APU is seeking employees who desire to engage in our thriving culture by cultivating community through professional interactions, demonstrating a posture of lifelong learning, and modeling Christ-like character. Working together, employees at APU commit to establishing a university atmosphere that is pleasing to God and edifying to one another.
Under the direction of the Manager, Accounting and Financial Reporting, this position performs professional accounting work in the Finance Services of the Business Office. The Senior Accountant will play a lead role in the month-end and year-end close process, banking, taxes, preparing and reviewing various monthly and annual financial reports, complex accounting and financial analyses, and audit support. This position manages, directs, and participates in financial record-keeping, reporting, accounting, and related auditing functions to assure accurate and timely accounting and reporting in accordance with GAAP and GASB/FASB, federal, state, county, and district requirements. This position manages tight deadlines and a multitude of activities, including reporting and analysis, annual audit and tax assistance, external reporting activities, and support of technical accounting activities.
Required Education
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, or equivalent work experience.
Required Experience
- Four or more years of accounting experience, preferably in higher education.
- General knowledge of GAAP, integrated accounting systems, and advanced knowledge of Excel.
- Preferred experience in treasury, investment, tax accounting, and fund accounting.
Primary Duties/Essential Functions
- Primary resource to reconcile all university bank accounts and review data to ensure financial compliance.
- Serves as a contact with departments for banking corrections and transfers, providing research and timely resolution of requests.
- Prepares and posts journals, which may include consolidations and eliminations.
- Coordinates and resolves various issues with the bank, such as check differences, bank fee anomalies, records reconciling items, and submits reconciliations by assigned deadlines, including targeted balance calculations and online services.
- Monitors positive pay exceptions.
- Prepares/Contributes to various tax filing preparation, including Sales and Use Tax, CA 592, 972CG, DE 542, 1042, Environmental Fees, E-Waste, Unclaimed Property and other higher education and governmental filings.
- Assist with and provide backup for perpetual cash flow and projections.
- Order and back up the Bursar’s Office for issuance and maintenance of merchant devices across campus.
- Provides financial information to management by preparing reports, including assigned asset and liability account entries by compiling and analyzing detailed accounting information.
- Documents financial transactions by entering account information.
- Recommends financial actions by analyzing accounting options.
- Substantiates financial transactions by auditing documents.
- Maintains accounting controls, specifically for cash, by preparing and recommending policies and procedures
- Assists with guiding and training new accounting team members, clerical staff, and students by coordinating activities by answering questions.
- Reconciles/Investigates financial discrepancies by collecting and analyzing accounting information.
- Maintains financial security by following internal controls.
- Answers inquiries from administrators, staff, vendors, and students regarding account balances, codes, and accounting procedures and policies. Serves as a contact with departments for corrections and transfers, providing research and resolution of requests.
- Manages competing deadlines with accuracy and minimal supervision within Azusa Pacific University
- Ensures the month-end and year-end closes are completed in a timely and accurate manner.
- Complies with federal, state, and local financial legal requirements by studying existing and new legislation, enforcing adherence to requirements, and advising management on needed actions.
- Prepares journal entries, both adjusting and closing entries.
- Reviews, corrects, and posts general ledger transactions and account balances for accuracy, timeliness, and adequacy of supporting documentation (external data), verifies compliance with established policies and procedures and general accounting standards.
- Analyzes accounting data, identifies and determines causes of discrepancies, and recommends corrective and preventative measures.
- Reconciles reports and financial data with financial statements on file. Conducts extensive financial data compilation, querying, and drilling on large volumes of financial data.
- Contributes to audit processes. Prepares, analyzes, and interprets financial reports and records.
- Ensures compliance with internal policies, agency rules and regulations, and generally accepted accounting principles, as well as providing compliance reporting information and support to campus stakeholders.
- Provides financial data with explanations and interpretation as requested by management.
- Participates in the design and installation of financial systems upgrades and required testing and verification of results. Provides initial troubleshooting of financial system problems.
- Provides back up to run interface processes, reviews, and posts to the general ledger 3rd party activity such as: PR, Auxiliary, and other banking files. Will also import and export file data transfers through approved portals for 3rd party transactions, such as refunds and payment files if required.
- Back-up team members, performing cross-trained duties when needed.
- Performs other duties as assigned by the supervisor and senior management.
Skills
- Must have excellent organizational, accounting, problem-solving solving and oral and written communication skills.
- Excellent time management skills in meeting deadlines with attention to detail.
- Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
Mental Demands
- Ability to work under pressure and demonstrate confidence in exercising independent judgment and discretion.
- Motivated self-starter and able to work with very little supervision.
- Able to prioritize and multitask various duties and projects for completion.
- High degree of confidence and integrity in the monitoring of accounting transactions.
- In agreement with the purpose and goals of Azusa Pacific University in providing a Christian-based higher education for its students.
Physical Demands
- Intermittent sitting and standing.
- Requires keyboard and 10-key work.
- Hearing and speaking in person and on the telephone.
- Ability to lift, pull, grasp, reach, and stoop.
- Ability to lift up to 20 lbs. occasionally.
- Must be able to climb stairs multiple times in a workday.
Visual Demands
- Reading, writing notes, and a computer monitor.
Environment
- Pleasant office, comfortable temperature.
Technologies
- Proficient in the use of Google Apps, Microsoft Office, Excel, Word. Familiarity with Other Database Transfer software, PeopleSoft 9.2, Concur,3rd party payment solutions and Adaptive Insights a plus.
Compensation
- Grade 13: $32.97 to $37.92 is the hourly compensation for this role and reflects what Azusa Pacific University reasonably expects to pay for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on the qualifications, experience, and internal equity. In addition to compensation, APU offers a competitive benefits package.
Azusa Pacific University is a Christ-centered, multicultural community that values and seeks faculty and staff who are committed to diversity, work effectively with diverse populations, and engage others in ways that honor our rich cultural mosaic and biblical foundation. Please click the links to learn more about 'what we believe', our 'mission statement', and our 'statement of faith'.
You can learn more about APU by watching the stories of faculty, staff, and alumni as they carry out our mission here: http://www.apu.edu/stories/
Azusa Pacific University will conduct a background check on all final candidates.
Review of applications will begin immediately, and the position will remain open until filled unless otherwise stated. Azusa Pacific University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, or status as a veteran in any of its policies, practices, or procedures. Women and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Required Skills
Required Experience