Accountant:Senior

Bastyr University; Kenmore (WA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Bastyr University in Kenmore, Washington is seeking a Senior Staff Accountant to maintain GAAP-compliant financial records, oversee reconciliations, journal entries, tax compliance, endowment and federal loan accounting, and support financial reporting and audits.

The role covers general ledger month-end close, coordination with university and clinic operations, and collaboration with multiple offices to ensure accurate accounting across all activities.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting standards.
• Experience with fund/nonprofit accounting preferred.
• CPA or active pursuit preferred.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and review complex journal entries and reconcile ledgers.
• Support month-end and year-end close processes.
• Assist with audits, tax filings, and regulatory reviews.
• Monitor endowment, loan accounting, and revenue recognition.
• Collaborate with various departments on financial reporting.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Financial reporting

excel skills

analytical thinking

customer service

Education

BA/BS in Accounting

CPA preferred

Tools

Abila MIP

Core Campus

Oracle

Job description

Job Details

Job Location: Kenmore Campus, Washington - Kenmore, WA 98028

Position Type: Full Time

Salary Range: $75,000.00 - $85,000.00

SalaryTravel Percentage: Staff

Job Shift: Hybrid

About the Role

The Senior Staff Accountant is responsible for maintaining the integrity of the university's financial records and ensuring compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), institutional and clinic policies, federal and state regulations, and higher education accounting standards. This position performs complex account reconciliations, prepares and reviews journal entries, oversees tax compliance activities, monitors endowment and federal loan accounting, supports revenue recognition processes related to tuition and fees, and assists with financial reporting and audits.

What You’ll Do

General Ledger Management

• Prepare and review complex journal entries to ensure accurate financial reporting.


• Maintain and monitor general ledger accounts and supporting schedules.


• Research and resolve accounting discrepancies and unusual account variances.


• Ensure transactions are recorded in accordance with GAAP, university and clinic policies, and applicable regulations.


• Participate in month/year-end closing processes, including accruals and adjusting entries.

Other Responsibilities

• Support the Controller with special projects and workflow process improvements.


• Assist with accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and year-end close.


• Assist with annual financial statement audits, single audits, and regulatory reviews.


• Monitor revenue and expenses; coordinate the collection, consolidation, and evaluation of financial data; prepare special reports.


• Develop and maintain accounting procedures and process documentation

State Sales and Use Tax

• Prepare, review, and file state and local sales and use tax returns.


• Monitor taxable and non-taxable transactions across university departments and operations, including clinics.


• Research taxability issues and changes in state tax regulations affecting university and clinic operations.


• Maintain supporting documentation for tax filings and audits.


• Coordinate responses to inquiries from state tax authorities

Federal Loan and Financial Aid Accounting

• Track and reconcile federal student loan programs and related funding activities.


• Monitor loan disbursements, repayments, and federal drawdowns.


• Ensure compliance with federal reporting requirements and university policies.


• Assist with reconciliations between financial aid, G5, Core Campus, and MIP GL systems.


• Support periodic audits and program reviews related to federal student aid programs.

Endowment Accounting

• Track and reconcile endowment principal, earnings, spending allocations, and donor restrictions.


• Maintain accurate accounting records for restricted, temporarily restricted, and unrestricted endowment funds.


• Coordinate with investment managers and foundation personnel regarding investment activity and reporting.


• Prepare schedules supporting endowment reporting and annual audits.


• Monitor compliance with donor agreements and institutional spending policies.

Revenue Recognition (Tuition and Clinic Accounting)

• Review and reconcile tuition, fees, refunds, and other student-related revenue streams.


• Ensure revenue recognition complies with applicable accounting standards and institutional and clinic policies.


• Collaborate with Student Accounts, Enrollment, Financial Aid, and Registrar offices to reconcile enrollment, billing, and revenue activity.


• Monitor deferred revenue balances and related adjustments.


• Collaborate with clinic operations and business office to ensure proper recognition of team care and provider care fees, discounts, and insurance reimbursements.

Account Reconciliations

• Perform timely and accurate monthly reconciliations for bank accounts, cash balances, investments, endowment funds, federal loan funds, prepaid expenses, fixed assets, liabilities, and other balance sheet accounts.


• Investigate and resolve outstanding reconciling items and aging balances.


• Maintain reconciliation documentation and audit-ready support schedules.

What You’ll Bring

• Strong knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting standards.


• Good understanding of fund accounting, preferably in a nonprofit or higher education setting.


• Knowledge of all phases of accounting and internal controls.


• Knowledge of state and federal regulations regarding nonprofit policies and procedures.


• Proficiency in accounting software (e.g., Abila MIP, Microix Workflow, Oracle).


• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including pivot tables, complex formulas, and VLOOKUPs.


• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail and accuracy.


• Proven customer service skills, with the ability to work well with diverse populations in a service-oriented environment.


• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to work independently and effectively as part of a team.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3-5 years of progressive accounting experience, preferably in a higher education or non-profit environment.


• Minimum of 3 years' experience with general ledger accounting, reconciliations, financial reporting, and month-end close processes.


• Experience with state excise, sales and use tax compliance, and property tax reporting.


• Experience with fund and nonprofit accounting or higher education accounting preferred.


• Familiarity with FASB standards applicable to nonprofit educational institutions.


• Experience working with ERP and accounting systems such as MIP by Abila, Core Campus, Workday, Workflow, Oracle, PeopleSoft, or similar financial systems preferred.

Education

• BA or BS degree in Accounting or Financial Management preferred.


• CPA designation or active pursuit of CPA preferred.