Staff Accountant - Business Office

Ashland University Bookstore; Ashland (OH); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashland University Bookstore is seeking a Staff Accountant to support the daily financial operations of the Business Office by processing transactions, maintaining records, and ensuring documentation is complete and accurate.

The role includes administering the University P-Card program, performing reconciliations, assisting with month-end and year-end closing, preparing schedules and reports, and supporting audits.

Qualifications

• Associate's degree in accounting, finance, business, operations, or a related area from an accredited university or college.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated experience with account reconciliations, financial analysis, bookkeeping, purchasing card administration, or general ledger accounting.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and projects, meet deadlines, use sound judgment, and interpret local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations; through self-directed professional readings and attending professional development training.
• Proficiency and/or a willingness to learn data management systems and computer applications (e.g., Microsoft Suite of products such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI).
• Excellent communication (written, verbal and presentation) skills. Sound organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop and maintain collegial relationships. Diplomacy, tact, and discretion are essential.
• Ability to work independently and handle multiple projects and priorities with minimal supervision as well as work as part of the team.
• Applicant must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Ashland University will not sponsor or take over sponsorship for an employment visa.
• Bachelor of Science or Arts in accounting, finance, business, operations, or a related area from an accredited university or college.
• One to three years of accounting experience or related experience and skill set.
• Higher education, nonprofit, or public accounting experience.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to synthesize complex or diverse information; and experience working with data sets.
• Apply knowledge of GAAP and Financial Accounting Standards, practices and procedures.

Responsibilities

• Administer and support the University purchasing card (P-Card) program, including card issuance, training, policy compliance monitoring, review of supporting documentation, and reconciliation of transactions.
• Review purchasing card and employee expense activity to ensure compliance with University policies, internal controls, and applicable regulations.
• Provide guidance and customer service to faculty, staff, and departmental budget managers regarding accounting procedures, purchasing card usage, account coding, and financial policies.
• Perform monthly reconciliations of assigned balance sheet and income statement accounts and investigate and resolve discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger through accurate recording, analysis, and documentation of financial transactions.
• Assist with month-end and year-end closing processes, including account analysis, accrual entries, reconciliations, and preparation of supporting schedules.
• Record and/or required journal entries, accruals and reclassifications for the monthly, quarterly, and year-end closing processes.
• Process the allocation of departmental costs, such as telephone, postage, and copies with the assistance of student workers.
• Assist and prepare financial reports, account analyses, and supporting documentation for management review.
• Assist with annual audits by preparing work papers, schedules, account reconciliations, and responding to auditor requests.
• Assist with special projects, process improvement initiatives, financial system testing, and other duties as assigned.
• Ability to work after hours and weekends as needed.
• Other Duties as assigned or requested by the Controller and Assistant Controller.

Skills

Account reconciliations

Financial analysis

Bookkeeping

P-Card administration

General ledger

MS Office / Excel

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Time management

Self-directed

Education

Associate's degree in accounting/finance/business/operations

Bachelor's degree preferred

Tools

Power BI

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

The Staff Accountant supports the daily financial operations of the Business Office by processing transactions, maintaining records, and ensuring documentation is complete and accurate in accordance with established policies and procedures.

• Administer and support the University purchasing card (P-Card) program, including card issuance, training, policy compliance monitoring, review of supporting documentation, and reconciliation of transactions.
• Review purchasing card and employee expense activity to ensure compliance with University policies, internal controls, and applicable regulations.
• Provide guidance and customer service to faculty, staff, and departmental budget managers regarding accounting procedures, purchasing card usage, account coding, and financial policies.
• Perform monthly reconciliations of assigned balance sheet and income statement accounts and investigate and resolve discrepancies in a timely manner.
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger through accurate recording, analysis, and documentation of financial transactions.
• Assist with month-end and year-end closing processes, including account analysis, accrual entries, reconciliations, and preparation of supporting schedules.
• Record and/or required journal entries, accruals and reclassifications for the monthly, quarterly, and year-end closing processes.
• Process the allocation of departmental costs, such as telephone, postage, and copies with the assistance of student workers.
• Assist and prepare financial reports, account analyses, and supporting documentation for management review.
• Assist with annual audits by preparing work papers, schedules, account reconciliations, and responding to auditor requests.
• Assist with special projects, process improvement initiatives, financial system testing, and other duties as assigned.
• Ability to work after hours and weekends as needed.
• Other Duties as assigned or requested by the Controller and Assistant Controller.

Required Qualifications

• Associate's degree in accounting, finance, business, operations, or a related area from an accredited university or college.
• Equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated experience with account reconciliations, financial analysis, bookkeeping, purchasing card administration, or general ledger accounting.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments and projects, meet deadlines, use sound judgment, and interpret local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations; through self-directed professional readings and attending professional development training.
• Proficiency and/or a willingness to learn data management systems and computer applications (e.g., Microsoft Suite of products such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI).
• Excellent communication (written, verbal and presentation) skills. Sound organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop and maintain collegial relationships. Diplomacy, tact, and discretion are essential.
• Ability to work independently and handle multiple projects and priorities with minimal supervision as well as work as part of the team.
• Applicant must be currently authorized to work in the United States. Ashland University will not sponsor or take over sponsorship for an employment visa.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science or Arts in accounting, finance, business, operations, or a related area from an accredited university or college.
• One (1) to three (3 )years of accounting experience or related experience and skill set.
• Higher education, nonprofit, or public accounting experience.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills; ability to synthesize complex or diverse information; and experience working with data sets.
• Apply knowledge of GAAP and Financial Accounting Standards, practices and procedures.

Physical Demands

• This position operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment.
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear.
• The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to fingers, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms.
• This position requires the ability to occasionally lift office products and supplies, up to 25 pounds.
• This is a full-time position, and hours of work and days are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. From time to time working hours may be modified and exceed the standard work week.
• This position description is intended to be a general overview of major responsibilities, duties and qualifications necessary to perform the job. Other responsibilities and duties may be assigned by the supervisor. The position description should be revised in the event there are substantial changes in the work to be done/or the qualifications deemed necessary to perform the job.

Anticipated Start Date of New Hire

Anticipated Start Date of New Hire 10/01/2026