Senior Accounting & Budget Specialist

Montana State University; Bozeman (MT); On-site; USD 28,000 - 41,000; Full time

Job summary

TechLink, a nationally recognized technology transfer center at Montana State University, seeks an Accounting Associate IV to provide direct financial and accounting support within a fast-paced office environment.

The role involves processing invoices and contracts, ensuring compliance, managing procurement transactions, and preparing detailed fiscal analyses for various reporting requirements. Strong MSU systems experience and meticulous attention to detail are essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Progressively responsible experience in accounting or related field.
• Demonstrated experience using personal computers and various software such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Internet.
• Knowledge of university systems to include financial, procurement and purchasing cards.

Responsibilities

• Review and evaluate invoices and contracts as they are received via a TechLink Finance Team shared email account, determine compliance with MSU and internal policies and procedures and process payment in the MSU SmartBuy system with appropriate documentation and assigning necessary approval authority.
• Research and resolve accounting problems and discrepancies while ensuring fiscal compliance with accounting procedures, expenditures and other requirements.
• Coordinate and process procurement transactions in accordance with university, federal, and organizational policies and procedures.
• Compile, format, analyze and extract fiscal and contract data for TechLink’s Partnership Intermediary Agreements (PIA) and other reporting requirements using CatBooks, Banner, SmartSheet, MSU SmartBuy, Chrome River and other systems.
• Submit all departmental Electronic Personnel Action Forms (EPAF), including new hires, terminations, and funding distribution changes while ensuring alignment with the MSU Time and Effort reporting system.
• Serve as account manager for a high volume of purchasing card transactions in Chrome River.
• Manage departmental travel including processing pre-approvals, training new personnel about MSU Travel procedures, and processing Chrome River reports.
• Oversee and execute arrangements for events, the annual federal sponsor program review meeting and on-going department meetings including securing and arranging the meeting room, arranging catering, and establishing room blocks for lodging.
• Oversee the daily functions and services of the department including managing procurement of office-related items such as supplies, equipment, furniture and the maintenance of equipment.
• Initiate and manage office related projects such as remodels, maintenance and repairs, working to keep projects on schedule and within budget.
• Working knowledge and understanding of federal, state, and university regulations governing research funding is required. While this area of expertise is narrowly focused, if successful the impact on TechLink is the ability to increase funding along with enhanced compliance with relevant rules and regulations.
• Serves as departmental liaison with Fiscal Shared Services for accounting services.

Skills

Accounting basics

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or equivalent

Tools

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Outlook

Internet

Job description

TechLink, a nationally recognized technology transfer center at Montana State University, seeks an Accounting Associate IV to provide direct financial and accounting support within a fast-paced office environment.

The role involves processing invoices and contracts, ensuring compliance, managing procurement transactions, and preparing detailed fiscal analyses for various reporting requirements. Strong MSU systems experience and meticulous attention to detail are essential.