Senior Accountant and Endowment Administrator

Amherst has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration and staff.

Job Description:

Job Title: Senior Accountant and Endowment Administrator
Location: Amherst, MA

Company Overview:

Amherst College has taken a leadership role among highly selective liberal arts colleges and universities in successfully diversifying the racial, socio-economic, and geographic profile of its student body. The College is similarly committed to enriching its educational experience and its culture through the diversity of its faculty, administration, and staff.

Job Description:

Amherst College invites applications for the Senior Accountant and Endowment Administrator position. The Senior Accountant and Endowment Administrator is a full-time, year-round position, starting at $95,000 per year - commensurate with experience. Given Amherst's distinction as one of the most diverse liberal arts colleges in the country, the successful candidate will demonstrate the ways in which they bring value to and will work towards supporting a broadly diverse community.

The College is seeking a skilled, detail-oriented Senior Accountant and Endowment Administrator to join our financial team. Reporting to the Accounting and Endowment Manager, the individual will play a key role in administering endowment and gift transactions using Workday Financial Management. The successful candidate will support month-end and year-end closing processes, ensure accurate financial records, maintain compliance with accounting standards and policies, and serve as a resource for other accounting colleagues. Utilizing independent judgement, this position will analyze accounting processes, business controls, and make recommendations to the Endowment and Accounting Manager, and the Controller.  The individual will work independently on key projects identified in the Controller’s Office.

Key Responsibilities:

• Maintain a complete and accurate endowment module within the Workday Financial Management system utilizing third party custodial data and other resources.

• Record transactions for Amherst College and Folger Shakespeare Memorial Library endowments and non-endowment investments in the general ledger. Ensure accurate reconciliation from endowment module to general ledger.

• Independently prepare financial reports, analyze complex data, and complete projects identified by the Accounting and Endowment Manager, and the Controller.

• Reconcile investment activity, bank statements, and general ledger accounts.

• Review and approve donor-restricted funds.

• Assist with month-end and year-end close processes, including preparing journal entries and account reconciliations, while maintaining accurate accounting records and documentation.

• Ensure compliance with College policies and relevant accounting standards.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.

• Minimum experience in accounting/finance of three years.

• Strong understanding of accounting principles, financial analysis, and reporting.

• Proficiency with Microsoft Office.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration.

• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and prioritize effectively.

• Strong attention to detail and analytical problem-solving skills.

• Experience working with a diverse population and demonstrated inclusive behavior.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in a higher education setting.

• Experience with Workday Financial Management Software.

• Knowledge of not-for-profit financial reporting standards.

• Minimum experience in accounting/finance exceeding three years.

• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration.

Amherst College offers many opportunities for professional growth and development, continued learning, and career advancement.

Amherst College is pleased to provide a comprehensive, highly competitive benefits package that meets the needs of staff and faculty and their families. Benefits are an important part of our overall compensation, so it is critical that you review all of the options to ensure it meets your total compensation requirements. Click here