Foundation Accountant

Mississippi University for Women; Columbus (MS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Mississippi University for Women is seeking a senior Foundation Accountant to manage the day-to-day financial operations of the MUW Foundation. You will oversee financial reporting, budgeting, investment analysis, and coordination with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to advance the university’s mission.

The role requires seven+ years in nonprofit financial management, strong GAAP knowledge, and hands-on experience with Blackbaud Financial Edge and MS Office.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field; MBA or CPA preferred.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in financial management with nonprofit knowledge.
• GAAP knowledge with Not-For-Profit Financial Reporting standards under FASB.
• Proven track record in financial management, budgeting, investments, and reporting.
• Strong leadership and management skills and team collaboration.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Knowledge of MUW and alumni relations preferred.
• Proficiency with Blackbaud Raisers Edge, Financial Edge, Award Management and MS Office.
• Excel proficiency with pivot tables and advanced formulas.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day accounting functions ensuring accuracy and completeness of financial records.
• Reconcile cash, checks, merchant accounts, PayPal and Venmo; maintain proper cash balances.
• Reconcile investments, allocations, management fees, and due to/due from entries.
• Prepare monthly financial reports for Foundation board and University.
• Prepare reports for quarterly restricted funds, grant reports and special funds.
• Post monthly journal entries, adjusting entries, and re-classifications.
• Reconcile credit card statements and process accounts payable.
• Process invoices for payment to vendors and reimbursements.
• Assist Executive Director to prepare annual Foundation budget for Board approval.
• Support investment and finance committee materials for meetings.
• Prepare audit working papers and reports for auditors and tax returns.
• Prepare documents for charitable registrations across states.
• Oversee budget for Office of Development & Alumni; manage timelines.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Nonprofit accounting

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting

MBA or CPA preferred

Tools

Blackbaud Financial Edge

Microsoft Office

Job description

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening.

Please see Special Instructions for more details.

In "Other Document" please upload additional information about your experience:

• Using Excel for financial reporting and if you have advanced experience, such as pivot tables and macros.
• Your familiarity with software and tools commonly used in non-profit accounting, whether you have experience in Blackbaud Financial Edge and if so, describe your experience with the software.
• Managing budgets and financial forecasts.

Proposed Annual Salary, Hourly Rate or One-time payment

• Responsible for day-to-day accounting functions ensuring accuracy and completeness of financial records and reports.
• Reconciliation of cash, checks, merchant accounts, PayPal and Venmo and maintaining proper cash balances.
• Reconciliation of investments, allocations, management fees and due to/due from entries.
• Preparation of all monthly financial reports required by Foundation board and the University.
• Preparation of reports for quarterly restricted funds, grant reports and special funds reports.
• Prepare and post monthly journal entries, adjusting journal entries and re-classifications.
• Reconciliation of credit card statements and processing of accounts payable.
• Process all invoices for payment to vendors and reimbursements.
• In partnership with the Executive Director, prepare an annual budget of the Foundation for review and approval by the Foundation board.
• Assist in preparing investment committee and finance committee items for meetings and board agenda.
• Prepare audit working papers and reports needed by independent auditors to complete annual audit and tax returns.
• Prepare documents needed for independent firm to ensure timely filing of charitable registrations as required by various states.
• Oversee University budget for the Office of Development & Alumni.
• Maintain schedules and timelines, organize multiple projects efficiently and effectively.
• Calculate annual endowment awards for scholarships and other funds.
• Provide scholarship award amounts to Financial Aid and work to ensure prospering awarding of funds.
• Maintain current scholarship criteria and provide to Financial Aid.
• Reconcile university invoices for scholarships and program awards.
• Preparation of endowment annual reports to donors.
• Participation in the Office of Development & Alumni events and oversee event financial management.
• Participate in Foundation board meetings, investment and finance committee meetings.
• Supervise Accounting Assistant/ Office Supervisor.
• Performs other reasonable duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a related field; MBA or CPA preferred
• At least seven years of progressively responsible experience in financial management, with a working knowledge of the nonprofit sector

Skills and Abilities

• Preferred in-depth understanding of generally accepted accounting principles ( GAAP ) with additional understanding and experience specific to Not-For-Profit Financial Reporting standards under Financial Accounting Standards Board ( FASB )
• Proven track record of successful financial management, including experience developing and implementing financial strategies, managing budgets/investments, and overseeing financial reporting and compliance
• Strong leadership and management skills; interest in working as a member of a team
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate financial information to non-financial stakeholders
• Knowledge of MUW ; alumnus preferred
• Ability to work with intricate computer systems, including Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge, Financial Edge, Award Management and Microsoft Office suite.
• Expertise in Excel to include pivot tables and advanced formulas required
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to accomplish stated goals

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to talk or hear, regularly required to stand; walk and sit and occasionally use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance and stoop kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is regularly required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Vision requirements include close, distance and peripheral vision and ability to adjust focus.

Job Description Summary

The Foundation Accountant (FA) will be responsible for the day-to-day financial operation of the MUW Foundation (Foundation), ensuring our organization’s financial health, growth, and sustainability. The FA will manage the Foundation’s financial reporting, assist with annual budgeting, financial analysis, investment strategy and annual audit. The FA will work closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to develop and implement financial strategies that support our organization’s mission, vision and goals.

Hours of Availability

Prior to hiring, the final candidate(s) must successfully pass a pre-employment background investigation. A prior conviction reported as a result of the background investigation DOES NOT automatically disqualify a candidate from consideration for this position. However, failure to disclose may disqualify a candidate.

Requisition Number

Requisition Number FY20781NF

Open Date

Open Date 09/08/2026

Will this job have a specific close date?

No

Special Instructions to Applicants

In “Other Document” please upload additional information about your experience:

• Using Excel for financial reporting and if you have advanced experience, such as pivot tables and macros.
• Your familiarity with software and tools commonly used in non-profit accounting, whether you have experience in Blackbaud Financial Edge and if so, describe your experience with the software.
• Managing budgets and financial forecasts.

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

• * How did you hear about this employment opportunity?
  • MUW Departmental Announcement
  • MUW Human Resources Office
  • MUW Website
  • Mississippi Employment Service
  • Local Newspaper
  • In-state Newspaper
  • Out-of-state Newspaper
  • The Chronicle of Higher Education
  • HigherEdJobs.com
  • Friend
  • Journal/Periodical
  • Off-campus Recruitment
  • Women/Minority Publication
  • Contacted by department and invited to apply
  • Other
  • The Academic Network (TAN)
• * Are you currently authorized to work in the United States? (Proof of Citizenship or Immigration status will be required upon offer of employment)
  • Yes
  • No
• * If hired, would you need sponsorship or work authorization to work for MUW now or in the future? (NOTE: MUW does not sponsor employment visas.)
  • Yes
  • No