Accountant, Intermediate

Accountant, Intermediate

Location: Financial Aid
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Job ID: 606500
Full/Part Time: Full-Time

Workplace Culture

NAU is a community devoted to student success and sustained by an unshakable commitment to our shared mission, vision, and values. We—faculty, staff, and administrators—thrive by combining our efforts and working side by side to further NAU's culture of excellence.



Special Information

• Position is located on the Flagstaff Mountain Campus.
• Position will require occasional travel, weekend and overtime work.

Job Description

This position is part of the Accounting team within the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid. The Accountant, Intermediate reports to the Assistant Director, Financial Oversight. This position processes multiple functions within the Accounting team.

Program Management - 80%

• Manage deposits of $30 million in scholarship and private loan funds received by OSFA annually, interpreting awarding and invoicing documentation to determine proper treatment of funds received.
• Process journal entries to transfer scholarship funds from clearing accounts to disbursement accounts; Ensure that funds received are processed according to Comptroller policy.
• Coordinate return of funds to private donors and loan agencies, working closely with Purchasing - Accounts Payable; assist A/P and the Comptroller's office in setting up donors for EFT capabilities.
• Establish and communicate quarterly, fiscal-year, and award-year timelines to ensure processing completion and accuracy; Keep scholarships and loans teams on track, ensuring that all monies received in a given fiscal year are awarded to students and transferred to disbursement speedcharts; Maintain and establish processes to ensure all funds received are awarded and/or accounted for in a timely manner.
• Monitor U.S. Department of Education (ED) funding balances and cash activity; Coordinate draws or returns of $175 million in federal grant and loan funding annually, working closely with Financial Accounting Services.
• Assist with annual federal aid program closeout processes; communicate directly to ED that programs are closed within regulatory deadlines.
• Manage the Department Tuition Payment Request program to award tuition, fee, and insurance payments to students directly from department funds, coordinating with other aid as necessary and working closely with department representatives and SDAS; Monitor DTPR awards during each semester for changes and adjustments.
• Serve as an expert in the department, addressing questions within OSFA and between OSFA and other departments regarding accounting functions; Provide training to new OSFA staff members and annual information sessions to all OSFA staff members regarding the deposit, return, and DTPR business processes.
• Prepare periodic reports of transaction, award, and funding activity for department administrators.
• Work independently to research federal, ABOR, and university policies regulations and exhaust all resources available before referring to administrations for assistance.

Policy and Procedure Development and Maintenance - 10%

• Identify potential issues and trends that impact efficient and accurate processing of funds and notify managers so that procedures can be corrected in a timely manner.
• Develop and maintain policies and procedures regarding areas of responsibilities.

Customer Service - 5%

• Serve as liaison to scholarship donors and department representatives regarding areas of responsibility.

Other - 5%

• Serve on University committees as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field.
• 2-4 years of accounting experience.
• Any combination of relevant education and experience may be substituted for the educational requirement on a year-for-year basis.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient in use of PeopleSoft Student Administration and Financial Management software, and OnBase document workflows.
• Accounting experience in higher education.
• Experience working in a financial aid office and administering federal, state, and institutional aid.
• Strong team orientation.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

• Knowledge of government and university regulations and policies related to accounting and cash handling.
• Knowledge of government rules, regulations, guidelines, and procedures related to financial aid.
• Knowledge of accounting tools, procedures, processes, policies, and concepts, such as account reconciliations, journal entries, invoicing, revenue receipts, and other financial documents.
• Knowledge of higher education law, including FERPA, Title IX, HIPAA, etc.
• Skill in prioritizing and completing multiple tasks of varying complexity and urgency in a timely and efficient manner.
• Customer service skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Skill in computerized accounting systems and applications, such as accounting software.
• Works with confidential and/or sensitive information.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships.
• Communicates effectively, including the ability to present to small and large groups.
• Possesses strong problem solving, organizational, and analytical capabilities.
• Promotes a diverse, inclusive environment.

COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement

As of 12/10/21, the Safer Federal Workforce employee vaccination requirement is currently suspended pending the outcome of a federal court-issued injunction. This injunction has suspended the recent executive order issued by President Biden requiring all employees of federal contractors to receive COVID-19 vaccinations. For current status of the vaccine requirement and/or questions, please visit FAQs for Employee Vaccination Requirement.

Background Information

This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements. Additionally, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States. Finally, each year Northern Arizona University releases an Annual Security Report. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the Fire Safety Report is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.

Salary

Salary range begins at $41,421. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.

FLSA Status

This position is exempt from the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and therefore will not earn overtime or compensatory time for additional time worked.

Benefits

This is a Classified Staff (CLS) position. NAU offers an excellent benefit package including generous health, dental and vision insurance; participation in the Arizona State Retirement System; paid vacation and 10 holidays per year; and tuition reduction for employees and qualified dependents. More information on benefits at NAU is available on the Human Resources benefits website. Classified Staff employees are in a probationary status for their first six months at NAU. NAU is a tobacco and smoke-free campus. Employees offered a position will be eligible for state health plans (including NAU's BCBS Plan). New employees are eligible for benefits on the first day of the pay period following their enrollment, after their employment date. Employees will have 31 days from their start date to enroll in benefits. Additionally, new employees will begin participating in the Arizona State Retirement System, and the long-term disability coverage that accompanies it, on the first of the pay period following 6 months after the new employee's start date.

Learning and Development

Your career at Northern Arizona University includes the opportunity for professional development. New employee on-boarding training includes courses to be completed within the first 30 days. If your position includes the supervision of a benefit-eligible employee, we offer the NAU Supervisors Academy for you to complete within your first 2 years.

Immigration Suppt/Sponsorship

NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.

Application Deadline

October 20, 2022 at 11:59 p.m.

How to Apply

To apply for this position, please click on the "Apply" button on this page. You must submit your application by clicking on the "Submit" button by midnight of the application deadline. If you need assistance completing your application there are instructions available on the Human Resources website or in person in the Human Resources Department located in Building 91 on the NAU Campus - on the corner of Beaver and DuPont Streets.

If you are an individual with a disability and need reasonable accommodation to participate in the hiring process please contact the Office of Equity and Access at: 928-523-3312/TDD - 928-523-1006 or PO Box 4083, Flagstaff AZ 86011.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Northern Arizona University is a committed Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Institution. Women, minorities, veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply. NAU is responsive to the needs of dual career couples.

EEO is the Law Poster and Supplements

NAU is an Employer of National Service. AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other National Service alumni are encouraged to apply.



To apply, visit https://hr.peoplesoft.nau.edu/psp/ph92prta/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_APP_SCHJOB.GBL?Page=HRS_APP_JBPST&Action=U&FOCUS=Applicant&SiteId=1&JobOpeningId=606500&PostingSeq=1



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