Lead Accountant

Job Overview

The Lead Accountant is responsible for applying generally accepted accounting principles and procedures to analyze financial information, prepare and review accurate and timely reconciliations, and ensure appropriate accounting control procedures are met. This position ensures the integrity of accounting information by recording, verifying, consolidating, and entering transactions to the general ledger. Monitoring staff accountant work, including account reconciliations, journal entries, and supporting financial analysis on a daily, monthly, and quarterly basis to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with GAAP and University policies.

Responsibilities

• Provides ongoing coaching, mentorship, and technical guidance to staff accountant to strengthen accounting expertise, analytical skills, and professional development to build a high-performing team.
• Serves as a lead resource overseeing the accurate recording, monitoring, and reconciliation of all cash transactions and bank accounts across the University. Works closely with Treasury to support cash positioning and cash flow monitoring, ensuring alignment between accounting records and treasury activity.
• Leads the analysis and reconciliation of asset accounts, including cash, receivables, and other balance sheet accounts, ensuring completeness, accuracy, and proper supporting documentation.
• Reviews and approves journal entries to confirm transactions are recorded appropriately in the general ledger in accordance with accounting standards and internal controls.
• Identifies, investigates, and resolves variances, discrepancies, and unusual transactions, implementing corrective actions and process improvements as needed.
• Partners with departments across the University to ensure accurate recording of financial activity, proper classification of transactions, and adherence to established policies and procedures.
• Serves as a key liaison between Accounting, Treasury, and operational units, facilitating communication, resolving issues, and supporting financial initiatives that impact multiple departments.
• Strengthens internal controls by enforcing reconciliation standards, review procedures, and documentation requirements, ensuring the integrity and reliability of financial data.
• Provide and analyze financial data on numerous general ledger accounts to the external auditor during preliminary and year-end financial statement audit.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Qualified candidates will hold a Bachelor’s degree in an appropriate area of specialization plus 7 years of relevant professional experience, or, a Master’s degree or higher in a relevant area of study plus 5 years of relevant professional experience.
• Minimum Qualifications: Degree must be conferred by the start date of the position. Degree requirements may be substituted with an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Accounting or Business-related degree is preferred.
• Advanced MS Excel skills including v-lookup, pivot tables, and macros.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Copilot or other artificial intelligence enabled productivity tools, with the ability to leverage such technologies to enhance efficiency, analysis, and decision-making.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Detail oriented and accurate.
• Excellent organizational skills and a team player.
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• Ability to work cooperatively and collaboratively with all levels of employees, management and external agencies to maximize performance, creativity, problem solving, and results.

Benefits

GW offers a comprehensive benefit package that includes medical, dental, vision, life & disability insurance, time off & leave, retirement savings, tuition, well-being and various voluntary benefits. For program details and eligibility, please visit https://hr.gwu.edu/benefits-programs.

Hiring Range

$74,041.08 - $122,078.34

Pay

How is pay for new employees determined at GW? The university is responsible for determining compensation based on the qualifications of the selected candidate and the job requirements.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM

Background Check

Background Screening Successful Completion of a Background Screening will be required as a condition of hire.

EEO Statement

The university is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer that does not unlawfully discriminate in any of its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.