Senior Accounting Manager

Essential responsibilities

• Responsible for fostering the financial stewardship of the school by providing excellence in the Business Office department
• Responsible for superior financial management of school’s financial resources via accurate and timely financial reporting and accounting
• Work with all customers within the school (faculty, staff, families) to provide superior customer service relative to financial issues
• Create a positive working environment that inspires and motivates others, communicate effectively with others and foster an environment of respect and teamwork
• Write proficiently to communicate financial reports and other financial information
• Maintain the highest level of integrity in all aspects of the job
• Maintain, evaluate, and implement optimal and appropriate internal controls
• Communicate accounting policies and ensure compliance
• Use teamwork and creative thinking to problem solve and be solutions-oriented
• Champion initiatives to review and streamline accounting policies/processes
• Possess advanced skills in the Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Excel) and assist others with technology-based process improvements
• Excellent at multi-tasking and managing deadlines
• Create plans to meet departmental goals and objectives and monitor these plans to ensure success
• Supervise the daily operations of the Business Office Operations related to Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable activity

Specific Responsibilities

• General Accounting and Financial Reporting
• Assume primary responsibility for the general ledger and all organizational systems and processes that support it
• Maintain general ledger in accordance with GAAP, donor restrictions and other regulatory requirements
• Manage the accounting department entries, ensuring accurate and timely financial information
• Prepare/Review/Approve Payroll, Cash Disbursements and Fixed Assets
• Prepare monthly financial statements, including quarterly variance analyses
• Prepare financial statements for Finance Committee or Board review as directed by Director of Finance
• Manage general accounting operations
• Prepare and/or review account reconciliations monthly
• Maintain, evaluate, and implement optimal and appropriate internal controls
• Aid the Director of Finance in the preparation and monitoring of departmental budgets and forecasts, working with other administrators and department heads concerning budget performance
• Communicate accounting policies to affected employees and ensure compliance with such policies
• Handle sensitive and confidential information with the highest level of professionalism and care
• Prepare all periodic surveys and reports for the school’s trade organizations (e.g., NAIS, MISBO, ACSI, CESA, NBOA)
• Continually monitor, evaluate, implement, and document accounting policies and procedures to identify changes that would increase internal controls, efficiency, and the accuracy of financial records
• Closely monitor financial statements of the Operating Fund and, with the Director of Finance, prepare information for presentation to the Finance Committee of Board
• Oversee tracking of investment accounts and proper allocation into permanently and temporarily restricted funds
• Work with Director of Finance to ensure risk management policies and procedures are followed and maintained
• Update, as necessary, Accounting Policies & Procedures manual
• Cash Management / Bank Reconciliation / Accounts Receivable
• Prepare and submit A/R- Student Billing
• Monitor all incoming cash receipts and deposits; review daily bank account(s) activity
• Review and approve bank adjustments
• Review and approve bank reconciliations
• Review the monthly aging report for past due accounts and actions required; monitor tuition receivable accounts more than 45 days past due and provide additional support in the collection of tuition receivables as necessary
• Discuss any proposed payment plans for extremely past due accounts with Director of Finance
• Reconcile financial aid monthly
• Reconcile Raiser’s Edge activity monthly and issue the monthly reconciliation report to Director of Finance
• Reconcile accounts receivable monthly
• Purchasing / Accounts Payable
• Supervise Senior Staff Accountant
• Monitor all outgoing accounts payable activity
• Review and approve check voids, initiate the adjustments
• Review and approve bank reconciliations
• Ensure 1099 and W9 reporting requirements are met as well as issue annual 1099 statements
• Ensure appropriate approval rules are in place and followed, including checks that have appropriate approval before mailing
• Work closely with the Advancement Office to provide information for donor stewardship and ensure proper gift/endowment tracking
• Financial Aid/Student Accounts
• Serve on the Financial Aid Committee with specific responsibility for the review of applications and establishment/enforcement of appropriate policies and procedures
• Meet regularly with families with financial needs or questions
• Work with other committee members to ensure that all information necessary for consideration of the application is available for review
• Make recommendations for awards based on current school policy and/or guidelines and within budget constraints
• Primary person responsible for contacting families with significant billing concerns and making arrangements to clear outstanding accounts
• Fixed Assets
• Implement, add, and maintain new assets in Fixed Assets Spreadsheet
• Dispose of assets as directed
• Generate estimated depreciation on monthly basis
• Reconcile the Fixed Assets to the general ledger accounts
• Prepare a year-end roll forward which reconciles additions, disposals, depreciation expense and gain and loss to the general ledger
• Establish the capitalization policy and ensure compliance
• Budgets
• Coordinate the budget process with each department/building level; includes dissemination and return of the budget spreadsheets, review for completeness and accuracy
• Input/Import the budget worksheets into Financial Edge
• Work with budget holders on variance issues and resolve discrepancies
• Run monthly budget vs actual reports for Director of Finance review
• Net Assets
• Reconcile temporarily and permanently restricted contributions to the general ledger and Net Assets Schedule
• Allocate interest and dividends earned from endowment to proper accounts
• Prepare a year-end roll forward of the temporarily and permanently restricted net assets
• Annual Audits
• Successfully manage and coordinate the annual audit – Financial and 403(b) Audits
• Take lead position on preparation of schedules and work papers for annual audit
• Communicate any issues to the Director of Finance
• Ensure timely completion of the annual audit
• Coordinate preparation of schedules and work papers for tax filings
• Monthly/Quarterly/Annual Financial Closeout
• All accounts are reconciled on a quarterly basis as well as all adjusting entries are recorded
• Provide Director of Finance key indicator reports along with an analysis of significant variations

Work Environment & Accommodations

• Work is primarily performed in an office environment where sitting for long periods of time is required.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• There may be times when the Senior Accounting Manager may be required to work remotely due to weather or school closure issues.