Accountant, Financial Reporting & Accounting

University of Delaware

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

The University of Delaware is an Equal Opportunity Employer which encourages applications from Minority Group Members, Women, Individuals with Disabilities and Veterans. The University's Notice of Non-Discrimination can be found at http://www.udel.edu/aboutus/legalnotices.html


Job No: 498647
Work Type: Staff
Location: Newark/Hybrid
Categories: Financial Services and Procurement, Full Time


PAY GRADE: 30E

CONTEXT OF THE JOB:

Position is currently remote with potential to return to the office in the future.
Within University Finance, the Controller's Office oversees University-wide financial accounting and reporting and performs related financial duties.
The department maintains the official accounting records and related systems of internal control in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles (GAAP) and standards set by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), University policy and procedures, and the requirements
of federal and state governmental agencies and external funding sources. The department is also responsible for maintaining the accurate and timely
recording of financial transactions and provides accounting and finance-related guidance to other University departments as needed.
The Accountant, Financial Reporting & Accounting demonstrates initiative, extensive use of professional judgment and leadership. Under the general direction of the Senior Manager, the Accountant will perform significant aspects of the University's annuities, State of Delaware appropriations, operating investments, unclaimed property and escheat, petty cash, funds held in trust by others, internal management reporting, and annual audited consolidated financial statement "prepared by client (PBC)" list management, maintaining the highest quality, reliability, and accuracy.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:

Financial Reporting & Audits

• Manages the annual audited consolidated financial statement PBC tracking spreadsheet which requires professional communication and organization with campus colleagues. Interact with the University's external auditors as it relates to the workpapers and other deliverables. In coordination with the senior manager, respond to auditor questions and information requests that arise during the interim and year-end financial statement audit.
• Prepares workpapers for the University's annual audited consolidated financial statements.
• Prepares the annual State of Delaware appropriations audit workpapers, statements, and footnotes under direction of the senior accountant and senior manager.
• Preparation of annual annuity filings to maintain compliance with State laws where the University has executed charitable gift annuity (CGA) contracts.
• Preparation of various internal management reports including the monthly investment report, flash cash, and quarterly CPI report.

Interim Financial Reporting

Perform various analyses on interim financial data and working with departments across campus to understand and document changes in key financial statement line items.

Accounting Processes & Closes

Ensure proper recording of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses in compliance with GAAP, applicable laws, regulations and university policies. This includes the preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual closing entries and procedures.

Accounting processes, including reconciliations, to ensure accounting is accurate, timely and sufficient to meet interim and year-end reporting and audit requirements. Review of complex general ledger accounting entries include but are not limited to the following areas:

• Investment activity for the University's annuities and operating investments.
• State of Delaware appropriation revenue accounting including monthly cash draws from the State of Delaware's First State Financials accounting system, realizing revenue as expense are incurred, and transferring cash to the Universities operating accounts.
• The increase in the liability for unclaimed property related to accounts payable, payroll, student groups, and student credits offset by escheating to the required States by law.
• Petty cash reconciliation and accounting support for campus departments who maintain a petty cash balance.
• Funds held in trust by others (FHITBO) quarterly accounting, spending distribution, and compliance reporting with trustees.
• Other GAAP accounting entries including various accrual, prepaid expense, inventory, and deferral entries.
• Timely preparation and/or approval of departmental asset and liability reconciliations in the PeopleSoft reconciliation tool.

Other

Utilize reporting tools and information systems to report on fiscal year activity while continuously identifying opportunities to increase efficiency and streamline reporting processes.

Teamwork and collaboration

Represent the Controller's Office on cross-functional initiatives through working groups, committees, and team collaboration.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Education and work experience

• Bachelor's degree and three years job-related experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience required. Degree in Accounting preferred.
• Higher education and/or not-for-profit accounting experience preferred.

Technical

• Continuously analyze and interpret financial statements, data and metrics to develop the ability to write and present the story behind the numbers. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel with the desire and ability to independently enhance reporting through learning new Excel functions and tools.
• The desire to experience major financial systems, including advanced query and report development. Knowledge of PeopleSoft enterprise software is preferred.
• Solid reasoning ability and effective at solving problems.
• Ability to multi-task, shift gears quickly, work independently and collaboratively. Ability to meet deadlines while paying attention to details.

Interpersonal

• Excellent interpersonal skills, including comfort level interacting with departmental and other campus leadership teams.
• Ability to effectively present information to business partners and non-financial managers. Ability to provide explanations for financial transactions and general ledger activity to departmental leadership.
• Comfortable with initiating and responding to inquiries with external auditors and other entities as well as with all levels of University staff.
• Ability to interact effectively and professionally with others.

Teamwork

• Team orientation and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize workload and delegate to team members.
• Must be a collaborative team player, curious and disciplined with a strong desire for continuously making improvements.

Notice of Non-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action
The University of Delaware does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability, religion, age, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law in its employment, educational programs and activities, admissions policies, and scholarship and loan programs as required by Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and other applicable statutes and University policies. The University of Delaware also prohibits unlawful harassment including sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Applications close:

PI183569041