Senior Accountant

Description

SUMMARY

The Senior Accountant serves as a key technical accounting resource responsible for complex accounting transactions, financial reporting, compliance activities, endowment accounting, audit support, and process improvement initiatives. This position is critical to maintaining the Foundation’s financial integrity while supporting increasing organizational complexity. The Senior Accountant performs advanced accounting analysis, prepares financial statements, and manages specialized accounting functions. This role works closely with Foundation leadership, campus partners, auditors, tax advisors, and external stakeholders to ensure accurate financial reporting, regulatory compliance, and effective stewardship of Foundation assets. This role also plays a critical role in enterprise initiatives, including process redesign, automation, and internal control enhancements.

BEHAVIORAL EXPECTATIONS:

• Follow the principles of the Foundation’s core values: Trust, Respect, Integrity, Commitment
• Motivated to value-add to the success of the Foundation
• Effective communicator
• Collaborative
• Detail-oriented
• Adaptable, receptive to change
• Teach through example and service
• Practice professional curiosity and desire to learn
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to work with a diverse constituency
• Maintain confidentiality
• Work safely

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Endowment & Investment Accounting

• Manage monthly endowment pool accounting processes and related journal entries
• Calculate and process endowment distributions and reinvestments and respond to inquiries from campus departments regarding endowment activity and fund balances
• Prepare annual distribution schedules and support campus communications related to distributions
• Coordinate quarterly and annual endowment reporting activities
• Reconcile investment activity and support investment-related financial statement disclosures

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Prepare quarterly and annual financial statements, supporting schedules, and footnote disclosures
• Maintain and improve reporting processes utilizing reporting and automation tools
• Analyze financial activity, identify variances, and provide recommendations to management
• Assist with preparation of board, committee, and executive-level financial reporting
• Support interim and annual financial reporting requirements

Audit Coordination & Compliance

• Prepare supporting documentation to include complex audit schedules and reconciliations
• Support interim audit procedures and quarterly review activities
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, organizational policies, and regulatory requirements
• Assist with internal control documentation and monitoring

Tax & Regulatory Reporting

• Coordinate annual tax return preparation with external tax advisors
• Prepare schedules and supporting documentation required for federal and state filings
• Monitor filing deadlines and regulatory requirements
• Support charitable organization reporting and compliance activities

Complex Reconciliations & Technical Accounting

• Perform and review complex balance sheet reconciliations
• Research and resolve accounting discrepancies and unusual transactions
• Prepare and review advanced journal entries and support documentation
• Analyze accounting treatment for new transactions, agreements, and initiatives
• Ensure accuracy and completeness of financial records

Project Leadership & Cross-Functional Support

• Lead and participate in strategic accounting projects
• Participate in on-going training, education and staff meetings
• Provide training and guidance for accounting staff
• Assist with development of procedures, documentation, and best practices
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to resolve accounting and reporting issues
• Support special analyses and ad hoc reporting requests.

Cash Management

• Monitor liquidity and collaborate with university partners to provide financial insights and support their cash flow forecasting and use of donor funds

Requirements

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Advanced knowledge of GAAP and nonprofit accounting principles
• Strong understanding of endowment, investment, and fund accounting
• Experience preparing audited financial statements and supporting disclosures
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines and competing priorities
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and reconciliation skills
• Experience with ERP systems, financial system implementations, and process redesign
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and proficiency with reporting tools
• Ability to communicate complex financial information to both financial and non-financial audiences
• Strong organizational and project management skills

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, economics or related field
• CPA license
• Five or more years of progressively responsible accounting experience
• Strong core accounting skills
• Investment knowledge
• Demonstrated capability in the preparation of journal entries, reconciliations, and the interpretation of financial data
• Proficiency in MS Office applications, especially Excel, and the ability to adapt to new processes and systems
• Ability to effectively manage multiple responsibilities and shifting priorities
• Ability to interpret and present data to varied audiences
• Ability to exercise independent judgment and discretion
• Excellent communication and critical thinking skills
• High attention to detail, accuracy, and organizational skills
• Independent, initiative-taker, organized, able to work with minimal supervision
• Experience in nonprofit, higher education, foundation, or endowment accounting environments
• Experience with audits, tax compliance, and financial statement preparation

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• This job is conducted in an office work environment, sitting most of the time
• Approximately 90% of this position’s duties require use of a computer
• Must be able to exert up to 20 lbs. of force occasionally
• Some travel may be required