Senior Accountant

Senior Accountant Job Description

Virginia’s community colleges have a 50-year track record of educational excellence and innovation to serve the needs of our citizens and strengthen the Commonwealth’s economy. When Virginia’s General Assembly established the Virginia Community College System in 1966, the need for a comprehensive system was well known. Over the two decades after the end of World War II, leaders in government, business, professional sectors, and academia had called for a new approach to providing educational opportunity.

A key concern was Virginia’s ability to develop a skilled and knowledgeable workforce to expand the state’s economy. Today our community colleges give every Virginian the opportunity to gain a quality education. With 23 colleges on 40 campuses located throughout the state, Virginia’s Community Colleges are committed to serving Virginia families, helping them acquire the knowledge and skills to seize the opportunities of today and tomorrow.

The VCCS – System Office Senior Accountant performs system-wide general accounting functions. The position provides assistance and backup to the financial statement preparation process, specifically ACFR, schedules, and footnotes. The position provides fiscal guidance and oversight to the 23 community colleges and two agencies (System Office (SO) and Shared Services Center (SCC)).

Specific responsibilities of the Senior Accountant include, but are not limited to the following:

• Respond to college inquiries
• Manage and coordinate the annual 1098-T reporting process
• Prepare journal entries, deposits, non-AP disbursements, and year-end accounting entries
• Serves as the back-up to the business manager to include preparing accounting entries and managing the small purchase credit card
• Serves as the back-up to other senior accountant positions within the office
• Collect, review, and report on college foundations’ (component unit) annual financial information
• Document and maintain in-house policies and procedures
• Train new college employees on standard policies and procedures, including system navigation
• Manage the Schedule of Federal Expenditures Activity (SEFA) reporting to include providing guidance to the colleges, preparing year-end schedules, completing the annual Dept of Accounts (DOA) Attachment HE-7, and responding to the Auditor of Public Accounts (APA) questions
• Complete quarterly pass-through confirmations for federal grants
• Complete other fiscal year-end tasks

• In-depth knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, practices, and governmental accounting standards (GAAP)
• Familiarity with various Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) requirements
• Working knowledge of complex automated financial systems, such as People Soft Administrative Information System (AIS), Cardinal, or other Oracle-based programs
• Working knowledge of financial statement preparation, including footnote preparation
• General knowledge of higher education and applicable federal and state guidelines
• Knowledge of federal programs including federal cash management standards

• Intermediate knowledge of MS Excel and Word
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
• Excellent customer service skills

• Analyze financial data
• Prepare accounting entries
• Reconcile accounts
• Demonstrated ability to interpret administrative policies and procedures, exercise independent judgment, and make sound business decisions
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage time and work on multiple assignments
• Demonstrated ability to work well with various levels of management and staff in a diverse and decentralized environment
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot to resolve problems
  
  Work effectively in a team environment
• Work independently with little supervision

• A combination of relevant experience and education typically obtained through completion of a bachelor’s degree that provides the required level of knowledge, skills, and abilities to successfully perform the functions of the job.

• Working knowledge of GASB standards
• Working knowledge of annual SEFA reporting
• Working knowledge of People…