Associate Director, Capital Asset Accounting (Hybrid Schedule)

Columbia University in the City of New York; New York (NY); On-site; USD 125,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Columbia University in the City of New York seeks an Associate Director of Accounting and Inventory to oversee capital assets, leases, and financial reporting.

Reporting to the Assistant Controller, this role leads accounting operations, ensures GAAP compliance, and supports year-end audits across university units.

Candidates should have a CPA or advanced degree preferred, plus experience with PeopleSoft or ERP and a track record of process improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field.
• Five years’ accounting experience.
• Advanced degree and/or CPA preferred.
• Capital assets and/or lease accounting experience desired.
• Experience in a large, complex academic or research environment.
• Experience with PeopleSoft or any large ERP system.
• Must have experience preparing financial statements and/or researching GAAP.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel.

Responsibilities

• Oversee accounting functions related to the University’s capital assets, including financial statement reporting and footnotes, journal entries, and subledger-to-general ledger reconciliations.
• Oversee tracking and reconciliation of all capital assets, including asset tagging and periodic inventories.
• Manage accounting for the University’s leases (finance and right-of-use).
• Ensure compliance with control standards and proper reconciliation with University records.
• Research new accounting rules and advise on applicability and implementation.
• Approve purchase requisitions for equipment and ensure regulatory reporting compliance.
• Act as liaison to Schools and departments for capital asset processes and provide training.
• Collaborate with Facilities Management on asset acquisitions and complex transactions.
• Interface with Treasury, OMB, RPIC and central departments; support reporting needs.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Financial reporting

Leadership / mentoring

Excel proficiency

ERP / PeopleSoft experience

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field

Advanced degree and/or CPA

Tools

PeopleSoft

Job description

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: 35
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building: Studebaker
• Salary Range: $125,000 - $140,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Assistant Controller, Financial Reporting, the Associate Director is primarily responsible for overseeing accounting and inventory for key financial areas, including the University’s capital assets and leases; preparing financial reporting analysis; overseeing the year-end audit; maintaining accounting controls; ensuring compliance with government regulations; and assisting in the implementation of financial reporting policy.

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Operations:

• Manages accounting functions related to the University’s capital assets, including financial statement reporting and footnotes, journal entries, and subledger-to-general ledger reconciliations.
• Oversees the tracking and reconciliation of all capital assets of the University, including asset tagging and periodic inventories (certain functions may be managed in-house or through an outside service provider).
• Manages the accounting for the University’s leases (both finance and right-of-use).
• Ensures compliance with control standards and proper reconciliation with University accounting records.
• Researches new accounting rules and makes recommendations as to applicability and implementation.
• Oversees the review and approval of purchase requisitions for equipment and compliance with the regulatory reporting requirements.
• Acts as the primary liaison to Schools and departments for all capital asset-related processes; addresses departmental questions, concerns, and ad hoc reporting needs, and provides ongoing training and support to departmental equipment coordinators.
• Works closely with Facilities Management to understand unusual/complex property acquisition transactions.
• Works closely with the Research Policy and Indirect Cost (RPIC) team on the presentation of capital assets in the indirect cost proposal, the identification of capital assets in service centers, as well as maintenance of appropriate documentation related to the disposal of equipment acquired as part of a sponsored project.
• Interfaces with other University departments, including Treasury, Office of Management and Budget, and serves as a liaison to central administrative departments and schools University-wide.
• Supervises, mentors, coaches, and develops assigned staff by establishing clear performance expectations, providing ongoing feedback, and fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer service excellence.

Reporting and Analytics:

• Plays a critical role in the preparation of the University’s quarterly and annual financial report by providing variance analysis, cash flow support, and footnote support of key financial statement areas.
• Prepares audit deliverables.
• Assists with other routine and ad-hoc reporting deliverables, including regulatory reporting and surveys.

Other:

• Ongoing evaluation of current processes related to capital asset and lease-related accounting and reporting. Proposes and implements solutions to improve efficiencies.
• Supports the team’s use of tools such as Business Intelligence to enhance the ability to analyze large volumes of data efficiently.
• Performs other related duties and special projects assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or related field.
• Five years’ accounting experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree and/or CPA.
• Experience in capital assets and/or lease accounting.
• Experience in a large, complex academic or research environment.
• Experience with PeopleSoft or any large ERP system.

Other Requirements

• Must have experience preparing financial statements and/or researching the application of GAAP.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office required, including intermediate to advanced Excel skills.
• Demonstrated ability to quickly learn and adapt to new technologies and systems.
• Demonstrated sound judgment and a collaborative leadership style that promotes teamwork, innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• The incumbent must serve as a strong role model, manager, mentor, and coach.
• Must be highly detail-oriented with strong organizational and time-management skills and effectively prioritize and manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills, including active listening skills, plus the ability to work closely and effectively with a diverse group of University administrators, characterized by strong consensus-building and relationship-building skills.
• Must have demonstrated effective problem-solving skills, including the ability to evaluate information, present findings and recommendations, negotiate issues, and resolve problems.
• Must be able to work well with all levels of management, both internally and externally, be flexible in nature, have sound judgment, and an open and collaborative style that encourages teamwork and cooperation beyond the immediate team to the broader organization.
• Proven track record for continuous process improvements, and the ability to propose and implement solutions on responsible areas.
• Must have a passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.