Senior Accountant

IMPORTANT APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

• Upload Resume or Curriculum Vitae for automatic population of information to the application.
• The contact information, work experience, and education listed on your Resume/CV will be parsed and input into your Montclair application.
• Review information and double-check all fields containing information that the system parsed – the software is intelligent, but you need to verify that the data is accurate.
• In the “My Experience” section, you will find a Resume/CV upload option where you can submit your cover letter and all other supporting documents.

Note: If you have an expansive CV, we recommend that you apply manually and only include the positions you have held in the last ten (10) years. You will then be able to attach your Resume/CV, as well as all other supporting documentation in the "My Experience" section of your application.

Job Description

SUMMARY: 

Reporting to the Director of General Accounting, the Senior Accountant is responsible for ensuring accurate general ledger account balances that are substantiated by the completion of monthly account analysis and reconciliations and timely close of the University's financial records. This position is also responsible for accounting of fixed assets, construction in progress and leases under GASB 87 guidance.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Prepare complex general ledger account reconciliations and detailed analysis of assigned general ledger accounts.

• Prepare bank reconciliations.

• Review and monitor account activity to ensure accuracy, completeness, and the proper recording of transactions.

• Research and resolve discrepancies and prepare appropriate journal entries as required.

• Assist in close procedures and month end close process by completing steps as assigned.

• Perform accounting for Fixed Assets, construction in progress, capital projects and leases under GASB87 guidance.

• Work collaboratively with Finance & Treasury associates and other University departments to ensure that deposit/disbursements are recorded in the system in the period of occurrence.

• Identify and recommend improvements to financial controls and reporting; implement approved changes to existing processes.

• Prepare audit schedules and footnotes; assist with audit inquiries.

• Actively participate in or lead special projects as assigned including testing system implementations, upgrades, or enhancement; conducting financial analysis and developing ad hoc reports; and processing improvement initiatives.  

• Meet deliverable deadlines.

• Assist stakeholders and requestor so they understand account balances and content. Answer account and other financial questions by researching and interpreting data.

• Assist the Financial Reporting area in understanding account balances by providing account fluctuation explanations.

• Resolve helpdesk tickets as first level support for general ledger inquiries.

• Provide end user training/guidance in one on one and group settings.

• Keep abreast of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) as issued by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) as well as of State and Federal circulars and Internal Revenue Service rules and regulations.

• Perform other duties as assigned.

• Management retains the right to add or change job duties at any time.

QUALIFICATIONS: 

REQUIRED:  

• Bachelor's degree in accounting from an accredited university or college

• Minimum of five years of relevant experience in a financial/accounting function preparing account analysis, reconciliations and fixed assets

• Knowledge and experience with journal entries, financial statement preparation, and general accounting concepts including GAAP and application as issued by GASB and/or FASB.

• Excellent customer service

• Ability to maintain confidentiality

PREFERRED: 

• Experience with Workday or a similar ERP system

• CPA or CPA eligible

• Advanced Excel skills, including pivot tables

• Experience working for a higher education institution, a large nonprofit organization

• Experience in data mining

• Team player with strong communication skills

• Decision making, problem solving and troubleshooting skills

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