Assistant Director of Finance

Covenant College

Assistant Director of Finance

Join a team of employees who are committed to an exciting mission to offer the world biblically grounded men and women equipped to live out extraordinary callings in ordinary places. Covenant College is a community committed to the Bible as the inerrant Word of God, and everything we do is grounded in our Reformed theology and worldview.

Covenant is located on the border between Georgia and Tennessee; our beautiful 400-acre campus stretches atop Lookout Mountain, Georgia. Lookout Mountain boasts incredible vistas of the Smoky Mountains and views that span across seven states while being conveniently located close to downtown Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Opportunity:

We currently have an opening for an experienced accountant to serve as the college's Assistant Director of Finance. Reporting to the Senior Director of Finance, the Assistant Director of Finance supports the College's financial operations by managing assigned accounting processes, maintaining the accuracy and integrity of financial records, and providing financial reporting and analysis to support institutional decision-making. This position performs and reviews general ledger and cash-management activities, administers institutional credit card and employee reimbursement programs, and coordinates assigned components of the month-end and year-end close processes.

The Assistant Director works closely with the Senior Director to strengthen internal controls, improve financial processes, support budgeting and audit preparation, and provide functional guidance and accounting support across the Finance Office.

Essential Job Functions:

• Manage the daily recording and reconciliation of bank account activity, including preparing and posting required journal entries and investigating discrepancies.
• Review financial transactions, general ledger activity, account balances, and supporting documentation; exercise judgment in identifying discrepancies, determining appropriate corrective action, and escalating significant or higher-risk matters to the Senior Director of Finance.
• Review weekly cash disbursements prepared by the Senior Accounting Clerk, ensuring payments are accurate, properly authorized, adequately documented, and recorded in accordance with College policies and accounting procedures.
• Provide operational support and backup coverage for student accounts receivable and accounts payable functions, including receiving student payments, responding to billing and payment inquiries, processing vendor invoices, and resolving transaction-related issues.
• Administer the College's purchasing card, corporate credit card, and employee reimbursement programs, including reviewing transactions, monitoring supporting documentation, addressing policy exceptions, and promoting compliance with established requirements.
• Coordinate assigned components of the month-end and year-end close processes, including preparing and reviewing journal entries, completing account reconciliations, researching variances, resolving outstanding items, and ensuring assigned close activities are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Prepare recurring and ad hoc financial reports, account analyses, budget-to-actual comparisons, reconciliations, and management information to support the Senior Director and departmental decision-making.
• Analyze financial activity, identify significant trends, variances, or emerging concerns, and communicate findings and recommended follow-up to the Senior Director of Finance.
• Support the development of the College's annual operating and capital budgets by gathering information, reviewing departmental submissions, analyzing historical activity, preparing schedules, and assisting with budget reporting.
• Monitor the effectiveness of accounting processes and internal controls, identify opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, documentation, and accountability, and assist with implementing approved process improvements.
• Maintain current written procedures for assigned financial processes and support the consistent application of accounting practices across responsible areas.
• Assist with audit preparation by compiling schedules, supporting documentation, reconciliations, and other information requested by external auditors or regulatory agencies.
• Coordinate appropriate work assignments for work-study students supporting the Finance Office, provide task-specific guidance, and review completed work for accuracy and compliance with established procedures.
• Serve as a resource to the Senior Accounting Clerk and other Finance Office personnel by answering questions, supporting problem resolution, reviewing assigned work products, and helping coordinate workflow and departmental priorities.
• Perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Core Competencies:

• Financial Acumen - Solid understanding of accounting principles, general ledger management, and financial reporting in a higher education or institutional setting
• Attention to Detail -…