Staff Accountant

Cornerstone University; Grand Rapids (MI); On-site; USD 34,440,000 - 44,083,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornerstone University is seeking a Staff Accountant in Grand Rapids, MI to support the Senior Accountant and Controller. The role emphasizes GAAP, state and university policies, and a customer-focused approach.

You will work within Accounting & Finance to manage journal entries, payroll reconciliation, and audits. The position requires a Bachelor’s degree in accounting or business administration and proficiency with Excel; experience with Ellucian-Colleague is preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Business Administration.
• Experience in accounting or financial administration preferred.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.
• Detail-oriented with analytical problem-solving and teamwork.
• Experience with Ellucian-Colleague software preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel and Access.

Responsibilities

• Review and approve AR journal entries.
• Prepare journal entries for miscellaneous payments.
• Enter miscellaneous journal entries.
• Assist with weekly financial aid postings.
• Reconcile payroll, designated, loan funds, and federal funds bank statements.
• Prepare investment entries, initiate transfers, and reconcile investment statements.

Skills

Communication

Detail-oriented

Analytical

Teamwork

Problem-solving

Accounting experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Business Administration

Tools

Ellucian-Colleague

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Access

Job description

The Staff Accountant is responsible for the essential accounting activities in support of the Senior Accountant and Controller along with internal and external business partners. They should have a firm knowledge of and ability to apply GAAP, federal and state regulations, and university policies to a broad spectrum of accounting scenarios and approach all projects with a customer focused mindset. The core of Cornerstone University is defined and driven by its Christ-centered mission and Biblical confession.

CLASSIFICATION

Full-time, Hourly

REPORTS TO

Senior Accountant

DEPT

Accounting & Finance

LOCATION

Grand Rapids, MI

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Review and approve AR journal entries
• Prepare journal entries for miscellaneous payments
• Enter miscellaneous journal entries
• Assist with weekly financial aid postings
• Reconcile payroll, designated, loan funds, and federal funds bank statements
• Prepare investment entries, initiate PNC iHub transfers, and reconcile investment statements (restricted funds, endowments, and trust/annuity funds)
• Assists the Senior Accountant with processing the athletic and international student insurance
• Pay Michigan sales tax and file monthly and annual reports
• Assist the Controller by reviewing operational budget for overdrawn accounts.
• Assist the Controller and Senior Accountant with audit preparation and other projects as they arise in the course of business
• Support the front office staff in their roles and serve as the primary backup in times of absences
• Prepares the annual property and lability insurance documents and assists the Controller with university-wide risk assessment
• Assist the Senior Accountant with tax preparation and filing when needed
• All Cornerstone University employees will regularly interact with students in a variety of projects, activities, and settings. As such all employees are expected to serve as Christian leaders and mentors by effectively living a gospel-centered lifestyle, ministering and discipling through a biblical worldview.
• Other duties may be assigned

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS and ABILITIES

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Accounting or Business Administration
• Experience in accounting or financial administration preferred
• Good oral and written communication skills
• Good detail-oriented, analytical, problem-solving, decision-making, and teamwork skills
• Experience with Ellucian-Colleague software preferred
• Experience with Microsoft Office financial products (Excel, Access, etc.) required

ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS

• A personal relationship with Jesus Christ and an active Christian commitment.
• A theology that supports the values and mission of Cornerstone University core commitments evidenced by an ability to affirm and sign the university’s doctrinal statement, “The Cornerstone Confession.”
• Four other foundational pillars, along with the university’s mission and confession, form Cornerstone’s Core Commitments.

• The Cornerstone Christian World View
• The Cornerstone Academic Vision
• The Cornerstone Beautiful Christian Community
• The Marriage and Human Sexuality Position Statement

These core commitments convey who we are, what we believe and how we live and work together in community. Employees are expected to faithfully attend an evangelical and biblical church whose core beliefs and practices are consistent with Cornerstone’s confession and core commitments