Manager, Accounting

UMass Chan Medical School; Westborough (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

UMass Chan Medical School is seeking a General Accounting Manager to supervise the accounting team, manage daily operations, and lead the close process. You will prepare analyses and financial statements for senior management and trustees, ensuring GAAP compliance and strong internal controls.

Responsibilities include coordinating year-end/quarterly close, audit readiness, and cross-department collaboration to ensure accurate reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting or finance required or equivalent.
• Masters degree preferred for advanced roles.
• CPA certification preferred; active or in-process considered an asset.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily general accounting operations; supervise and train staff accountants and asset management staff.
• Manage the general ledger for assets and liabilities, including fixed assets, depreciation, disposals, and reconciliations; coordinate with the Properties Manager for consolidated reporting.
• Lead fiscal year-end and monthly close, design closing schedules, review manual journal entries, and prepare consolidated financial statements.
• Collaborate with Facilities Management, IT, Budget Office and other departments to ensure accurate reporting and policy compliance.
• Coordinate annual external financial statement audits; prepare lead schedules and manage audit deliverables and test requests.
• Develop and implement accounting processes to improve efficiency; update procedures and educate other departments on accounting matters.
• Coordinate annual financial report with the President's Office; prepare campus footnote disclosures and fluctuation analyses; assist with financial statement consolidation.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and internal controls; conduct research on new standards and update procedures accordingly.
• Perform staff performance appraisals; set goals and design development plans for staff accountants.
• Experience with external or internal auditors and familiarity with audit processes (preferred).
• Knowledge of GAAP, FASB, GASB standards; enterprise system experience (PeopleSoft) preferred.

Skills

Supervisory experience

Communication skills

Advanced Excel

Education

Bachelor's degree in business administration, accounting or finance

Master's degree preferred

CPA preferred

Tools

PeopleSoft

Excel

Job description

Under the direction of the UMass Chan Medical School Associate Controller, the general accounting manager supervises, tracks, and evaluates day-to-day general accounting activities. The accounting manager's responsibilities include oversight of the general accounting staff, management of the monthly close process, preparation of financial analyses and financial statements for presentation to senior management, University Trustees, and other governing agencies.

• Review and exercise quality control of the daily operations of the general accounting department, including supervision and training of staff accountants, including asset management staff.
• Oversee and manage the general ledger for daily activity related to the schools assets and liabilities including UMass Chans fixed asset portfolio (including acquisition, capitalization, depreciation, disposals, and reconciliation); ensure compliance with relevant GAAP standards and internal controls. Coordinate with the Properties Manager to ensure accurate consolidation and financial reporting of certain properties not under the direction of UMass Chan.
• Manage the fiscal year-end and monthly closing process, design closing schedules, review all manual journal entries prepared by the general accounting staff; review consolidated financial statements and key account reconciliations, and conduct fluctuation analyses for the monthly UMass Chan financial results package.
• Work closely with Facilities Management, IT, Budget Office and other UMass Chan administrative and academic departments to ensure complete and accurate reporting and compliance with accounting policies and procedures.
• Assist the Associate Controller in reviewing existing accounting responsibilities, reassessing staff workload and skill sets, and reassigning job responsibilities in order to improve team productivity and efficiency
• Prepare and collaborate with the University of Massachusetts Presidents Office on the annual financial report including preparation of campus specific footnote disclosures and fluctuation analysis and assist with the financial statement consolidation;
• Coordinate the annual external financial statement audit, prepare audit lead schedules and manage audit deliverables and test requests;
• Meet financial accounting objectives and established deadlines;
• Conduct research and interpret financial reporting standards (FASB/GASB/GAAP) on new and complex accounting issues;
• Maintain and update general accounting procedure and process documents; identify areas for improvement and make recommendations; ensure existing processes and procedures are in compliance with the applicable accounting standards; make recommendations for adaptation and adoption as needed;
• Conduct annual performance appraisals, set future goals and design development plan for the staff accountants;
• Educate and provide guidance to other departments on accounting and reconciliation matters;
• Work on ad hoc or special projects as assigned.
• Equivalent to a four-year degree in business administration accounting or finance (a masters degree preferred);
• 7 - 10 years experience in financial reporting and accounting required (CPA preferred);
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills;
• Advanced Excel spreadsheet skills;
• 3 - 5 years of related accounting supervisory experience preferred;
• Experience with external (or internal) auditors preferred;
• PeopleSoft experience preferred.

The University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School welcomes all qualified applicants and complies with all state and federal anti-discrimination laws.