Finance Specialist – Accountant

Stanford University; Palo Alto (CA); Remote; USD 94,000 - 107,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work arrangement

Job summary

Stanford University’s Office of Technology Licensing seeks a Finance Specialist – Accountant to perform moderately complex accounting activities related to licensing (patent) income. This 100% remote, benefits-eligible role reports to the manager/director and handles accounts, reconciliations, revenue reporting, purchases, and journal entries within a university setting.

The position requires an Associate degree plus two years of relevant experience, with strong analytical ability, attention to

Qualifications

• Understanding of accounting principles, financial statements, and relevant regulations.
• Ability to analyze financial data and identify trends for reporting.
• High attention to detail to ensure accurate statements and reports.
• Proficiency in accounting software and financial tools; willingness to learn new systems.
• Clear written and verbal communication to internal audiences and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Review, process, gather, and compile accounting transactions for completeness and accuracy.
• Identify, prioritize, and resolve accounting issues with preliminary analysis.
• Run and reconcile financial data, prepare basic management information reports.
• Identify and resolve incorrect journal entries and data anomalies.
• Research transaction details and ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulations.
• Participate in project teams and contribute to change management.
• Suggest process improvements and system enhancements.
• Develop and maintain desktop procedures and process documentation.
• Act as a liaison to other departments to resolve accounting issues.
• May train or review work of other staff.

Skills

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Financial accounting knowledge

Software proficiency

Education

Associate degree

Job description

WORK SCHEDULE

• Work Schedule: 100% remote work arrangement.

BUDGETED SALARY

• $93,833- $106,555 per annum

SCHOOL/UNIT DESCRIPTION

Vice Provost and Dean of Research / Office of Technology Licensing: The Office of Technology Licensing (OTL) was established in 1970 to manage the intellectual property assets of Stanford University. OTL evaluates, markets, and licenses technology owned by the University. OTL's mission is to encourage effective technology transfer for the public benefit as well as generating royalty income for Stanford to benefit research and education. OTL is one of the country's most active offices in the field of technology transfer from the university to industry. Our staff, most of whom are professionals engaged directly in licensing, manages over 3,000 active dockets.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Office of Technology Licensing at Stanford University seeks to fill one Finance Specialist – Accountant position. This role will, under the direct supervision of the manager/director, perform moderately complex accounting activities and functions, including monitoring accounts, preparing documentation, expenditure reconciliations and reviews, revenue reporting/accounting, purchases and reimbursements, general ledger transactions, and journal entries. All accounting tasks are specific to licensing (patent) income and university setting.This is a 100% FTE, benefits‑eligible position. For consideration, please submit a resume. All final candidates must complete a background check.

PREFERRED/DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Financial Accounting Knowledge: Understanding of accounting principles, financial statements, and relevant regulations.
• Analytical Skills: The ability to analyze financial data and trends is crucial for identifying areas of improvement, making informed financial decisions, and ensuring accurate financial reporting.
• Attention to Detail: Given the precision required in financial work, a high level of attention to detail is necessary to avoid errors in financial statements and reports. This includes a thorough review of transactions and documentation.
• Software Proficiency: Proficiency in accounting software and financial management tools is important. Ability to learn and adjust to new software preferred.
• Communication Skills: Effective communication skills, both written and verbal, smooth interacting with team members, presenting financial information to non‑finance stakeholders, and ensuring clear and transparent communication within the organization.

Comfort with Non-Accounting Finance Admin Tasks: In addition to traditional accounting duties, a finance specialist should be comfortable and adept at handling non‑accounting finance administrative tasks

Responsibilities

• Review, process, gather, and compile accounting transactions anddocuments for completeness, accuracy, and compliance. Contribute todevelopment of analyses to be used for key activities or decisionmaking.

• Identify, prioritize, and resolve accounting issues; probe beyondstated situation; identify underlying issues; recognize exceptions;perform preliminary analysis.

• Run, maintain, reconcile, review, combine, analyze and validatefinancial data sets, utilizing financial reports, financial databases,and key financial information often from multiple systems. Assist in thepreparation of basic management information reports.

• Identify and resolve incorrect journal entries, data anomalies,deviations from established procedures, and unusual issues.

• Collect data and perform research on details of transactions.Ensure work complies with complex internal policies and externalregulations which may require interpretation.

• Participate as a member of a project team and contribute tochange management strategy through communication and collaboration withothers.

• Recommend, assist, test, or implement process streamlining,system improvements or work flow changes.

• Contribute to development and maintenance of desktop proceduresand process documentation for area of responsibility.

• Serve as a liaison to other departments to resolveaccounting-related issues.

• May train, coach, and review the work of other staff, as needed.Contribute primarily through applying individual expertise.

Minimum Education and Experience

Associate degree plus two years of applicable experience, orcombination of education and relevant work experience.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proficiency in basic business applications, such as MicrosoftOffice; user knowledge of Excel.

• Basic knowledge of accounting systems and the internet; computerliteracy.

• Understanding of and ability to apply accounting skills andconcepts.

• Ability to draft professional e-mails, memos, business letters,and reports, and to clearly and effectively communicate information tointernal audiences and client groups.

• Ability to learn project management skills and to participate aspart of a project team.