Financial Accounting Data Specialist

Augusta University; Augusta (GA); On-site; USD 56,070 - 68,530; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Life insurance

Tuition Assistance Program

Job summary

Augusta University seeks a Financial Accounting Data Specialist to enhance financial reporting capabilities through data modeling and analytics. The role involves designing and maintaining complex financial reports, driving compliance with GAAP, and providing insights to improve reporting efficiency. Candidates should hold a bachelor’s degree and possess at least 5 years of relevant experience. The role offers a salary starting at $62,300 annually, with additional benefits including health insurance and a retirement plan.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in accounting or financial reporting.
• Experience working with large datasets across multiple systems.
• Knowledge of higher education financial regulations and reporting standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead the preparation and analysis of financial reports.
• Design and maintain complex financial reports and dashboards.
• Perform detailed financial analysis for accurate reporting.
• Support internal and external audits with data analysis.

Skills

Accounting principles (GAAP)

Data analysis

Business intelligence tools (Power BI, Tableau)

Advanced Excel skills

Data querying (SQL)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field

Tools

Workday

Banner

Oracle

PeopleSoft

Job description

Location

Augusta University
Our Health Sciences Campus: 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA 30912
Our Summerville Campus: 2500 Walton Way, Augusta, GA 30904

College/Department Information

The Controller's Division Missions are: Account for all financial resources and provide advice to administrators, faculty, and students to support the University's overall mission of instruction, research, and healthcare services; Manage the investment of all University funds to ensure maximization return on investments; Receive and deposit all funds due to the University in a timely manner; Ensure compliance with both internal and external regulations, policies and procedures; Maintain and process the University payroll, accounts payable, and travel disbursements efficiently, accurately, and timely; Prepare financial and statistical information to the University management, federal and state agencies, and other interested parties; Maintain the University's accounting and financial reporting systems.

Job Summary

The Financial Accounting Data Specialist serves as a technical expert within Financial Accounting and Reporting, responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining advanced financial reporting and analytics solutions. This role supports the institution’s financial reporting functions by integrating and analyzing complex data across enterprise systems to ensure accuracy, consistency, and compliance with GAAP, GASB, and regulatory requirements. The position focuses on enhancing financial reporting capabilities through data modeling, automation, and business intelligence tools, while providing meaningful insights to finance leadership. Operating with a high degree of autonomy, this role plays a key part in strengthening data governance, improving reporting efficiency, and ensuring the integrity and reliability of financial data used for institutional and external reporting.

Responsibilities

• Financial Reporting & Analysis
  • Lead the preparation, analysis, and distribution of recurring financial reports (e.g., monthly, quarterly, and annual) for department, university leadership, and state reporting.
  • Support and enhance the preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and applicable higher education reporting standards.
  • Design, develop, and maintain complex financial reports, dashboards, and data visualizations using business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau, or similar) to support financial reporting, improve data accessibility, and communicate trends, variances, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
  • Perform detailed financial analysis, including trend and variance analysis, to support accurate and timely financial reporting and explain fluctuations in revenues, expenses, and fund balances.
  • Respond to complex and high‑level ad hoc reporting requests.
  • Extract, validate, and reconcile data information from multiple systems (finance, HR, Banner, etc.) to support comprehensive financial reporting.
  • Ensure alignment between reporting outputs and official financial records and systems of record.
  • Analyze large and complex datasets to identify trends, discrepancies, and data quality issues; communicate findings to finance leadership.
  • Partner with leaders within the department to define reporting needs and deliver actionable insights.
• System & Process Improvement
  • Design, develop, and implement new financial, operational, and ad hoc reports to support evolving business needs.
  • Gather and analyze requirements to ensure new reports deliver actionable insights and meet functional and analytical objectives.
  • Test and validate new reports for accuracy, completeness, and compliance prior to deployment.
  • Create documentation and deliver training to promote proper usage and understanding of reports across the organization.
  • Support and improve ERP reporting functionality, including system testing and optimization aligned with financial reporting needs.
  • Enhance reporting automation and data accuracy through system optimization and process improvements.
  • Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure data integrity and consistency across reporting platforms.
  • Document and maintain reporting procedures, data definitions, and standards to ensure consistency and compliance.
  • Identify opportunities to improve reporting efficiency and reduce manual processes across financial reporting functions.
• Compliance & Audit Support
  • Support internal and external audits by providing detailed data analysis, documentation, and responses to auditor inquiries.
  • Ensure all reporting processes align with GAAP, institutional policies, and applicable state and federal regulations.
• Other Duties
  • Assist with other duties as assigned.

Educational Requirements

Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and a minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, financial reporting, or related functions, including experience working with large, complex datasets across multiple systems.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Education:
• Knowledge of higher education financial regulations and reporting standards (IPEDS, NACUBO, GASB).
• Experience in financial reporting, accounting, or data analytics.
• Advanced proficiency in business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau).
• Experience with data querying and manipulation (e.g., SQL).

Abilities

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities:
• Strong understanding of accounting principles (GAAP) and fund accounting, with the ability to apply concepts within complex financial reporting environments.
• Proficiency with financial systems and reporting tools (e.g., Workday, Banner, Oracle, PeopleSoft, or similar ERP), including extracting, analyzing, and reconciling data across multiple systems; experience with business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) is preferred.
• Advanced Excel skills and ability to work with large datasets to develop complex reports, dashboards, and meaningful financial insights.
• Strong analytical, organizational, problem‑solving, and communication skills, with the ability to identify trends, discrepancies, and data quality issues, and clearly convey findings to leadership.
• Proficient in MS Office (especially Excel).
• Understanding of fund accounting and reporting requirements.
• Working knowledge of databases, operating systems and spreadsheets.
• Good verbal, written, hearing, and memory skills to communicate and train staff members.
• Manual dexterity to work on computers.
• Detail‑oriented, excellent analytical skills and ability to solve problems.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.

Shift/Salary/Benefits

Shift: Days (M‑F; work outside of normal business hours may be required).
Pay Band: 12.
Salary: Minimum $62,300.00/Annually; salary to be commensurate with qualifications within the established range (generally minimum‑midpoint).
Recruitment Period: 4/29/26 – Until Filled.
Benefits may include health insurance, dental insurance, life insurance, Teachers Retirement System (or Optional Retirement Plan), earned vacation time, sick leave, and 13 paid holidays. Full‑time employees employed for more than 6 months may be considered for the Tuition Assistance Program.

Conditions of Employment

All selected candidates must successfully pass a Background Check review prior to starting. Credit checks may be required for positions of trust or approved departmental Purchase Card usage. Motor vehicle reports are required for positions that require driving an Augusta University vehicle. Faculty hires must provide proof of completed academic degrees and post‑secondary coursework (transcripts). All employees are responsible for ensuring the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of sensitive information in accordance with cybersecurity and privacy policies.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Augusta University is a proud equal‑opportunity employer welcoming applicants from underrepresented groups, including individuals with disabilities and veterans.