Senior Staff Accountant

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania; Cheyney (PA); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Cheyney University of Pennsylvania is seeking a Senior Accountant to join the Fiscal Affairs team. This role handles complex general ledger accounting, prepares financial reports, and supports month-end and year-end closes as well as audits.

The Senior Accountant partners with the Controller and Fiscal Affairs staff to ensure accurate and timely recording of financial transactions in compliance with GAAP, university policies, and internal controls.

Responsibilities

• Perform complex general ledger accounting, financial analysis, and account reconciliations.
• Prepare, review, and post journal entries, accruals, reclassifications, and other accounting adjustments.
• Perform monthly, quarterly, and year-end reconciliations of assigned balance sheet and operating accounts.
• Assist the Controller with monthly, quarterly, and fiscal year-end closing activities.
• Review general ledger activity to identify unusual balances, posting errors, incorrect classifications, and other discrepancies.
• Research and resolve complex accounting discrepancies and recommend corrective action when necessary.
• Prepare schedules, account analyses, reconciliations, and supporting documentation for the University’s annual financial audit.
• Assist with internal and external audit requests and coordinate the preparation of supporting financial documentation.
• Assist with the preparation of financial statements, management reports, and other internal and external financial reporting.
• Reconcile cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll-related accounts, fixed assets, accrued liabilities, prepaid expenses, and other accounts as assigned.
• Assist with accounting for capital projects, fixed assets, restricted funds, grants, and other specialized accounting areas as assigned.
• Analyze financial data and provide explanations for significant variances, unusual transactions, and account activity.
• Assist in maintaining and strengthening internal controls over financial transactions and financial reporting.
• Review financial transactions and supporting documentation for accuracy, completeness, proper account classification, and appropriate authorization.
• Assist with budget-to-actual analysis and other financial reporting requested by management.
• Coordinate with departments throughout the University to resolve accounting issues and ensure financial transactions are properly recorded.
• Assist with the development, documentation, and implementation of accounting procedures, workflows, and internal controls.
• Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | Fiscal Affairs
• Provide technical accounting guidance and support to Staff Accountants and other Fiscal Affairs employees as assigned.
• Review accounting work prepared by other staff when requested by the Controller.
• Assist with implementation of new accounting processes, financial system enhancements, and institutional initiatives.
• Participate in special projects and financial analyses as assigned by the Controller or Chief Financial Officer.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Job description

The Senior Accountant is a key member of the University’s Fiscal Affairs team and reports directly to the Controller. This position is responsible for performing complex accounting activities, maintaining the integrity of the general ledger, preparing financial reports and reconciliations, supporting monthly and fiscal year-end close processes, and assisting with internal and external audits.

The Senior Accountant works closely with the Controller and other members of Fiscal Affairs to ensure that financial transactions are recorded accurately and timely and that accounting activities are performed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, University policies, applicable accounting standards, and established internal controls. The position serves as a senior accounting resource within the department and may provide guidance, review, and technical support to Staff Accountants and other Fiscal Affairs personnel.

Essential Job Functions

• Perform complex general ledger accounting, financial analysis, and account reconciliations.
• Prepare, review, and post journal entries, accruals, reclassifications, and other accounting adjustments.
• Perform monthly, quarterly, and year-end reconciliations of assigned balance sheet and operating accounts.
• Assist the Controller with monthly, quarterly, and fiscal year-end closing activities.
• Review general ledger activity to identify unusual balances, posting errors, incorrect classifications, and other discrepancies.
• Research and resolve complex accounting discrepancies and recommend corrective action when necessary.
• Prepare schedules, account analyses, reconciliations, and supporting documentation for the University’s annual financial audit.
• Assist with internal and external audit requests and coordinate the preparation of supporting financial documentation.
• Assist with the preparation of financial statements, management reports, and other internal and external financial reporting.
• Reconcile cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, payroll-related accounts, fixed assets, accrued liabilities, prepaid expenses, and other accounts as assigned.
• Assist with accounting for capital projects, fixed assets, restricted funds, grants, and other specialized accounting areas as assigned.
• Analyze financial data and provide explanations for significant variances, unusual transactions, and account activity.
• Assist in maintaining and strengthening internal controls over financial transactions and financial reporting.
• Review financial transactions and supporting documentation for accuracy, completeness, proper account classification, and appropriate authorization.
• Assist with budget-to-actual analysis and other financial reporting requested by management.
• Coordinate with departments throughout the University to resolve accounting issues and ensure financial transactions are properly recorded.
• Assist with the development, documentation, and implementation of accounting procedures, workflows, and internal controls.
• Cheyney University of Pennsylvania | Fiscal Affairs
• Provide technical accounting guidance and support to Staff Accountants and other Fiscal Affairs employees as assigned.
• Review accounting work prepared by other staff when requested by the Controller.
• Assist with implementation of new accounting processes, financial system enhancements, and institutional initiatives.
• Participate in special projects and financial analyses as assigned by the Controller or Chief Financial Officer.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Cheyney University an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer complies with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, age, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, creed, marital status, political affiliation, personal appearance, or on the basis of rights secured by the First Amendment, in all aspects of employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.