Accountant III

The California State University; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 71,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

The California State University, Sacramento seeks an accounting professional to perform advanced GAAP-based work, ensuring accuracy of complex university records and coordinating financial reporting and audits.

Under general direction, this role provides expert analysis, guidance, and leadership to staff, with focus on compliance with SCO, CO, ICSUAM, and university policies, while serving as liaison with auditors and stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field and five years of relevant experience; advanced degree may substitute.
• Knowledge of GAAP and governmental/fund accounting principles and procedures.
• Experience with PeopleSoft/Oracle and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee the maintenance and reconciliation of complex accounting records.
• Coordinate preparation of Legal, GAAP, Single Audit, NCAA and other financial statements and reports.
• Serve as primary contact for internal and external auditors.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field

Tools

PeopleSoft/Oracle Financial System

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Apply now Job no: 559256

Position Summary

Under the general direction of the Senior Director, this position performs advanced professional accounting work requiring extensive knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), comprehensive understanding of accounting practices and a working knowledge of federal student financial aid and grant reporting. The role includes detailed examination of complex University and Auxiliary Organization financial records for completeness and accuracy in conformance with established policies and procedures dictated by State Controller’s Office (SCO), Chancellor’s Office (CO), Integrated CSU Administrative Manual (ICSUAM), GAAP and University Policies.

This position requires substantial independence, judgment and discretion, and provides expertise, lead work direction and oversight to other professional and technical staff. It involves independent analysis, maintenance and reconciliation of complex accounting records, coordination of the preparation of Legal, GAAP, Single Audit, NCAA and other financial statements, reports and supporting documentation, and serving as the primary contact for internal and external auditors.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

Knowledge

• Knowledge of GAAP including varied technical accounting principles and practices used in the most difficult and complex financial record keeping and reporting.
• Knowledge of governmental and/or fund accounting principles and procedures and accounting system requirements and procedures.
• Knowledge of operations, services, and activities of the accounting and budgeting system and program areas.
• Principles of budget preparation, analysis, and monitoring.
• Knowledge of procedures, policies, rules, and practices affecting the development, maintenance, and control of fiscal record keeping systems including Microsoft Office applications and functions such as pivot tables, charts, and graphs.
• Knowledge of methods and techniques of auditing, verifying, balancing, and reconciling accounting records.
• Knowledge of principles and practices used in establishing and maintaining files and information retrieval systems.

Abilities

• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others; and communicate effectively with others inside and outside the unit, including conveying complex and technical professional accounting information to non-Accountants.
• Ability to organize and plan work and projects while handling multiple priorities.
• Ability to understand and troubleshoot issues from the financial systems.
• Ability to perform tasks requiring attention to detail.
• Ability to train others in new skills and procedures.
• Ability to maintain a strong customer focus while working in a fast‑paced environment with a heavy workload, ongoing deadlines and frequent interruptions.
• Commitment to maintaining a welcoming and inclusive work environment with diverse colleagues and constituents including faculty, students, staff, and members of the community.

Skills

• Strong analytical skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of federal, state, California State University (CSU) and Sacramento State practices, policies and procedures.
• Experience working in higher education, preferably the California State University system.
• Experience working with PeopleSoft/Oracle Financial System applications.
• Experience testing new or upgraded software/application functionality.
• Experience conducting various presentations/training sessions.

Salary and Employment

FLSA: Exempt (not eligible for overtime compensation under FLSA).

Anticipated Hiring Range: $5,877.00 per month (Step 1) – $6,618.00 per month (Step 7).

CSU Classification Salary Range: $5,877.00 per month (Step 1) – $8,561.00 per month (Step 20).

Salary step placement will be determined based on relevant qualifications and professional experience.

Salary effectively equivalent to a bachelor’s degree in a related field and five years of relevant experience. Additional experience may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis. An advanced degree in a related field may be substituted for the required experience on a year-for-year basis.

Application Requirements

Resume and cover letter. Failure to upload these required documents may result in disqualification.

Equal Employment Opportunity

California State University, Sacramento is an affirmative action / equal opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or disability. Sacramento State hires only those individuals who are lawfully authorized to accept employment in the United States.

Legal and Compliance Requirements

Under the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, the current Annual Security Report (ASR) is available for viewing at https://www.csus.edu/clery. The ASR contains the current security and safety‑related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and sexual assault prevention information, and drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery Act crimes for Sacramento State for the last three (3) calendar years. Paper copies are available upon request by emailing the Clery Director at [e-mail]. Under the Clery Act, this position may be designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) depending upon the role on campus and/or job duties. If this position is identified by the Director of Clery Compliance as a CSA position, you will be notified via email and will be assigned the appropriate training in CSU Learn.

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with California State University, Sacramento. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current California State University, Sacramento employees who apply for the position.

Sacramento State, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees (up to date of hire) to reside in the State of California.

Candidate must furnish proof of eligibility to work in the U.S. California State University, Sacramento is not a sponsoring agency for staff and management positions (ie. H-1-B Visa).