Senior Staff Accountant, General Accounting & Financial Reporting

Boston University; Boston (MA); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Hybrid work options

Tuition remission for employee and (de

Dependents

Job summary

Boston University is seeking a Senior Staff Accountant to join the Financial Accounting & Reporting team. The role centers on gifts and endowments analysis, monthly and year-end reporting, journal entries, and tax reporting, with collaboration across departments.

The position supports a hybrid work schedule and requires 3-5 years of accounting experience, strong Excel skills, and knowledge of accounting principles. CPA/CFA is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field required.
• 3-5 years of accounting experience.
• Advanced Excel skills with complex formulas.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and ability to communicate with non-accountant partners.
• Experience in data analysis to draw conclusions and inform management.
• Proven ability to multitask and prioritize routine and ad-hoc tasks.
• Excellent oral and written communication and attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Analyze gifts and endowments; ensure timely reporting and correct net asset classification.
• Prepare monthly and year-end financial statements and flux analysis.
• Analyze general ledger accounts and reconciliations; provide leadership with insights.
• Reconcile and monitor gift clearing accounts to ensure matching revenue and receipts.
• Prepare monthly/year-end journal entries and external tax reporting for CGAs, CRUTs, and CRATs.
• Collaborate with Advancement to review gift agreements and estate documentation for accounting implications.
• Contribute to special projects; develop process improvements; create data analyses using Power BI; prepare ad-hoc reports.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Accounting principles

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Multi-tasking

Detail-oriented

Team collaboration

Oral & written communication

Self-motivation

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting

Tools

SAP ERP

Job description

Category

Job Location

Tracking Code

26500388721105

Posted Date

11/6/2026

Salary Grade

Grade 48

Expected Hiring Range Minimum

$75,000.00

Expected Hiring Range Maximum

$85,000.00

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, training and internal pay comparison. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Type

Full-Time/Regular

The Senior Staff Accountant is a key member of the Financial Accounting & Reporting team at Boston University, and works closely with staff from Advancement, Budget, Business Affairs, Student Accounts, Research Accounting, and other areas. This position has the potential to work a hybrid schedule under the University's remote work guidelines.

Major duties of this position include:

• Assist in the analysis of gifts and endowments and perform monthly tasks to ensure these transactions are reported timely and in the proper net asset classification.
• Assist in the preparation of monthly and year-end financial reporting including the oversight and flux analysis of critical financial areas.
• Prepare monthly analysis of various general ledger accounts and related reconciliations to provide leadership with insights on significant balances and fluctuations.
• Reconcile and monitor gift clearing accounts to ensure matching gift revenue and receipt.
• Prepare monthly and year-end journal entries.
• Prepare external tax reporting for CGAs, CRUTs, and CRATs.
• Collaboratively work with Advancement teams to review gift agreements and estate documentation for accounting implications and to ensure proper set up.
• Special projects as assigned include, but not limited to, performing outreach for unusual transactions, developing process improvements, utilizing new applications for data analysis such as Power BI, or preparing ad-hoc reports and reconciliations that support the department overall.

Pay Range: Salary Grade 48 Minimum $61,200, Midpoint $82,700, Maximum $104,100 Note: Salary is based on related experience, expertise, available budget, and internal equity; new hires can expect an initial annual salary which is between the minimum and midpoint of the range above ($75,000 - $85,000). Boston University supports a flexible work environment for authorized staff members. This position is eligible for a hybrid work arrangement (i.e., remote work up to three (3) days per week), after completion of a successful observation period.

Required Skills

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or a related field 3-5 years of accounting experience.
• Advanced skills utilizing Excel, including complex formulas in order to acquire, organize, and analyze data.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles and practices with the ability to communicate topics and theories to internal non-accountant partners.
• Experienced in analyzing data to determine relevant conclusions and suggest appropriate actions to management.
• Proven track record to multi-task and prioritize routine tasks and ad-hoc requests.
• Ability to demonstrate effective oral and written communication skills.
• Detail oriented, demonstrating accuracy and quality of work output.
• Ability to work (both independently and in conjunction with other) effectively and collaboratively in a small, collegial team environment.
• Self-motivated, proactive, intellectually curious.

Preferred Skills:

• CPA or CPA candidate Public accounting or experience within a higher education institution.
• Experience with ERP desirable, SAP.

Benefits/Other Information:

Boston University's generous benefits package includes health, dental, life insurance, and paid time off!

• Full-time employees are also eligible for tuition remission for courses at Boston University.
• Note: the remission benefit extends to dependents as well. For more details on benefits, please refer to the Boston University benefits page at https://www.bu.edu/hr/employee-resources/benefits/.

The department of Financial Affairs at Boston University values intellectual, cultural, and social diversity among its staff and students. We remain steadfast in our dedication to building a team that is inclusive and equitable and a place where all constituents can thrive. For all positions, we are looking for individuals who enjoy working with colleagues in a collaborative environment and who are flexible and creative. We strongly encourage applications from women and under-represented groups who share our interest in serving a university community with diverse needs, backgrounds, ethnicities, and abilities.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color , natural or protective hairstyle, religion, sex, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military service, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, or because of marital, parental, or veteran status. We are a VEVRAA Federal Contractor.