Accountant

Sylvania; Ann Arbor (MI); On-site; USD 66,000 - 81,000; Full time

Job summary

The Washtenaw Intermediate School District in Michigan seeks a finance-focused professional to support business services in accounting, grants, and payroll.

Key duties include preparing journal entries, assisting with budgets, and coordinating with auditors. Strong analytical skills and experience with accounting systems are essential for success.

Qualifications

• B.A. in Business Administration with an Accounting major is preferred.
• Minimum of two years’ experience in computerized finance/accounting/payroll functions.
• Michigan SB Officials Business Manager Certification is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Recommends and prepares journal entries for routine transactions and for corrective action.
• Assists in the organization and preparation of the District’s budgets and supporting documents.
• Prepares documentation and schedules for audits and works with auditors.
• Provides accounting services for local school districts and public school academies on an as-needed basis.
• Monitors grants and tax-related reporting, including bank reconciliations and payroll processing.

Skills

Accounting

Payroll

Budgeting

Auditing

Financial reporting

Grants management

Education

B.A. in Business Administration with Accounting (preferred)

Two years experience in computerized finance/accounting/payroll

Michigan School Business Officials Business Manager Certification (preferred)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Financial Accounting systems

Job description

The WISD's Mission

is to educate, serve, and advocate with students, families, schools and the community. We disrupt racial inequities, build just educational systems, and expand access for all learners. We value human potential while striving to support current and future generations of Washtenaw County to enrich as many lives as we possibly can.

The WISD’s Vision

is to be a leader in empowering, facilitating, and delivering high-quality, boundary-spanning, educational system that educates all children through an equitable, inclusive, and holistic approach.

SUMMARY

This is a Business Services support personnel position with the primary area of responsibility being financial, grant and property tax reporting. Computes, classifies, records, verifies, and analyzes numerical data for use in maintaining accounting records by performing the following duties.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Demonstrates a strong commitment to equity, social justice, and inclusion in all practices and position responsibilities.
• Demonstrates the ability to examine how his/her/their position (directly or indirectly) impacts educational inequities in student achievement outcomes.
• Engages in reflection and ongoing learning and development on critical concepts and terms identified in the Washtenaw ISD Educational Equity Policy including concepts such as cultural proficiency, racial equity, and systemic and structural inequities.
• Recommends and prepares journal entries for routine transactions and for corrective action.
• Assists in the organization and preparation of the District’s budgets and supporting documents.
• Prepares documentation and schedules for, and works with, school District auditors.
• Provides accounting services for local school districts and public school academies on an “as needed” basis.
• Reconciles the monthly Purchase Card reports for entry into the Financial System.
• Monitors state and federal grants.
• Assists in federal and state reports.
• Monitors food service programs and reporting systems.
• Monitors the distribution of fringe benefit expenditures to appropriate accounts.
• Maintains fixed assets and equipment inventory.
• Prepares year-end and month-end reports, including Treasurer’s Report to the Board of Education.
• Compiles data regarding tax assessments, tax appeals, tax collections, and prepares related reports and reconciliations with city, townships, or county government, and our local education agencies.
• Responsible for bank reconciliations and direct deposits of payroll for ISD plus LEA’s/PSA’s.
• Assists in maintaining account code structure that conforms to state requirements.
• Assists in the calculation of school district staff salaries and benefits pursuant to the applicable Master Agreements.
• Assists with ISD legislation compliance.
• Assists in the design and programming of reports from the Financial Accounting and Human Resource Systems to meet the user needs.
• Assists with the training in the Financial Accounting and Human Resource Systems.
• Provides excellent customer service.
• Maintains regular, predictable attendance.
• Other related duties as assigned by the Finance Director.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• N/A

QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Alternative requirements that may be appropriate and acceptable to the Board of Education may be considered. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• B.A. in Business Administration with an Accounting major - preferred.
• Minimum of two (2) years’ experience in computerized finance/accounting/payroll functions.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS

• Michigan School Business Officials Business Manager Certification - preferred.
• Must be bondable to the appropriate level.

LANGUAGE SKILLS

• Demonstrates ability to read and follow written instruction.
• Demonstrates ability to communicate and instruct others.
• Demonstrates ability to write correspondence.
• Excellent telephone presence.
• Demonstrates ability to develop, understand and follow detailed written procedures.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Demonstrates proficiency in the use of a personal computer (PC) or MAC in a networked environment to utilize the Internet and other electronic communications mechanisms.
• Excellent knowledge of productivity applications such as Microsoft Office (word processing, spreadsheets, databases and financial accounting).
• Knowledge of and ability to effectively utilize data processing systems.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS

• Demonstrates ability to apply the concepts of basic algebra and business math.
• Demonstrates ability to compile financial data and prepare financial reports.
• Demonstrates ability to process various forms submitted to Business Services.
• Demonstrates ability to operate on-line and batch processing.

REASONING ABILITY

• Demonstrates ability to perform job with little or no supervision.
• Demonstrates ability to maintain confidential information.
• Demonstrates ability to initiate and complete tasks independently.
• Demonstrates ability to analyze information and make decisions.
• Demonstrates ability to organize and manage data.
• Ability to work effectively and efficiently with the Finance Director and Associate Superintendent, as well as co-workers, local school districts, vendors, and the general public.
• Demonstrates ability to begin and complete work assignments in a cooperative and efficient manner.
• Demonstrates ability to read and comprehend instructions, correspondences and memos.
• Demonstrates ability to solve practical problems and interpret a variety of instructions.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Possesses excellent customer service and communication skills with a client-centered focus.
• Demonstrates ability to build rapport with others and to serve a diverse public.
• Demonstrates ability to take the initiative, work well with others as a collaborative team member and exhibit good communication skills.
• Demonstrates ability to work effectively and collaboratively with other departments, agencies and individuals.
• Demonstrates ability to perform assigned responsibilities in a manner consistent with excellent customer service.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to speak or listen. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, walk and stand. The employee is occasionally required to bend and or twist at the trunk more than the average person. The employee is continuously repeating the same hand, arm or finger motion many times. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 35 pounds, such as files and audit material. Specific vision abilities required for this job include close vision, distant vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The ability to travel to other buildings is required. The position requires the individual to sometimes work irregular or extended work hours and meet multiple demands from several people.

ENVIRONMENTAL ADAPTABILITY

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment varies from quiet to loud depending upon the activity level during any particular part of the day. The employee may be required to be outdoors for periods of time, and therefore subject to varying weather conditions, for purposes of accomplishing the essential functions of this job.

FUNCTIONS OF POSITION DESCRIPTION

This position description has been prepared to define the general duties of the position, provide examples of work to be performed, and to detail the required knowledge, skills and ability as well as the acceptable experience and training for the position. The description is not intended to limit or modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct and control the duties of employees under supervision. The WISD retains and reserves any and all rights to change, modify, amend, add to or delete from any portion of this description in its sole judgment. This position description is not a contract for employment.

The WISD is an equal opportunity employer, in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The District will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.

TERMS

Salary and other employment conditions to be established by the Board of Education as reflected in the Non-Affiliated Staff Manual. Starting salary ranging (dependent upon experience) from $65,569 - $80,585.

Washtenaw Intermediate School District is a drug-free workplace.

It is the policy and commitment of the Washtenaw Intermediate School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, color, national origin, religion or handicap in its educational programs, activities, admissions, or employment policies in accordance with Title IX of the 1972 Educational Amendments, executive order 11246 as amended, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and all other pertinent state and federal regulations.