Accountant I - Accounting & Procurement

Clayton State University; Valdosta (GA); On-site; USD 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Valdosta State University is seeking a professional accountant to perform basic to intermediate accounting tasks, ensuring GAAP compliance and preparing financial statements for internal stakeholders.

The role emphasizes data analysis, budgeting, reporting, and collaboration with departments to maintain accurate records and assist audits. A Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field is required, with at least one year of related experience.

Qualifications

• Must demonstrate working knowledge of and the ability to apply GAAP, particularly governmental accounting.
• Excellent organizational skills, customer service attitude, and ability to perform in a fast-paced environment.
• High degree of accuracy, initiative, and adaptability.
• Detail oriented with solid analytical skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines; independent decision making.
• Knowledge of Business English and effective communication; familiarity with office practices and equipment.

Responsibilities

• Monitor revenue and expenses for departmental or unit accounts.
• Construct spreadsheet applications, prepare financial data for input into finance, student accounts, and human resources systems, and generate reports.
• Coordinate the preparation of regularly scheduled and special reports.
• Review and approve expenditures, personnel, and purchasing documents for funding availability.
• Analyze, reconcile, balance, and maintain accounting records; develop budgets and special financial reports.
• Prepare, review, and process budget, revenue, expense, payroll, student account, and related correcting entries; may prepare bank reconciliations.
• Interact with and train department staff regarding finance policies and funding requirements.
• Assist in audit activities as assigned.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

MS Excel

Data analysis

Budgeting

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

As a comprehensive institution of the University System of Georgia, Valdosta State University (VSU) is a welcoming, aware, and vibrant community founded on and dedicated to serving our communities' rich and diverse heritages. Through excellence in teaching, basic and applied research, and service, VSU provides rigorous programs and opportunities that enrich our students, our university, and our region. As such, the VSU mission consists of three interrelated parts that includes a student mission, university mission and regional mission. The university is equally dedicated to the core values of community, including a commitment to practicecivility, integrity,andcitizenship.As members of this community and proud Blazers we strive to uphold these core values for the advancement of the University, as stated in the Blazer Creed and reflected in our commitment to the University System of Georgia's Core Values.

Valdosta State University is a learning environment based on trust and mutual respect in which open dialogue, vigorous debate, and the free exchange of ideas are welcome. The University is equally dedicated to the core values of community, including a commitment to practicecivility, integrity,andcitizenship.As members of this community, and proud Blazers, we will strive to uphold these core values for the advancement of the University.

Civility- A Blazer shows courtesy and compassion as well as respect for the dignity of every human being.

Integrity- Each Blazer is responsible for his or her own actions, and our community is stronger when we contemplate the context of our decisions and uphold the principles of trust and honesty.

Citizenship- Every Blazer has an interest in the well-being of the community, and, therefore, a duty to stay informed, to make positive contributions, and to offer support to those who need help.

As a Blazer, we pledge to uphold the core principles ofCivility, Integrity,andCitizenship.

Job Summary

Perform professional accounting work of a basic to intermediate level, ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, assemble and analyze data, and prepare financial statements and reports for internal stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Typical Allocation of Duties:

Monitor revenue and expenses - 20%
Monitor revenue and expenses for departmental or unit accounts.
Construct spreadsheets - 15%
Construct spreadsheet applications, prepare financial data for input into finance, student accounts, and human resources systems, and generate reports.
Prepare reports - 15%
Coordinate the preparation of regularly scheduled and special reports.
Review and approve expenditures - 15%
Review and approve expenditures, personnel, and purchasing documents for availability of funding.
Analysis and reconciliation - 15%
Analyze, reconcile, balance, and maintain accounting records; develop budgets and special financial reports.
Entry correction - 10%
Prepare, review, and process budget, revenue, expense, payroll, student account, and related correcting entries and may prepare bank reconciliations.
Train staff - 5%
Interact with and trains department staff regarding finance policies and procedures and funding requirements.
Audit - 5%
Assist in audit activities as assigned.

• Must demonstrate working knowledge of and the ability to apply generally accepted accounting principles, particularly governmental accounting.
• Excellent organizational skills, customer service attitude, and ability to perform in an often changing, fast-paced environment.
• High degree of accuracy, initiative, and adaptability.
• Detail oriented with solid analytical skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize work and meet deadlines. Independent decision making, self-motivated and able to complete tasks with minimum supervision.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Business English and its usage in effective communication. Knowledge of office practices, procedures, systems and equipment.
• Working experience with Microsoft applications, with an emphasis on Word and Excel.

Required Qualifications

Required Experience
Bachelor's degree in a specified field and one year (1) of related work experience. An equivalent combination of education and experience will be considered.

Proposed Salary

$21.97/hr ($45,695/annual)

USG Core Values

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect.These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards.More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct .

• professional references with current contact information
• documentation of academic credentials
• employment history

Please note that during the search process, VSU reserves the right to:

• ask candidates who will serve in Positions of Trust to disclose criminal record history during the initial screening process and prior to a conditional offer of employment,
• view social media outlets, and
• remove job postings without additional notification.

Employment is contingent upon:

• successful completion of a background check investigation, including a criminal background check
• reference checks

Employment may also be contingent upon the job-based requirements if applicable for your position:

• satisfactory credit check
• successful completion of a Motor Vehicle Report (MVR)
• pre-employment drug testing
• confirmation of credentials

After initial hiring, employees will be required to successfully complete all of the following training:

• New employee orientation
• VSU's Annual Compliance Training:
  • USGEthics Policy
  • Conflict of Interest/Outside Activities Policy
  • Drug Free Workplace
  • Sexual Misconduct and Title IX
  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
  • Motor Vehicle Policy
  • Workers Compensation (new hires)
  • Georgia Open Records Act (new hires)
• USG Cybersecurity Training (required twice yearly)
  • Job-specific training such as: FMLAand Worker's Compensation, Budget Manager training, Purchasing Training (ePro & PCard), and Defensive Driving

Valdosta State University is an equal opportunity educational institution. It is not the intent of the institution to discriminate against any applicant for admission or any student or employee of the institution based on the age, sex, race, religion, color, national origin, disability, or sexual orientation of the individual.

• Position of Trust + Credit

Accommodations

If you are a qualified individual with a disability, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings, apply for a job on this site, or participate in the search process as a result of your disability. You can request reasonable accommodations by contacting Catherine Wills, in the Office of Human Resources at [e-mail] .

Valdosta State University may provide employment-based immigration sponsorship for select positions when consistent with institutional needs, University policy, and applicable law. Sponsorship is considered on a case-by-case basis and is not available for all positions. Applicants who anticipate requiring employer sponsorship now or in the future are encouraged to contact Human Resources early in the recruitment process with questions regarding sponsorship eligibility.

Clery Disclosure

The JeanneClery Campus Safety Act requires institutions of higher education to publish an Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (ASFSR). The ASFSR includes crime statistics for the three previous calendar years of reported crimes that occurred on campus; in or on certain non-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by our institution; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and fire safety policies and statistics. The ASFSR is published annually by October 1 and is available online at: https://www.valdosta.edu/administration/finance-admin/police/documents/2025-asfr-final-draft-aa.docx.pdf . You may request a paper copy of the report by emailing [e-mail] .