easier to manage.

Photo of Richard Killian looking at the ocean, sea, water. Blue sky with some clouds. Richard Killian who worked at Penn State, Centre County Government, with background in internal controls. Richard Killian is a finance, accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting professional with more than 25 years of experience in university finance, nonprofit finance, county government, and public-sector financial operations. Photo taken at the beach outside in nature.

Professional Focus Areas

Sponsored Programs Financial Analysis

Richard has extensive experience supporting the financial management of sponsored programs, grants, and contracts. His background includes budget reconciliation, expenditure reporting, sponsor invoicing, accounts receivable monitoring, grant billing, and compliance-focused financial analysis for university and research accounting environments.

Post-Award Grant Administration

Richard’s experience in post-award grant administration includes grant billing, expenditure review, sponsor reporting, award closeout support, accounts receivable oversight, and coordination between finance, program, research, and compliance teams. His work helps strengthen financial visibility and accountability after grants and sponsored awards are received.Photo of Richard Killian in France, Europe. Richard Killian specializes in internal controls, audit readiness, financial compliance, risk reduction, and process improvement for universities, nonprofits, and public-sector organizations. Photo location is Versace France.

Research Compliance and Audit Readiness

Richard brings a strong background in research compliance, internal controls, audit readiness, and financial documentation. His experience helps universities, research organizations, nonprofits, and public-sector entities prepare for audits, improve compliance processes, strengthen grant-related controls, and reduce financial risk.

Grant Compliance Consulting

Richard’s work in grant compliance draws on his experience in research accounting, internal audit, sponsored programs, financial controls, and reporting systems. He understands how to connect grant requirements, institutional policy, financial reporting, and operational processes so organizations can manage funding responsibly and efficiently.

Fractional CFO and Strategic Financial Planning

Richard’s background is well suited to fractional CFO support for nonprofits, small organizations, and startups that need experienced financial leadership without a full-time executive finance role. His capabilities include budgeting, cash-flow forecasting, financial dashboards, strategic planning, internal controls, financial reporting, and leadership-level financial communication.Photo of Richard Killian. He is looking to the river. A plant is in front of him with cityscape in the background. Richard Killian brings experience in sponsored programs financial analysis, budget reconciliation, accounts receivable monitoring, grant closeout support, and compliance-focused financial reporting. Photo location is Frankfurt Germany near the river walkway.

Municipal Treasury and Public Finance Optimization

Richard has significant experience in municipal treasury operations, public investments, cash-flow forecasting, liquidity management, bank reconciliation, and public-sector budget operations. His work has included improving cash-flow tracking, reducing overdraft risk, supporting public investment management, and developing stronger financial models for decision-making.

Richard Killian Professional Achievements Section

Research Accounting & Accounts Receivable

  • Helped manage research accounting accounts receivable connected to approximately $900 million in sponsored research financial activity.
  • Established an accounts receivable aging report at Penn State to help reduce delinquent receivables and improve visibility into outstanding balances.
  • Supported billing, recording, and reporting of sponsored expenditures in a university research accounting environment.Photo of Richard Killian in a local shop. Richard Killian has managed complex budgeting and treasury operations, including annual budget preparation, cash-flow forecasting, bank reconciliation, public investments, and liquidity management. Photo has jars and canning including pickles in the background with Richard Killian standing in the front. A sign encourages people to shop local.

Budgeting & Financial Reporting

  • Worked with budgets as large as approximately $120 million.
  • Implemented ClearGov budget software at Centre County, replacing spreadsheet-based budgeting processes and improving budget workflow.
  • Built financial reporting approaches that improved visibility, accountability, and decision-making.

Treasury & Public Investment Management

  • Managed accounting and treasury operations connected to a public investment pool of approximately $1 billion.
  • Improved cash-flow tracking, helping reduce bank overdrafts and strengthen treasury operations.
  • Developed an asset allocation model for public investments.

Internal Audit & Cost Savings

  • Used Certified Internal Auditor experience to bring certain outsourced audit functions in-house.
  • Saved tens of thousands of dollars per year by reducing reliance on private firms for audit work.
  • Strengthened internal audit capacity and financial oversight.

