College Accountant

About the role

Reporting directly to the Vice President for Development and Alumni Relations (who also serves as the Executive Director of the SUNY New Paltz Foundation), this senior-level position has dual responsibilities: Director of Finance in the Office of Development & Alumni Relations and Chief Financial Officer of the Foundation. The Director acts as a key financial advisor to University leadership and serves as an operating officer of the Foundation, responsible for its overall financial health and operational integrity.

Responsibilities

• Financial Strategy and Oversight
  • Oversee all aspects of the Foundation’s finances, including accounting, budgeting, and financial reporting.
  • Ensure proper custody of all funds, property, and securities and direct investment of assets in accordance with policies set by the Foundation’s Finance and Investment Committee.
  • Advise senior leadership and the Board of Directors on financial, budgetary, and administrative matters, including quarterly financial reports for Board review and approval by the Foundation Treasurer.
  • Perform critical calculations such as spendable income and the annual 1% endowment fee; reconcile the Voluntary Support of Education (VSE) data to the audited financial statements.
  • Implement and maintain robust internal controls over both state and Foundation activities, updating and adhering to financial policies and procedures.
• Reporting and Compliance
  • Serve as the primary liaison for internal and external auditors, coordinating the annual independent audit of the Foundation’s financial statements; prepare audit footnotes and supporting documentation.
  • Develop and review auditor requests for proposals (RFPs) every five years.
  • Manage preparation and submission of Form 990 and various accounts and reports required by the State University of New York (SUNY) administration.
  • Serve as the physical custodian of all the Foundation’s books, records, papers, and the official seal.
• Operational Management and Staff Development
  • Directly supervise and mentor two staff accountants, providing direction and oversight for daily tasks.
  • Train and transition key responsibilities to staff, including Net Asset Reconciliations, WT Endowed Bank Reconciliations, and Scholarship Available Fund Calculations.
  • Provide backup for daily cash processes when the senior accountant is out of the office and manage operational tasks such as setting up project codes in the financial system.
• External Relations and Special Projects
  • Maintain relationships with banks and investment managers; develop and review RFPs for such services as needed.
  • Lead special projects, including coordinating responses to data breaches, managing endowment transfers, and preparing official contract documents for the SUNY/Foundation agreement every five years.
  • Handle all updates and communications related to Charitable Gift Annuities, including entries to update the general ledger and follow-up with annuitants.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in finance, accounting, business, or a related field is required. A Master’s degree in one of these fields or an active CPA license (within 1 year of hiring date) is preferred.
• Experience: Minimum of three years of progressive accounting experience with demonstrated ability to provide direction and oversight in a supervisory role. Experience with fund accounting solutions (Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT preferred) and Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel) is required.
• Professional & Interpersonal Skills: Solid understanding of budget development and oversight, experience with non-profit accounting and accounting for endowments, and a keen ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects. Effective interpersonal skills and a collaborative working style with strong written and verbal communication abilities.