Accounting Technician

Southwestern-Oregon-Community-College; Coos Bay (OR); On-site; USD 42,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay, OR is seeking an Accounting Technician to handle daily accounting duties in the Finance and Budget office, focusing on Financial Aid, Procurement, and General Accounting. The role requires accuracy, discretion, and ability to work with diverse stakeholders in a college environment.

You will reconcile funds, process journal entries, assist with year-end closing, and provide support for accounts payable and asset records.

Qualifications

• Associate degree or 5 years accounting experience in lieu of degree.
• Three+ years of experience in a professional accounting environment.
• Strong knowledge of FERPA confidentiality and district policies.

Responsibilities

• Reconcile and prepare journal entries for college accounts and financial aid funds.
• Process accounts payable invoices, contracts, and travel for payment.
• Reconcile bank accounts and monitor cash flow across funds.
• Assist with year-end closings and statutory reporting requirements.
• Provide guidance on procurement procedures and related controls.
• Maintain asset records and assist with AR/GL reconciliations.

Skills

Effective communication

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Computer literacy

Data entry

Education

Associate’s degree in accounting, business, finance, or related field

Job description

To perform a variety of accounting duties within the office of Finance and Budget, with primary emphasis on the Financial Aid Fund and Procurement. Reconciles all financial aid funds and perform procedures in accordance with the Federal Title IV Programs. Reconcile bank accounts.

This position is currently open until 11:59 pm on September 20th, 2026.

This position is only open to internal applicants (currently employed Classified employees).

Internal candidates are interviewed and considered prior to any external candidates in accordance with the current Classified Collective Bargaining Agreement.

Financial Aid Accounting (approx. 20% of Time)

1. Sole responsibility for all accounting and cash flow requirements for the Financial Aid fund.
   1. Monitor and determine cash flow needs for the Financial Aid bank account. Reconcile revenues and expenses of all funds transmitted to the financial aid students’ accounts. Prepare and electronically draw down federal funds using the Department of Education GAPS program.
   2. Manage Title IV return calculations in accordance with federal guidelines.
   3. Works cooperatively with outside agencies, Registrar, Financial aid, and other functional department leadership and establish consistent processes.
   4. Reconcile all Financial Aid transactions and prepare all general journal entries as required for the monthly closing of the following:
      1. The Financial Aid bank account
      2. Financial aid funds: All grants, loans, and scholarships
      3. Federal Work Study: Reconcile payroll distribution to the Financial Aid Office records.
   5. Responsible for all year-end closing transactions including determining final drawdowns, preparing all general journal entries, problem solving, collecting or assigning all outstanding funds.
   6. Work in conjunction with the Financial Aid Department to reconcile and prepare the yearly FISAP report, required by the Department of Education.

Procurement (approx. 40% of Time)

1. Reviews procurement transactions for compliance with District policies, public procurement laws, bid requirements, contract terms, grant requirements, and applicable regulations prior to approval.
2. Verifies that appropriate procurement methods are utilized based on purchase thresholds, funding source requirements, and District purchasing policies, ensuring required competition and approvals are obtained.
3. Reviews contracts, agreements, purchase orders, and related procurement documents for completeness, accuracy, required approvals, and adherence to District standards before processing.
4. Answers inquiries from college staff on matters such as purchasing procedures, clarification of information concerning items to be purchased, approval for substitutions and changes, and items delivered.
5. Evaluates the validity of purchase requisitions and attached documentation; reviews requisitions for clarity, thoroughness, and compliance with applicable laws and regulations; assists departments with required changes.
6. Maintains a broad working knowledge of public procurement rules, laws, and best practices through internal and external continuing education and professional certification activities.
7. Provides guidance and training to District employees regarding procurement regulations, contract administration requirements, ethical purchasing practices, and proper documentation standards.
8. Assists Accounts Payable Technician in preparing and processing invoices, contracts, and travel for payment. Acts as back up during peak times and absence of accounts payable technician.
9. Maintains asset records through ongoing review, documentation, and reconciliation.

General Accounting (approx. 40% of Time)

1. Responsible for reconciling and preparing all related general journal entries for the College checking and savings accounts. Monitor all bank accounts for deposits, returns, positive pay transactions and any transfers between accounts as needed.
2. Ensure checks are cashed within an appropriate time for the funds.
3. Document due diligence for any unclaimed payments. Any unclaimed property (checks) belonging to students, staff, or vendors is delivered in accordance with fund rules or processed as unclaimed property for the State of Oregon.
4. Reconcile Foundation gift batches.
5. Record and reconcile all county tax payments.
6. Reviews and monitors AR subsidiary accounts and deposits to the general ledger. Process any needed journal entries.
7. Backup for daily balancing and bank deposit preparation.
8. Prepare and process transaction imports.

Performs Other Duties and Special Projects as Required/Assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

Associate’s degree in accounting, business, finance, or a related field OR five (5) years of direct experience in accounting in lieu of degree.

Three (3) years or more of experience in a professional accounting environment.

