Senior Accountant: GAAP & Month-End Champion (Temp)

Vanguard University; Costa Mesa (CA); On-site; USD 81,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA, seeks a Senior Accountant to provide senior-level accounting support within Fiscal Management and Accounting Operations, focusing on monthly financial statements and related reports. The role reports to the Controller and collaborates across campus.

You will lead month-end close, review GL reconciliations, manage reconciliations for other departments, oversee fixed-asset accounting, and assist auditors and tax filings while ensuring policy compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field with significant emphasis in accounting.
• Minimum of 3 years of progressively responsible accounting experience, including general ledger, reconciliations, month-end close, and financial reporting.
• Strong knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
• Exceptional organizational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities with minimal supervision.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and accounting skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across departments.

Responsibilities

• Prepare monthly GAAP financial statements and analyses for the Controller.
• Champion the month-end closing process.
• Review and approve monthly reconciliations of general ledger accounts.
• Oversee reconciliations of other departments’ activities and general ledger postings.
• Work with campus departments to ensure proper fixed-asset accounting.
• Review and approve journal entries prepared by staff.
• Review weekly check runs for accuracy and approvals.
• Support the review of purchase orders.
• Champion the accounting of receivables.
• Coordinate interfaces between accounting systems and external systems.
• Collaborate with auditors on annual external audits.
• Assist the Controller with annual tax returns (Form 990, 990-T).
• Ensure compliance with University policies.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Excel proficiency

Month-end close

Financial reporting

Account reconciliations

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Cross-department collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting

Tools

Ellucian Colleague

Job description

Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA, seeks a Senior Accountant to provide senior-level accounting support within Fiscal Management and Accounting Operations, focusing on monthly financial statements and related reports. The role reports to the Controller and collaborates across campus.

You will lead month-end close, review GL reconciliations, manage reconciliations for other departments, oversee fixed-asset accounting, and assist auditors and tax filings while ensuring policy compliance.