Associate Staff Accountant

University of Notre Dame; Notre Dame (IN); On-site; USD 60,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Notre Dame invites applications for an Associate Staff Accountant within University Relations. This role supports NDAA Finance and Development Finance, driving financial workflows, standardized resource frameworks, and reconciliation work to ensure expenditures are compliant and optimized for reporting and audits.

Primary duties include contract administration, vendor onboarding, journal vouchers, payroll processing for temporary staff, and budget management for events.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• 1–2 years of progressive experience in accounting, financial analysis, or financial operations.
• Authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.
• Strong aptitude for learning new software tools and processes.
• Attention to detail with high accuracy in numerical data and reconciliations.
• Proficient in Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel (formulas, lookups, pivot tables).
• Foundational understanding of general ledger accounting principles and internal controls.

Responsibilities

• Contract Administration & Vendor Management: Oversee contract requests, track milestones, manage PO/requisition workflows, onboard vendors (W‑9, PaymentWorks), and coordinate IT/security reviews.
• Operational & Administrative Processing: Prepare journal vouchers, financial transfers, payroll entries for temporary staff, and manage check deposits.
• Financial Analysis & Event Budget Management: Establish quality-control tracking for complex event budgets across Development and NDAA.
• Revenue Account Management & Oversight: Reconcile event underwriting and NDAA merchant platforms, handle inter-unit transfers, and oversee check deposits.
• Internal Controls, Compliance & Access Governance: Conduct internal compliance audits, audit user access, and design automation templates for budgets/forecasts.

Skills

Learning aptitude

Attention to detail

Excel proficiency

General ledger knowledge

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

Tools

Excel

Job description

The Associate Staff Accountant serves as the architect of fiscal integrity and administrative efficiency within University Relations, supporting both Notre Dame Alumni Association (NDAA) Finance and Development Finance. This role provides critical strategic value by professionalizing financial workflows, engineering standardized resource frameworks, and conducting key reconciliation efforts to ensure all institutional expenditures are compliant, accurate, and optimized for high-level reporting and audit readiness.

Key Responsibilities

Contract Administration & Vendor Management: Oversee the contract request process, track milestones, and manage purchase order and requisition workflows. Lead vendor onboarding (W-9, PaymentWorks), determine appropriate payment channels, and coordinate IT/software security reviews prior to procurement.

Operational & Administrative Processing: Process complex Journal Vouchers and Financial Transfers. Input payroll entries for temporary staff and student workers, manage check deposits, and handle financial transfer allocations for Advancement Services.

Financial Analysis & Event Budget Management: Establish and evaluate quality-control tracking systems for complex event budgets across Development and NDAA.

Revenue Account Management & Oversight: Reconcile event underwriting, direct monthly reconciliations for NDAA merchant platforms (Bluefin, Braintree/Hivebrite), manage inter-unit fund transfers, and govern check deposit oversight workflows.

Internal Controls, Compliance & Access Governance: Design and execute independent financial compliance audits. Authorize and audit user access across financial platforms, configure approval workflow routing, and create automation templates for budget/forecast inputs.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and directly relevant work experience).
• 1-2 years of progressive experience in accounting, financial analysis, or financial operations.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without visa sponsorship.
• Strong Aptitude for Learning: Demonstrated ability to pick up new software tools, financial platforms, and processes quickly.
• Attention to Detail: High level of accuracy when managing numerical data, reconciliations, and documentation.
• Problem-Solving Mindset: A genuine desire to dig into processes, fix inefficiencies, and organize workflows.
• Spreadsheet Proficiency: Working knowledge of Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel (e.g., standard formulas, basic lookups, pivot tables).
• Core Accounting Fundamentals: Foundational understanding of general ledger accounting principles and basic internal controls.

Preferred Qualifications

• Specialized financial analysis and audit experience within a higher education environment or complex non-profit organizational structure.
• Advanced Skills:
  • Proven track record in process automation, financial template design, and workflow optimization.
  • Strong familiarity with higher education advancement, university development finance, and alumni association revenue models.

Additional Information

Application Deadline to Apply: October 1, 2026

SALARY: Low $60s, commensurate with experience

The University ofNotreDameseeks to attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty, staff and administration. The University is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, sex, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or age in employment. Moreover,NotreDameprohibits discrimination against veterans or disabled qualified individuals, and complies with 41 CFR 60-741.5(a) and 41 CFR 60-300.5(a).Westronglyencourageapplicationsfrom candidates attracted to a university with a Catholic identity.