Accountant

Accountability Objective

The accountant is a critical position that prepares and maintains the financial records within the Accounting and Finance Department. The primary purpose of this role is to contribute to the accurate and efficient management of the university's financial data and to support overall financial integrity.

Reporting Relationship

This position reports to the Accounting Manager.

Education and Experience

• Minimum requirements for this position include a Bachelor's degree in Accounting from an accredited college or university.
• The ideal candidate will have 1-2 years' experience in higher education or nonprofits along with excellent verbal and written communication skills, and excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.

Principal Duties

• Manage all aspects of accounts payable, from entering in new vendors, to processing payments.
• Ensure timely and accurate payment processing (ACH, wire transfers, checks).
• Serve as the primary contact for vendor inquiries and dispute resolution.
• Maintain and update vendor master data in compliance with internal controls.
• Perform monthly AP subledger reconciliation and resolve variances.
• Aid in executing annual audits, including preparation of related schedules and analysis.
• Manage spending allocations, and compliance with donor intent, university policies, and applicable regulations.
• Ensure documentation and adherence to university and departmental policies and procedures, related to areas of responsibility. In addition, provide oversight for the continuous improvement of processes and implementation of best practices.
• Establish and maintain internal controls to ensure compliance with GAAP, state and federal tax authorities, and other regulatory requirements.
• Complete accounting journal entries on a regular basis, ensuring proper supporting documentation is maintained.
• Prepare monthly bank reconciliations.
• Perform general ledger analysis and account reconciliations.
• Ensure month-end, quarter-end, and year-end closings are performed accurately and timely.
• Manage the Accounts Payable purchasing cards to ensure the proper reconciliation and compliance with university purchasing policy.
• Aid in preparation of financial statements to meet internal and external reporting requirements.
• Leverage AI-powered tools to improve invoice processing accuracy and efficiency.
• Analyze large datasets to detect duplicate payments, fraud risks, and process bottlenecks.
• Document processes and cross train with other members of the Business Office to ensure knowledge transfer.
• Exercise sound judgement and maintain professionalism at all times when managing confidential materials.

Qualifications

• Dedication to developing meaningful, collegial relationships with students, faculty, and staff; has the ability to work in a collaborative, flexible, and humble manner as part of a team; has the ability to courteously assist and support others; can reason through complex situations and exercise sound judgment; and has the ability to prioritize tasks and work autonomously in a fast-paced environment.
• The Accountant must be an organized, analytical, and professional individual with exceptional judgment, interpersonal skills, and a the ability to work independently as well as a member of a team.
• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers, and the general public.
• Ability to work with Colleague system software, write reports, and to understand Debits and Credits.
• High Skills: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written and oral form.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office software (Excel, PowerPoint, and Word) and Google Workspace. Ability to learn to operate College-specific software and applications (Colleague and Informer).
• Criminal Background Clearance.

University Service and Excellence Expectations

Coker's standards of service and excellence to the campus and community is an institutional priority for the university. We pride ourselves in our customer service, communication, and availability to our stakeholders and employees through efficient response times, detailed information, and professionalism.

Other Qualifications

• Ability to establish priorities and meet deadlines. Must be able to work in a fast- paced environment with a demonstrated ability to multi-task.