Leadership

  • Managed up to 28 employees across three teams.
  • Coordinated budget and financial information with public officials, departments, and organizational leaders.
  • Led finance, budgeting, research accounting, treasury, and reporting functions across multiple organizations.

Photo of Richard Killian inside at a business event. Richard Killian worked at PSU (Penn State), Centre County Government. Richard Killian has a strong background in research accounting, sponsored programs, grant accounting, post-award grant administration, grant billing, sponsor invoicing, and expenditure reporting.

Selected Accomplishments

Research Accounting and Accounts Receivable

Richard Killian has significant experience in university research accounting, sponsored programs, grant accounting, and accounts receivable management. In a research accounting environment, he helped manage accounts receivable activity connected to approximately $900 million in sponsored research financial activity, supporting the financial administration of grants, contracts, and sponsored expenditures.

At Penn State, Richard established an accounts receivable aging report to improve visibility into outstanding balances, reduce delinquent receivables, and strengthen financial reporting for sponsored programs. His work supported more accurate billing, recording, monitoring, and reporting of sponsored expenditures in a complex university finance environment.

Budgeting and Financial Reporting

Richard has worked with organizational budgets as large as approximately $120 million, bringing experience in annual budget preparation, budget analysis, financial reporting, and strategic financial planning. His budgeting background includes coordinating financial information across departments, public officials, and organizational leadership.

At Centre County, Richard implemented ClearGov budget software, replacing spreadsheet-based budget processes and improving the efficiency, consistency, and transparency of the budget workflow. He has also developed financial reporting approaches and dashboard-style reporting tools that improve visibility, accountability, and decision-making for leadership teams.Photo of Richard Killian. Richard Killian combines strategic financial planning with practical operations, helping organizations improve reporting accuracy, strengthen internal controls, and make better financial decisions. Photo located inside of a business event. Richard Killian is wearing a suit with a name tag.

Treasury and Public Investment Management

Richard has managed accounting and treasury operations connected to a public investment pool of approximately $1 billion. His treasury experience includes cash-flow forecasting, liquidity management, bank reconciliation, public investment tracking, and public-sector financial operations.

He improved cash-flow tracking processes to help reduce bank overdrafts, strengthen treasury operations, and provide better visibility into available funds. Richard also developed an asset allocation model for public investments, supporting stronger investment decision-making, risk management, and long-term public finance planning.

Internal Audit and Cost Savings

Richard’s background as a Certified Internal Auditor supports his work in internal controls, audit readiness, financial compliance, and operational risk reduction. He used his internal audit experience to bring certain outsourced audit functions in-house, reducing reliance on private firms and saving tens of thousands of dollars per year.

This work strengthened internal audit capacity, improved financial oversight, and helped create more efficient control processes. Richard’s approach to internal controls focuses on protecting organizational assets while improving operational efficiency, reporting accuracy, compliance, and decision-making.Photo of Richard Killian. Richard Killian has experience with financial systems and budget platforms including SAP Business ByDesign, Workday, PSU SIMBA, ClearGov budget software, and financial reporting dashboards. In the Photo Richard Killian is wearing a nice shirt. The photo is taken inside with a sign about living a good life in the background.

Leadership and Financial Operations

Richard has managed up to 28 employees across three teams, leading finance, budgeting, research accounting, treasury operations, reporting, and internal control functions across multiple organizations. His leadership experience includes coordinating budget and financial information with public officials, department leaders, university stakeholders, and organizational executives.

Across his career, Richard has helped organizations improve financial operations, modernize reporting processes, strengthen accountability, and connect financial strategy with practical day-to-day management. His experience spans university finance, sponsored programs, nonprofit finance, public-sector budgeting, county government finance, treasury operations, and research accounting.

Photo of Richard Killian. Richard Killian’s background in university research accounting and sponsored research finance supports effective grant management, accounts receivable aging analysis, sponsor billing, and award closeout. Photo of Richard Killian winning an award from Penn State (PSU). Richard Killian is wearing a tie and suit.