Accounting Systems Analyst

Accounting Systems Analyst

Identifies, defines, analyzes, and resolves transactional and business process issues; develops requirements and specifications for accounting system/module development and modification; and serves as a resource to accounting and business office staffs by providing technical assistance, training, and coaching on the use of People Soft and SAP accounting systems.

• Routinely audits transactional data, reports, accounting system functionalities, and inter-system integration to ensure effective operational outcomes; identifies opportunities for improving business processes and ensuring compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies, including GAAP.
• Consults with accounting system users to identify and define operational needs and objectives, current operational procedures, problems, input and output requirements, and levels of systems access.
• Analyzes the feasibility of and develops requirements/specifications for new systems/modules and enhancements to existing systems in areas such as general accounting, accounts receivable/payable, specially funded, student accounts, enterprise accounting, and ensures that the system design fits the needs of the users.
• Documents business processes and system changes; develops and distributes communications to colleges, students, and other stakeholders regarding policy, process, and procedural changes.
• Acts as liaison between process owners and IT systems and programming staff engaged in analyzing, designing, coding, implementing, maintaining, and modifying technology components of accounting information technology systems and applications.
• Performs testing for system projects from development to production and recommends changes in configurations to resolve errors and address user needs.
• Recruits, trains, and guides user-testers from various business areas to complete quality testing of new features and changes to existing accounting system modules.
• Provides technical training, mentoring, and coaching to professional and technical staff on matters related to usage of People Soft and SAP systems functionality.
• Maintains effective and cooperative working relationships with process owners, technical team members, and users.
• Writes instructions, procedures, and manuals associated with the implementation and maintenance of payroll/retirement systems.
• Writes reports and correspondence containing descriptive, analytical, and evaluative content including specifications, findings, conclusions, and recommendations for accounting systems.
• Acts as a liaison with auditors engaged in regulatory, contractual, and operational audits of District accounting operations.
• May be assigned to project teams doing business process analysis in all functional areas under the direction of Vice Chancellor/Chief Financial Officer.
• May perform professional level work in the absence of assigned personnel and during peak workload periods.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Through continuous audit and user consultation, identifies and defines transactional, business process, and accounting system issues; analyzes and translates departmental requirements into specifications based on an understanding of People Soft and SAP accounting systems; performs testing and maintenance tasks; and serves as a technical resource to accounting and business office staff at both the District Office and colleges.

An Assistant Accounting Systems Analyst applies a thorough knowledge of accounting principles and practices and basic understanding of People Soft and SAP accounting systems to moderately complex level assignments in business process analysis and system maintenance and development. Assignments are selected to enhance the employee's skills and professional development in preparation for promotion to higher-level analyst positions.

General supervision is received from the Director of Accounting. Functional supervision may be received from accounting department managers. Functional supervision may be exercised over lower-level professional, technical, and clerical accounting staff both at the colleges and central accounting department.

Knowledge of:

• Business principles, practices, systems, and procedures of accounting including general accounting, accounts receivable/payable, specially funded, student accounts, enterprise accounting.
• Tools and approaches used in business process analysis and management.
• Goals and objectives of the District and Division of Finance as they relate to accounting operations.
• Federal, State, and local laws, ordinances, codes, and regulations related to accounting and financial systems and reporting of the District, including GAAP.
• Board Rules as they relate to accounting transactions of the District.
• Characteristics and capabilities of state-of-the-art technology related to accounting and financial management administration including People Soft and SAP accounting systems/modules.
• Capabilities…