Senior Accountant

Senior Accountant

Reporting to the accounting of the University's property, plant & equipment, capital projects, leases, long-term and other debt, The Refectory restaurant accounting and reconcilement, and a variety of general accounting and financial functions, ensuring accurate and timely recording and reporting of financial data in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles. The individual in this position works with appropriate functional areas to review, and develop, policies and procedures, to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, as well as University business processes and internal controls.

The Senior Accountant will assist in developing financial reports to use in reviewing financial performance, as well as assist departments by providing custom reports and access to financial system data as needed. The position will maintain strong functional knowledge of the University's financial information system, assist in testing new system functionality and upgrades, and provides support and training to the University community.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Property Plant and Equipment (PP&E):
  Oversee and maintain the accounting related to the University's property, plant and equipment in accordance with GAAP. On a monthly basis, review departmental purchases to identify those expenditures that should be capitalized in accordance with the University's PP&E policy. Ensure that work-papers (electronic) are maintained for all assets created, especially PP&E purchases from government grant and other external funds. Ensure the physical tagging of assets is performed, either as part of the annual physical inventory or by the department.
  
  Also maintain the accounting and detailed records of capital projects, noting those that are donor-funded. Work with the Facilities Management Office throughout the year to determine capitalization and timing of projects. On a monthly basis, ensure that all appropriate assets and projects are capitalized accurately and timely, records contain appropriate documentation, ensure the accuracy of depreciation calculations, and the fixed asset system reconciles to the financial statements.
  
  It is imperative that proper documentation is maintained, and responsibilities and reconciliations are performed on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis, in a timely, accurate and detail-oriented manner.
• Leases:
  Support the accounting related to the University's leases in accordance with GAAP. Coordinate with external service providers to share new lease agreements, changes in existing leases (amendments), etc. for inclusion in lease accounting software. On a quarterly basis, book lease accounting entries and reconcile balances. On an annual basis, support the development of the year-end footnotes related to leases.
• Bonds:
  Oversee and maintain the accounting related to the University's long-term and other debt in accordance with GAAP. On a monthly basis, reconcile the G/L to the third-party custodian statements, making required journal entries as necessary, book entries related to debt service, and coordinate the reimbursement and reconciliation of the Construction Fund (as applicable). Throughout the year, ensure that bond principal and interest payments are made timely and agree to expected payments per the Debt Service Payments projection.
  
  Ensure that the amortization of costs of issuance and original issuance premium / discount are booked appropriately, reconciling any additional entries needed when issuances have fully matured. Work with management to track the expenditures related to the construction fund and analyze projections vs. actuals. It is imperative that proper documentation is maintained, and responsibilities and reconciliations are performed on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis, in a timely, accurate and detail-oriented manner.
• Various Month-End tasks and entries are to be performed timely and accurately related to areas of responsibility and other assigned balance sheet accounts. All entries need to be completed and reconciliations provided for review and approval, by stated deadlines. Specific tasks include but are not limited…