Accountant II

Position Summary

San Diego State University is seeking a detail-oriented and analytical Accountant II to support financial aid operations, reporting, and compliance across campus programs. This role ensures accurate accounting practices, supports complex reconciliations, and provides guidance to departments while maintaining alignment with federal, state, and CSU regulations.

Key Responsibilities

• Accounting Operations & Compliance 
• Perform financial analyses and calculations, reconciliations, journal entries, and reporting for areas such as grants, student financial aid, revenue, reimbursements, and collections.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, regulations per Department of Education, and California Student Aid Commision; interpret campus and system wide policies and recommend updates to processes and procedures.
• Troubleshoot complex accounting issues, resolve discrepancies, and prepare accurate financial statements and reports.
• Provide consultative support to campus departments and collaborate with external agencies (e.g., State Controller’s Office, CSU Chancellor’s Office).

Why Join Us?

• Support data-driven decision-making and financial integrity at SDSU
• Contribute to accurate and compliant financial aid operations in a large public university
• Work with diverse stakeholders across campus and external agencies
• Apply analytical skills to complex accounting challenges and process improvements

As part of the California State University (CSU) system, San Diego State University helps power one of the largest and most impactful public university systems in the nation. See what it’s like to work at the CSU—watch our video and imagine your future here: Working at the CSU.

Position Information

• This is a full-time (1.0 time-base), benefits eligible, permanent/probationary position. 
• This position is designated as exempt under FLSA and is not eligible for overtime compensation. 
• Standard SDSU work hours are Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but may vary based on operational needs.  
• This position is eligible for telecommuting up to 2 days per week, following a training period during which on-site presence is required.

Department Summary

San Diego State University is a dynamic and exciting organization and is one of 22 campuses in the California State University (CSU) System.  The Division of Business and Financial Affairs (BFA) is at the heart of some of the larger projects on campus in recent years, including the construction of Snapdragon Stadium, as well as the implementation of my.SDSU.  As part of BFA, the Department of Financial Operations is responsible for the financial and budgetary controls and procedures of the University and is directly responsible to the Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs. The Associate Vice President for Financial Operations has responsibility for Audit, Budget and Finance, Financial Operations, Procure-to-Pay, Shared Services, and the University Controller’s Office, which includes the University Bursar’s Office, Tax, Accounting Services, Financial Reporting, and Financial Systems Management and Analysis.

The University Controller’s Office is responsible for the maintenance of the University’s general and subsidiary ledgers for all the operating and self-supporting funds. The University Controller’s Office oversees and coordinates the reconciliation and reporting of all financial transactions of the University. Additional oversight includes expenditure transactions processed within Accounts Payable; cash receipts, student reconciliations and records, financial aid disbursement transactions, and collection activity managed by the University Bursar’s Office. The University Controller’s Office is responsible for internal and external reporting, including Legal/Budgetary Basis, Financial Information Record Management System (FIRMS), and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The University Controller reports directly to the Associate Vice President for Financial Operations.

Accounting Services is responsible for analyzing, reviewing, recording, and reconciling all transactional activity received from the sub-ledger modules into the general ledger. Reconciliation of general ledger data is performed on a monthly basis with a high degree of accur