Senior Accountant

POSITION SUMMARY: The Senior Accountant is a critical and strategic role that advises the Vice President for Finance, and senior management regarding the applicability and implementation of Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) positions. The Senior Accountant will be primarily responsible for general ledger maintenance and reconciliation.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Provide support and direction to the Finance unit and indirectly supervises accounts payable, general accounting, and fixed assets functions;

• Ensure compliance with accounting standards and applicable law and provide recommendations to improve adherence and compliance;
• Prepare annual IRS returns and ensure compliance with IRS reporting regulations (990, 1099, 1098, 1042, etc.);
• Provide support for accounting and reporting post-awards grants management;
• Assist in the month end closing and financial reporting process including account analysis and reconciliation;
• Prepare information for monthly and fiscal year-end closing processes, audit reports, and other reports as needed;
• Manage the reconciliation of general ledger accounts;
• Cross train in the areas of general accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll;
• Ensure proper and consistent financial accounting methodology, techniques, and policies are adopted by the University and used in operations, and assist various departments on campus to ensure that proper accounting procedures are used;

SECONDARY FUNCTIONS:

• Maintain and monitor Federal and State compliance oversight tracking for University;
• Maintain a standard of superior service to all customers, fosters and maintains positive relationships and works collaboratively with faculty, staff, and students;
• Assist VP for Finance with special projects as needed, and
• Perform other site and position specific functions as assigned.
• SPECIFIC JOB KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Thorough understanding and familiarity with all of the following: Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP); Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB); Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB); Accounting law, professional systems and practices; Office of management and Budget Circulars: A-21 Cost Principles for Educational Institutions (including Cost Accounting Standards) and A-133 Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations;
  • Extensive experience with database and advanced features of Microsoft applications and large scale integrated client server/ERP financial systems (e.g., PeopleSoft Systems);
  • Professional knowledge obtained by working at a Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firm or a large complex organization is required to gain the depth and breadth of accounting knowledge and be able to make the independent accounting judgments and decisions assigned to this position;
  • Experience in developing long and short-range operating plans, complex budgets, and high-level statistical analysis, and
  • Demonstrated skills in analysis and interpretation of fiscal and administrative policies in a variety of areas.

ORGANIZATIONAL RESPONSIBILITY:

No direct reports.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education: A bachelor’s degree in Business or Accounting from an accredited college/university preferred

Experience: Seven to 10 years of experience in an organization comparable to Fisk in terms of budget, size, complexity, and scope of operation is required to understand and answer the complex functional and technical questions associated with the Fisk accounting system and third party audits.

Licenses or Certificates: CPA certification, preferred.

Additional Requirements: A background and/or credit check will be required of the successful applicant. An official transcript (if applicable) and names, addresses and phone numbers of three (3) references will be required of the successful applicant.