Operational Accountant

Our client, a University based in Boston, is in need of a temporary (up to 6 months) Operational Accountant who will be responsible for the identification, measurement and communication of financial information relating to capital assets. The individual will coordinate current and new University financial operating processes to insure appropriate accounting and control over University financial resources. This is a hybrid assignment, working 2 days onsite in Boston, and the remaining time working remotely.

The Operational Accountant will prepare financial reports for management, and external requestors. They will also assist in the preparation of the University financial statements and assist in the annual audit. They will also manage the full lifecycle of the University’s capital assets within Workday and related systems from procurement review and registration through disposal and audit support. In addition, they enforce capital asset policy, maintain accounting accuracy across PP&E, and serve as a Workday subject matter expert for university stakeholders.

Supervises co‑op and student staff.

• Assign and verify accounting information upon registration, including spend category, worktags, location, depreciable life, and description, against source invoices.
• Review requisitions, purchase orders, invoices, and change orders to identify capital purchases; verify trackable spend categories and return non‑compliant items with guidance.
• Process asset accounting events: cost adjustments, reclassifications, transfers, impairments, reinstatements, and disposals (including bill of sale/direct‑to‑pay workflows).
• Track CIP phases and coordinate capitalization of project assets in Workday; maintain the Capital Project Workbench in collaboration with the PREF facilities team.
• Supervise co‑op and part‑time student staff; manage biannual hiring cycles and conduct regular 1:1 check‑ins.
• Participate in weekly PP&E status calls and contribute to team priorities and documentation.
• Prepare and reconcile financial reports and analysis from the operating and general ledger systems for management and auditors.

• Bachelor’s degree
• Workday Finance experience is highly preferred
• Experience preparing financial and asset‑related reports
• Higher education industry experience is a plus
• Grant management experience is preferred but not required
• Strong attention to detail and effective communication skills
• Ability to work cross‑functionally with multiple departments and stakeholders
• Comfortable managing and analyzing large volumes of data
• Collaborative team environment, working closely with 2–3 colleagues on a daily basis within a team of approximately 10
• Self‑motivated with the ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively with others