Senior Accountant

Company: Williams College
Location: Chicago
Posted on: March 20, 2023

Job Description:

Under the general guidance of the AVP, Finance, the Senior Accountant performs professional accounting activities for specialized, complex assignments & functional areas. The Senior Accountant leverages industry knowledge and best practices to promote the mission and vision of the Accounting department and the institution. Supports culture development and management efforts. Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Master's degree in Business is required.
• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in a variety of accounting functions, including month end closings and using fully integrated accounting information systems is required. Certifications/Licenses:
  • CPA certification preferred Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:
    • Knowledge of accounting principles, practices, business policies and procedures. Highly analytical, detail orientation and high math aptitude.
    • Excellent organizational and follow up skills. Ability to exercise independent judgement.
    • Knowledge of supervisory practices and principles.
    • Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including Pivot Table, V- Lookup, data sorting, Macros.
    • Skill in preparing detailed reports on a timely basis.
    • Excellent Skill in using both mainframe and Microsoft Suite products.
    • Excellent Communication skills. Supervision (if applicable): Essential Duties & Responsibilities: GENERAL ACCOUNTING FUNCTIONS:
      • Prepares specialized and highly complex reports, statements, analyses and interpretation utilizing advanced knowledge and proficiency in accounting practices, principles and interrelationships for management.
      • Recommends alternatives to management when accounting data indicates trends or situations requiring action to be taken beyond scope of responsibilities. Researches, analyzes and uses independent judgment in a variety of daily and non-routine decisions affecting assigned function
      • Performs monthly bank account reconciliations, and distributes them along with outstanding checks to various areas. Records all bank account activity journal entries.
      • Codes cash receipts and ensures weekly posting to the GL
      • Calculates and records a variety of month-end journal entries to close the fiscal period, per the internal checklist.
      • Creates ad Hoc Journal entries as needed
      • Assists the Financial Analyst in preparing the Management Discussion & Analysis report by explaining variances from budget and answering additional questions related to grants.
      • Records monthly financial reports of the Vancouver Campus, a segment located in Canada. Translates the foreign currency financial statements and consolidates them with those of the parent recording the translation adjustment and subsidiary financial statements in separate funds.
      • Ensures all tuition is posted to the proper academic program accounts monthly and communicates discrepancies to IT and AVP. Calculates Tuition and Deferred tuition revenue, scholarships and online campus revenue adjusting entries.
      • Prepares Debt schedules and records pertinent entries.
      • Records credit card activities.
      • Ensures that all month closing activities are performed timely by other staff, who participate in the closing process.
      • Creates monthly reports for various university departments, such as OIA and Financial Aid.
      • Records Adler Health Services revenue and creates monthly receivable reports.
      • Records prepaid expenses and reconciliations.
      • Coordinates activities with the Bursar to ensure proper month end cutoffs are in place to close the student A/R subsidiary ledger.
      • Ensures receipt of student A/R reconciliations from Bursar prior to closing the fiscal period.
      • Runs various weekly and periodic processes in Colleague to ensure that the GL is updated correctly.
      • Maintains the Fixed asset Module and calculates depreciation ACCOUNT RECONCILIATIONS:
        • Completes monthly balance sheet reconciliations for all assigned accounts.
        • Investigates any and all unreconciled items until fully explained, brings issues to the AVP to seek resolution.
        • Recommends process improvements and automation, where applicable to increase efficiencies
        • Makes sure the OIA reconciliation for both campaign pledges and revenue is reconciled.
        • Fosters effective inter-departmental relationships to prevent reconciliation issues.
        • Assists in preparing reconciliations and roll forward schedules for annual audit. DOCUMENTATION:
          • Supports the development of accounting policies and procedures.
          • Responsible for reviewing procedures related to primary line of work (assigned reconciliations, journal entries) on annual basis to ensure relevance. DATA MAINTENANCE:
            • Maintains an orderly accounting filing system including supporting documents. OTHER DUTIES & SPECIAL PROJECTS:
              • Assists in automating and improving existing accounting processes.
              • Involved in communication with Vancouver auditors to answer questions related to the Intercompany account, which the Senior Accountant reconciles.
              • Assists with special reports and projects
              • Provides technical advice and services to lower level accountants or other university staff with problems, complex issues or special projects.
              • Maintains GL codes and acts as advisor for the GL portion of UltiPro Payroll system.
              • Conducts training for campus staff Work Environment (Physical Demands): The usual and customary methods of performing the jobs functions require the following physical demands: some lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling and significant fine finger dexterity. Generally, the job requires 80% sitting, 10% walking, and 10% standing. This job is performed in a generally clean and healthy environment. Universal Core Behaviors: Communication:
                • Effectively expresses oneself in all oral and written communications.
                • Exhibits good listening and comprehension skills.
                • Keeps others informed, as well as responds, in a timely manner.
                • Demonstrates match between words and actions.
                • Responds with tact, diplomacy, respect and composure when dealing with others.
                • Promotes the spirit and essence of the School's Vision, Mission, Values and Key Strategies through both verbal and written communication. Teamwork and Collaboration:
                  • Cooperates with others toward the achievement of common goals.
                  • Seeks consensus and win-win solutions to problems and conflicts.
                  • Contributes actively and participates fully in team initiatives.
                  • Puts success of the team above own interests.
                  • Builds and maintains constructive work relationships. Responsive to Change:
                    • Supports changes in the work environment.
                    • Displays a proactive, problem-solving approach toward work.
                    • Committed to life-long learning by continuously increasing skills, knowledge and effectiveness.
                    • Actively seeks and initiates creative and innovative solutions.
                    • Exercises sound, accurate and informed independent judgment when needed. Quality-Driven and Accountable:
                      • Results-oriented and committed to quality through continuous process improvement.
                      • Eliminates ineffective activities and closes performance gaps.
                      • Anticipates and responds to customer needs.
                      • Monitors own performance, accept responsibility for actions and actively seeks feedback.
                      • Meets deadlines and completes projects and activities in professional, timely manner.
                      • Seeks opportunities to increase productivity and/or reduce costs while maintaining highest quality standards (fiscally responsible). Support of Vision, Mission, Values, Key Strategies:
                        • Supports and models the School's Values of: social interest, compassion, justice, respect for the individual, honors diversity and difference, intellectual rigor, optimism and collaboration.
                        • Articulates the School's Vision, Mission, and Key Strategies in a way to educate others.
                        • Demonstrates active commitment in advancing the School's Vision, Mission and Key Strategies.
                        • Exhibits personal integrity, honesty, zeal and compassion.
                        • Aligns work processes to advance the School's strategic plan and key strategies.

Keywords: Williams College, Chicago , Senior Accountant, Accounting, Auditing , Chicago, Illinois