Accountant - Federal Treasury Management

Hawaii Pacific University; Honolulu (HI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Hawaii Pacific University’s Business Office – Cash, Payables and Federal Treasury Management team seeks a qualified professional to maintain accounting and financial compliance for the university’s Federal Student Aid program. The role focuses on monitoring internal controls, reviewing operations, and reconciling financial systems related to student financial aid.

The position collaborates on interim and year-end closings, audits, and regulatory reporting, while advising staff on regulatory

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and two years of related experience or an Associate’s degree and four years of related experience.
• Two years of accounting or finance experience and/or equivalent post-secondary coursework in accounting or finance.
• Two years of experience with computerized accounting programs.
• Experience utilizing Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams or comparable software.
• Two years of experience working directly with students and/or customers to provide customer service.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the financial administration of campus-based programs.
• Reconcile all grant programs, scholarship programs, and student loans.
• Prepare monthly close journal entries and monitor reconciliations.
• Review Financial Aid Office operations for compliance with internal policies and procedures.
• Assist with audits and annual reporting, including FISAP and AOR as needed.
• Provide training and guidance to staff on regulatory requirements and financial aid compliance.

Skills

Accounting

Customer service

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Associate’s degree

Tools

Excel

Word

Outlook

Teams

Job description

Job Summary

This position is a member of the HPU Business Office - Cash, Payables and Federal Treasury Management team responsible for maintaining accounting and financial compliance of the university's Federal Student Aid. The position’s duties center on monitoring the effectiveness of the university's financial internal controls over financial aid refunds and employee waivers; reviewing the Financial Aid Office’s operations with respect to Business Office policies and procedures; evaluating efficiency, effectiveness, and compliance with internal financial policies and procedures; reconciling and overseeing all internal and external financial systems related to student financial aid; and advising and training staff with respect to regulatory requirements and compliance. This position also assists the area’s Manager with interim and fiscal year-end closing and preparation of various work papers for the annual audit. Perform complex accounting analyses and produce ad hoc reports to assist management in the decision-making process relating to financial aid, as assigned.

Location

This position will be based out of our Waterfront Plaza campus, in downtown Honolulu.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and two years of related experience or an Associate’s degree and four years of related experience. Two years of accounting or finance experience and/or equivalent post-secondary coursework in accounting or finance.


• Two (2) years of experience with computerized accounting programs.


• Experience utilizing Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook, and Teams or comparable software.


• Two (2) years of experience working directly with students and/or customers to provide customer service.


• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.

Desired Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, accounting, finance, or a related field,


• Knowledge of and ability to apply Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) as they relate to financial aid accounting.


• CPA license or CMA certification.


• Three Knowledge of the principles and practices of financial aid accounting and/or administration.


• Experience utilizing Ellucian (Banner) software.


• Experience in the higher education and/or nonprofit sector.


• Knowledge of the principles and practices of data and account reconciliation; experience independently preparing and/or reviewing reconciliations for accuracy.


• Ability to work effectively as a part of a remote/hybrid team.


• Ability to prioritize and organize work independently.


• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships.


• Ability to follow up to pursue needed information and solutions.

Other Qualifications

• Good interpersonal and communication skills, good record keeping, and ability to work in team environment while handling multiple tasks.


• Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Visa sponsorship and relocation allowance is not available for this position.


• Report to work obligations to support the department and may require work during HPU’s winter break, if necessary.


• Must meet training and background check qualifications and comply with the Protection of Minors policy.


• Able to work all shifts and extended hours.


• Successful candidate will be able to work in an environment that utilize excellent time and stress management skills.

Key Responsibilities

Federal Funds Administration – 60%

• Oversee the financial administration of campus-based programs.


• Reconcile all grant programs (Pell, ACG, SMART, SEOG, STATE); FFELP and Direct Loan programs; all campus-based programs; all scholarship (institutional; state; endowed; and miscellaneous) programs; federal and state work-study programs.


• Reconcile all scholarship programs, including student loans.


• Reconcile monthly to ECSI system.


• Monitor Financial Aid programs for compliance with regulatory agencies, such as the "Blue Book".


• Understand, interpret and apply laws, regulations, and procedures concerning financial aid programs.


• Review all financial aid refunds posted.


• Monitor employee waiver program.


• Responsible for drawdown reconciliation on financial aid programs in compliance with regulatory agencies.


• Monitor grant and loan accounts between the Financial Aid Office, the Business Office, and Federal Department of Education Common Origination and Disbursement Center.


• Assist in the monitoring and reconciliation of all other grants, as assigned.


• Assist with the FISAP and AOR reports.


• Performs the review and management of the 240+ Days process for return of uncashed financial aid checks.


• Continuing education with respect to current financial aid regulations and overall financial aid process.


• Critically review financial aid data and resolve discrepancies.


• Ensure timely bank accounts reconciliations, including BOH-Perkins & Nursing Loans.


• Prepares monthly closing journal entries for interest income, bank charges, etc. for applicable financial aid bank accounts.


• Prioritizes and manages reconciliation of general ledger accounts, as assigned.


• Coordinates and oversees the internal and external audit of the University's accounting records and financial statements, as assigned.


• Manages month end closings and assists with fiscal year end closing and audit schedules, as assigned.


• Assists in any research of discrepancies for transactions performed by AP, AR, Collections, and Payroll.


• Participate in Ellucian (Banner) Finance module software testing, evaluation, and process improvements.

Administrative Support – 25%

• Provides leadership to the Student Account team.


• Participates in developing, implementing and evaluating plans, work processes, systems, and procedures to achieve annual goals, objectives, and work standards.


• Create and implement changes to work assignments among staff to meet operational needs, maximize efficiency and productivity, and manage customer service demands.


• Review periodic reports submitted by subordinates to monitor activities, anticipate problems, and ensure accurate recording of transactions in HPU’s accounting system.


• Jointly work with Controller/Assistant Controller and staff to analyze and resolve complex or difficult problems surfaced by co-workers, students, or faculty members.


• Assist and provide Ellucian (Banner) assistance as required.


• Recommend changes to policies, procedures, and/or forms to Management when needed.

Budgeting – 10%

• Assists in the review and preparation of budget estimates as required.


• Provides financial information to other departments and assists in resolving questions and issues regarding actual revenue and/or expenditure data

General Office Support – 5%

• Performs other duties as assigned by the Supervisor, General Ledger/Financial Reporting.

This description is not designed to list all activities, duties or responsibilities which may be required for this job. Other duties, responsibilities and activities may be assigned at any time.