Senior Accountant

Level: Experienced |

Job Location:

FL
- Main Campus
- Lakeland, FL 33801 | Position Type:
Full Time | Education Level: Bachelor's Degree | Travel Percentage:
Negligible | Job Shift: Day | Job Category:
Accounting

Southeastern University is seeking a Senior Accountant to serve as a key accounting leader within the Controller’s office. This position supports the execution of the monthly and year‑end close, reviews reconciliations, strengthens general ledger accuracy across all funds, supervises accounting staff, and serves as the Controller’s primary backup for financial reporting, audit preparation, and core accounting operations.

This position offers an experienced accounting professional the opportunity to grow into a controller‑track leadership role within a complex higher education environment. The Senior Accountant helps ensure the integrity of the general ledger across all funds, strengthens internal controls, and supports the university’s annual audit and reporting cycles. This role is based on the Lakeland campus and reports to the Controller.

Reports to:

Controller

Supervisory Responsibility:
Accounting Coordinator, Accounts Payable Specialist, Staff Accountant

Indirect Supervisory Responsibility: N/A

• Assist with the monthly and year‑end close, including the close calendar, journal entries, accruals, and allocations
• Review account reconciliations and ensure general ledger integrity across all funds
• Maintain the chart of accounts and proper fund and functional classification
• Assist in the preparation of monthly financial statements and serve as the Controller's primary backup

• Supervise and develop the accounting team (staff accountants, AP specialist, accounting coordinator)
• Assign and review work; build cross‑training, documentation, and repeatable workflows

• Support the annual financial audit — prepare work papers and schedules, as directed by the Controller
• Maintain internal controls and segregation of duties; recommend process improvements
• Assist with grant, endowment, and restricted net asset accounting compliance

• Partner with Financial Planning & Analysis on actual‑to‑budget tie‑outs and month‑end reporting
• Support year‑end estimates and GL‑to‑budget reconciliation

All remaining duties are considered “nonessential” within the context of the ADA, which means that the function could be reassigned to another employee in order to allow a disabled individual to hold the position. Alternatively, the manager could try to provide a reasonable accommodation so that the disabled individual could perform the function.

Lakeland Main Campus

Education

• Required:
  
  Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field
• Preferred:
  Master’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field

Licenses/Certifications

• Preferred: CPA or active CPA candidate

Experience

• Required:
  
  Minimum five years of progressive accounting experience, including staff supervision
• Preferred:
  Experience in higher education, preferably at a private nonprofit institution
• Preferred:
  Experience with Jenzabar or a comparable higher education ERP system
• Preferred:
  Public accounting or audit background

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Required

• Strong knowledge of general ledger accounting, month‑end and year‑end close processes, and nonprofit or fund accounting
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Commitment to the mission and values of Southwestern University

Preferred

• Experience in higher education, preferably at a private nonprofit institution
• Experience with Jenzabar or comparable higher education ERP
• Public accounting or audit background; knowledge of GAAP (nonprofit) and FASB standards

All employees are responsible for maintaining an environment that is free from discrimination, intimidation, harassment, including sexual harassment.

Physical Requirements:

This position operates in a standard office environment and requires the ability to sit for extended periods, use a computer and standard office equipment, communicate…