Accounting Specialist-Retail, Hospitality and Tourism Management- UTK

This position supports the Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management by assisting the Business Manager with fiscal operations, data management, and administrative tasks. It provides advanced support to departmental leadership and staff, ensures compliance with university policies, and serves as a point of contact for fiscal and operational inquiries.

Financial Responsibilities

• Post accounting transactions in Dash for:
  • Regular and contract invoices
  • Purchase orders
  • Honorarium/consultant payments
  • Petty cash reimbursements
  • Internal transfer vouchers
• Process journal entries in Dash for the UT Creamery
• Reconcile monthly financial ledgers for assigned accounts, including:
  • State appropriate accounts
  • Start-up and seed accounts
  • Endowed and non-endowed gift accounts
  • Income and research accounts
• Manage new vendor creation and enter requisitions
• Assist Business Manager with:
  • Payroll reconciliation
  • Post-award management and compliance
• Interpret financial data to prepare reports with estimates, projections, and spending recommendations
• Initiate and create asset records for equipment inventory
• Prepare and submit facilities and equipment inventory
• Manage gift card inventory and provide compliance reports to Business Manager
• Assist in preparation of the annual fiscal year budget
• Maintain and monitor the travel budget
• Procure office supplies and memberships using a procurement card

 

Travel Coordination

• Create and submit travel requests and travel expense reports
• Implement departmental travel procedures and submit college travel funding requests
• Coordinate travel for guest travelers (e.g., search candidates, guest speakers)
• Process travel reports to ensure reimbursements are completed
• Assist faculty, staff, and students with travel policies, procedures, and forms
• Research cost-effective airline tickets and hotels for department head and guests

 

Academic Program Administrative Support

All Programs (Doctoral, Master's, Bachelor's)

• Support data collection, maintenance, and reporting for:
  • Program assessment
  • Alumni relations
• Enter timetable information in Banner each semester
• Coordinate classroom assignments and communicate timetable changes with registrar

Master’s Program

• Provide administrative and clerical support to the Program Director
• Assist students with enrollment and registration questions in conjunction with One Stop

HTM Undergraduate Program (Accreditation-Related)

• Coordinate compliance and reporting for ACPHA accreditation learning outcomes
• Send follow-up surveys to alumni employers and sites
• Gather and summarize survey data
• Assist in data collection, reporting, and filing for accreditation purposes

Alumni Record Keeping & Fundraising

• Contact alumni to update contact information
• Support annual fundraiser event by:
  • Handling communications (emails, calls, follow-ups)
  • Supporting auction checkout process
  • Assisting with event setup and takedown
  • Maintaining attendee and donor list

 

Operational Administration

• Greet guests and maintain a welcoming office environment
• Maintain the department head’s calendar
• Record and submit faculty meeting minutes
• Assist Advising Coordinators with administrative tasks
• Support faculty, staff, and search committees with meeting and space coordination
• Assist with facility-related projects and ensure office cleanliness and organization
• Support onboarding of new faculty, graduate assistants/associates, and staff
• Perform other administrative duties as assigned
• Submit building work order requests as needed

Required Qualifications

At least two years of office experience in a position that requires accounting skills. 

Knowledge and mastery of standard accounting principles (GAAP) 

Proficiency with common office and database software

Effective organizational, prioritization, and problem-solving skills 

Strong written and verbal communication skills, and ability to communicate with multiple audiences 

Ability to work independently and as a team player 

Ability to adapt to changes that might occur in the office environment, and be able to work with deadlines 

Ability to expand knowledge in needed areas such as learning new software programs 

Proficient with spreadsheets and ability to compi