Director of Accounting

Description We are looking for an experienced accounting leader to oversee gift accounting, fund stewardship, and financial compliance for a higher education institution in Alabama. This contract-to-permanent opportunity will play a key role in managing philanthropic funding activities, supporting scholarship and endowment administration, and ensuring alignment with donor restrictions and institutional standards. The position partners closely with campus stakeholders to strengthen financial accuracy, reporting, and operational effectiveness across advancement-related functions.

Responsibilities:

- Lead accounting and compliance activities related to charitable contributions, fund oversight, scholarship administration, and advancement finance operations.

- Direct the accurate processing and reconciliation of gifts, pledges, matching contributions, grants, and similar funding transactions within established timelines.

- Review restricted, endowed, scholarship, and expendable funds to confirm spending activity aligns with donor intent and institutional guidelines.

- Evaluate gift documentation and related agreements to support proper fund setup, ongoing administration, and regulatory compliance.

- Manage recurring reconciliations between advancement records and university financial data, researching and resolving discrepancies as needed.

- Oversee scholarship fund records, eligibility criteria, donor restrictions, and reporting within the institution's scholarship management processes.

- Partner with teams across academic, enrollment, financial aid, student finance, technology, and business operations to coordinate fund and scholarship activities.

- Prepare reports covering financial results, fund activity, compliance status, scholarship utilization, and endowment performance for leadership and stakeholders.

- Maintain strong internal controls, support audit activities, safeguard data accuracy in donor and fund systems, and supervise staff while driving process improvements. Requirements - Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, Higher Education Administration, Public Administration, or a related discipline.

- At least five years of progressive experience in accounting, gift administration, compliance, auditing, nonprofit finance, higher education finance, or a closely related area.

- Demonstrated knowledge of financial reporting, month-end close activities, audit support, and gift processing practices.

- Experience working with financial systems, donor databases, scholarship platforms, or enterprise reporting tools.

- Ability to interpret donor restrictions, monitor fund activity, and maintain compliance with policies and accounting standards.

- Strong analytical, reconciliation, and problem-solving skills with attention to accuracy and detail.

- Experience leading or mentoring staff is preferred.

- Master's degree in a relevant field is preferred.

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