Successful applicants for this position must possess the following knowledge, skills and abilities, or be able to explain and demonstrate that they can perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation:

• Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, using the English language with or without the use of an interpreter.
• Ability to work effectively and sensitively with individuals of diverse cultural backgrounds and perspectives, and abilities.
• Ability to consistently convey a pleasant and helpful attitude by using excellent interpersonal and communication skills to control sometimes stressful and emotional situations. Requires sufficient communication and human relations skills to resolve complaints/issues, defuse anger, and convey messages.
• Ability to perform data entry in the college-wide Student Information System, word processing, and spreadsheet applications. Exhibit a high level of computer literacy, sufficient to use software such as word processing, spreadsheets, and databases to produce correspondence, documents, and reports. Sufficient manual dexterity to be able to operate office computer, calculator, other office equipment.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to prioritize and work on multiple tasks simultaneously under constant pressure and deadlines, working effectively despite frequent interruptions.
• Ability to draw on a broad range of knowledge and experience in accrual and fund accounting, including experience in Department of Education requirements, Stafford loans, Federal Title IV programs, accounts receivable and collections.
• Ability to read, review, understand and apply concepts presented in training programs, conferences, federal and state regulations, professional literature and other related materials pertaining to housing and residence life administration.
• Ability to understand the accounting system modules, including Sponsor Billing, Accounts Receivable, Cash Receipts, General Ledger, Financial Aid, Registration and Scheduling.
• Ability to work independently on assigned projects with a high degree of dependability, accuracy, and minimal supervision.
• Ability to maintain professionalism, confidentiality, and objectivity under constant pressure and crisis situations. Compliance and complete understanding of FERPA is essential. Ability to maintain confidentiality and adhere to all federal, state, and college policies regarding student information.
• Ability to work and cooperate with staff, at all levels, and assist other department employees in maintaining a free-flowing student-oriented atmosphere

PREFERRED (not required) QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting.
• Public accounting experience preferred.
• Knowledge of community college accounting procedures and fiscal procedures; principles of data processing.
• Working knowledge of Federal financial aid regulations for the disbursement and return of funds, FERPA, Red Flag Rules and other regulations relating to student accounts.
• Knowledge and understanding of the policies and regulations required by the Department of Education.
• Jenzabar experience or other similar integrated financial system
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to resolve technical accounting issues.

JOB TITLE: Accounting Technician

LOCATION: Coos, Curry, and Western Douglas Counties

FTE: 32-40 hours/week (.8 - 1 FTE)

ORGANIZATION: Southwestern Oregon Community College

PAY LEVEL: I (steps 1-5 for initial hire)

EXEMPTION STATUS: Non-exempt

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Attached

REPORTS TO: Executive Director of Finance and Budget

CLASSIFICATION: Classified

REVISION DATE: July 2026

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

This job description is a general description of essential job functions.It is not intended as an employment contract nor is it intended to describe all responsibilities, skills, effort, or work conditions associated with the job someone in this position would perform. All employees of Southwestern Oregon Community College are expected to perform tasks as assigned by Southwestern Oregon Community College supervisory/management personnel regardless of job title or routine job duties.

VETERAN'S PREFERENCE STATEMENT

Applicants are eligible to use Veteran's Preference when applying with Southwestern Oregon Community College in accordance with ORS 408.225, 408.230 and 408.235; and OAR 105-040-0010 and 105-040-0015. Preference will only be given if the applicant meets the minimum qualifications and any special qualifications for the position and electronically attach the required documentation at the time of application.

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

• MEMBER COPY 4 of the Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty (DD Form 214 or 215) – OR – Letter from the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs indicating a non-service connected pension.
• Disabled Veterans must also submit a copy of their Veterans disability preference letter from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  • You can request copies of your military service record through the National Archives website at: http://www.archives.gov/veterans/military-service-records/

For information regarding Veteran's Preference qualifications, visit the following website: http://www.oregonjobs.org/DAS/STJOBS/vetpoints.shtmlq

NON-DISCRIMINATION

It is the policy of Southwestern Oregon Community College Board of Education that there will be no discrimination or harassment on the grounds of race, color, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, political affiliation, parental status, veteran status or disability in any educational programs, activities or employment. Persons having questions about equal opportunity and nondiscrimination should contact Vice President of Administrative Services in Tioga 511.Phone [phone] or TDD 541-888-7368. All other issues, concerns, and complaints should also be directed to the Vice President of Administrative Services for referral to the appropriate Manager.

Annual Campus Crime/Annual Fire Safety (Clery Act) Report

The "Jeanne Clery Disclosure for Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act" (formerly the Campus Security Act) is a federal law that requires institutions of higher education to disclose campus security information, including crime statistics for the campus and surrounding area. As a current or prospective Southwestern student or employee, you have a right to obtain a copy of this information. You may review this information here: Annual Campus Crime/Annual Fire Safety (Clery Act) Report. You may also obtain a hard copy of this information upon request by contacting Administrative Services at 541-888-7206.