Accounting Manager

Phillips Exeter Academy; Brentwood (NH); Hybrid; USD 141,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

Phillips Exeter Academy seeks an Accounting Manager to provide leadership for the finance department, ensuring GAAP compliance and robust internal controls. You will manage the general ledger, design efficient workflows, and guide audits with external partners while coordinating with budget holders.

The role requires 10–15 years in accounting, 5 years in a leadership capacity, and experience in an educational setting. Hybrid work and cross-functional collaboration are integral to the position.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or a related discipline.
• CPA certification preferred.
• 10–15 years’ experience with internal controls, financial statements, and audits.
• 5 years’ experience managing an accounting function.
• Experience working with adolescents in an educational setting preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support for the Director of Finance, Controller and CFO as part of the senior finance team.
• Oversee general ledger accounting system for complete and accurate financial information.
• Develop and enhance procedures, policies, controls, and documentation for efficiency and strong accounting controls.
• Design workflows and data flows from subledger ERP systems into the financial accounting suite (Blackbaud SIS, Enrollment Management and Tuition Management).
• Prepare documentation for interim and annual audits with outside auditors as needed.
• Provide leadership and project management over finance and accounting system projects.
• Execute internal control audit requests from the Controller.
• Ensure a strong internal control environment across key accounting cycles.
• Oversee daily activities of staff and month-end close processes and reports.
• Coordinate month-end reconciliations and review general ledger entries.
• Maintain segregation of duties in procurement, purchasing, receiving, invoicing, and payment processes.
• Oversee inventory accounting and reconcile balances in the general ledger.
• Serve as finance liaison for procurement and related system controls.
• Oversee 1099 reporting and IRS filings.
• Oversee escheatment and filing with appropriate states.
• Assist accounting staff and manage Billing/Accounts Receivable, Cash Receipts, Accounts Payable, and travel/expense management.
• Conduct performance evaluations and train staff as needed.
• Manage billing and collections for all Accounts Receivable including tuition and campus charges.
• Oversee Accounts Payable processing and corporate credit card program integration.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Analytical skills

Supervision

MS Office

ERP systems

Confidentiality

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Finance/Accounting

CPA certification

Tools

Oracle Cloud Fusion

Blackbaud SIS

Enrollment Management

Tuition Management

Job description

TITLE:

Accounting Manager

REPORTS TO:

Controller

SCHEDULE:

Full time, 40 hours week, 12 months year. Schedulemay vary according to departmental and Academy needs.

Salary range:

$141,000 - $147,800 based on relevant experience and education.

Pay Group

Type

Status

Fiscal Year Weeks

Class

Department

Location

Bi-Weekly (Salaried)

Regular

Full-Time

Full year (52 weeks)

Staff

Finance

Hybrid

Position Purpose

Provides leadership and works collaboratively with the financedepartment and budget holders. Must possess a thoroughunderstanding of generally accepted accounting principles and isresponsible for internal controls, general ledger, accountingprocedures, and financial statement reporting for theAcademy.

Job Responsibilities

• Member of the senior finance team providing support for theDirector of Finance, Controller and CFO.
• Oversees the general ledger accounting system ensuring completeand accurate financial information.
• Identifies, develops and enhances procedures, policies,controls and documentation, ensuring continuous greaterefficiencies and accounting controls.
• Responsible for designing work flows, data flows and underlyingcontrol environment from subledger ERP systems into the financialaccounting suite. (Blackbaud SIS, Enrollment Management and TuitionManagement)
• Responsible for preparation and gathering requireddocumentation for the interim and annual audits, working withoutside auditors.
• Provides leadership and project management over finance andaccounting system projects as requested.
• Executes internal control audit requests from theController.
• Responsible for ensuring a strong internal control environmentunderlying the key accounting cycles.
• Oversees the daily activities of staff and ensures month-endand close processes and reports are completed timely andaccurately.
• Coordinates and participates in review of general ledgeraccounting entries and month end reconciliations.
• Maintains appropriate segregation of duties throughout therequisition, purchasing, receiving, invoicing, and paymentprocesses.
• Oversees inventory accounting and ensures inventory balancesare accurately reflected in the general ledger.
• Serves as the finance liaison for procurement, improvingpurchasing procedures, inventory management, and related systemcontrols.
• Oversees annual 1099 reporting and ensures timely IRSfiling.
• Oversees abandoned-property escheatment and ensures timelyfiling with the appropriate states.
• Provides assistance to members of the accounting team.
• Directs, oversees and develops the accounting staff for billingand accounts receivable, cash receipts, accounts payable, andtravel and expense management.
• Conducts performance evaluations for direct reports.
• Coordinates training programs for new staff and identifiestraining needs for current staff.
• Responsible for managing billing and collections of allAccounts Receivable including tuition, summer school, children’scenter, rentals, other campus charges, deposits and facultymortgages.
• Oversees the Tuition Refund Program, the processing of studentrefunds, the posting of Financial Aid awards and other campuscharges.
• Responsible for managing accounts payables including invoices,expense report processing and reimbursements.
• Oversees the corporate credit card program and integration withthe bank and finance systems
• Engages in parent collection communication when escalation isneeded.
• Understands and keeps current with generally acceptedaccounting principles.
• Ensures completeness of accounting proceduredocumentation.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Competencies

• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP),theories, practices, and standards.
• Strategic high-level thinking coupled with the attention todetail necessary for successful planning and execution.
• Respect for diversity of identities and experiences, anorientation toward equity and inclusion, and cultural competency inall aspects of Academy life.
• Ability to prepare and effectively present both oral andwritten information concerning activities and operations tointernal and external constituents.
• Knowledge of personnel management, supervision and stafftraining.
• Ability to demonstrate broad conceptual judgment, initiativeand ability to deal with complex accounting issues while engaged indetailed, critical and confidential aspects of accounting.
• Proficient in MS Office, SharePoint, report writing tools andERP systems.
• Experience with Oracle Cloud Fusion preferred.
• Willingness and ability to learn additional applications asneeded.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop andmaintain collegial relationships.
• Excellent communication (written and verbal) skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work with students by building trustand credibility.
• Excellent analytical and problem solving skills as well as astrong customer focus.
• A strict adherence to confidential policies is required.
• Ability to work independently and handle multiple prioritiesand deadlines simultaneously.
• High degree of organizational skills with the ability to beflexible and multi-task with accuracy.
• Ability to follow verbal and written directions, maintain aprofessional demeanor and restraint at all times, includingstressful situations.

Direct/Indirect Reports

Accounts Receivable & Billing Specialist, DisbursementsSpecialist, Accounts Payable Specialist

Position Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in the field of Finance,Accounting, or related discipline.
• CPA preferred.

Experience

• 10 - 15 years’ experience with an emphasis on internalcontrols, financial statement preparation, annual audits,accounting information system projects.
• 5 years’ experience managing an accounting function.
• Experience working with adolescents in an educational settingpreferred.

Additional Requirements

1. Successfully complete a criminal background check (reviewedevery 5 years).
2. Successfully complete a credit record check.