Director, Pension Accounting and Reporting-Hybrid Schedule

About the role

Columbia University is one of the world's most important centers of research and at the same time a distinctive and distinguished learning environment for undergraduates and graduate students in many scholarly and professional fields. The University recognizes the importance of its location in New York City and seeks to link its research and teaching to the vast resources of a great metropolis. It seeks to attract a diverse and international faculty and student body, to support research and teaching on global issues, and to create academic relationships with many countries and regions. It expects all areas of the university to advance knowledge and learning at the highest level and to convey the products of its efforts to the world. Columbia is one of the top academic and research institutions in the world, conducting path breaking research in medicine, science, the arts, and the humanities. It includes three undergraduate schools, thirteen graduate and professional schools, a world-renowned medical center, four affiliated colleges and seminaries, twenty-five libraries, and more than one hundred research centers and institutes. Columbia can claim 87 Nobel Laureates as well as over 380 new inventions each year. Columbia is rated in the top 10 of private employers in NYC. We are committed to attracting and retaining the best and brightest in the workforce to support our mission of excellence in higher education and research.

Responsibilities

• Maintaining the pension/post retirement plans’ books and records, reviewing and approving monthly journal entries and managing monthly closing and reconciliation procedures
• Leading any updates and improvements to the current automated pension accounting processes
• Complying with internal controls to ensure the protection of pension assets
• Preparing the plans year-end financial statements and footnote disclosures in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and ERISA regulations
• Researching new accounting rules and updates and making recommendations as to applicability and implementation
• Independently handling the calendar year end and fiscal year audits for the seven pension plans, coordinating with HR, actuaries, plan providers and other parties; acting as liaison with the University’s independent auditor
• Directing preparation of the Forms 5500 and other Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor regulatory compliance filings
• Preparing the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) pension/post retirement disclosure for the University’s audited financial statements
• In consultation with the Executive Director, serving as the Controller’s Office liaison to the Benefits Department on pension/post-retirement related audit and accounting matters, reconciliations and ad hoc reporting needs
• Monitoring investment performance in accordance with the University’s asset allocation for the pension assets
• Collaborating closely with the plans’ custodian and the plans’ actuaries to ensure that valuation inputs are appropriate and that pension related disclosures are accurate
• Supporting and participating in all pension plans, related HR, and fringe budget related activities
• Supervising the Senior Accountant Pension Financial Reporting
• Performing other related duties and special projects as assigned

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree (preferably in accounting, business administration or finance)
• At least seven years’ related experience
• CPA and/or advanced degree with pension accounting experience strongly preferred

Skills

• Detail-oriented, analytical, strong organizational and problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple assignments simultaneously
• Leadership skills to own and manage the pension accounting team with minimal supervision
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access); Excel super-user capable of collecting and analyzing data, evaluating information, preparing reports, and presenting findings and recommendations
• Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work closely and effectively with a diverse group of senior University administrators
• Supervisory experience strongly preferred
• Knowledge of current FASB and AICPA disclosure and presentation issues
• Passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality