Position Title: Accountant

Department: Budget Office

Advertised Pay: Low $50K

Campus Location: Washburn University

The screening committee will review all eligible applications submitted by June 11, 2024

Position Summary: The Accountant compiles and develops financial reports, and provides support for daily financial activities. In addition, the Accountant is responsible for applying generally accepted accounting principles and procedures in working with specialized accounting records and reports; assembling and analyzing data and transactions, and preparing statements and reports relating to the assigned area(s) of responsibility.

Essential Functions:
• The Accountant will provide budget support and assistance. Review, proof, modify, and correct employment, payroll, and budget reports and/or documents to ensure accuracy; notify appropriate units/departments of changes that are needed or have been made.
• Review and assess budget and annual financial reports, determining and initiating corrections and revisions as appropriate to ensure that figures balance and assist staff in the preparation of budgets and reports for distribution.
• Log, monitor and track revisions to operating and salary budgets to identify discrepancies as they occur. Initiate corrections at the earliest stage possible to ensure the accuracy of information that is used in budget tracking and planning activities.
• At the direction of the appropriate staff prepare and enter budget journal vouchers to establish funding in ERP according to the approved budget. Proof entries against budget queries to verify accuracy.
• Notify staff of significant changes in accounts to facilitate higher-level analysis and evaluation as needed.
• Assist with the implementation of the new budget module and assist with communication and training. Assist departments with budget queries and monitoring departmental budgets.
• Assist with annual in-person and online training, and with year-end data for the public budget.
• Create and distribute letters for Capital Improvement, Other Equipment and Technology to notify department heads and other staff as appropriate of Board of Regents approval of proposed budgets.
• Run capital projects budget queries, and create and maintain the Building Construction Fund budgeted capital improvements expenditures spreadsheet to monitor and track expenditures as they are made. Notify appropriate staff and departments monthly with the updated reports/documents.
• Update spreadsheets for current year analysis of annual giving funds and provide to appropriate staff for approval. Create letters for the Vice President for Administration and Treasurer’s (VPAT) signature to notify area heads of funds donated as a result of the annual giving campaign that have been designated for their use. Distribute signed letters to recipients and Washburn University Foundation Accountant.
• Maintain the financial approval queues based on notification of new hires and terminations and notify Human Resources.

The Accountant will perform some of the following duties based on experience and/or appropriate training. Certain duties may be assigned to other accountants; however, there will be cross-training for most items listed:
• Work with Facilities Services to ensure capital and equipment project expenditures are appropriately accounted for. Provide guidance as to which ERP accounts should be used for various project expenditures.
• Assist with establishing ERP fund and organization codes as needed to allow for electronic tracking and processing of all account records.
• Review and maintain records of capital assets to ensure and verify the appropriateness of and proper accounting for such purchases and determine how they should be depreciated.
• Prepare journal vouchers and request payroll reallocations to transfer funds and/or expenses to/from various projects and funds as necessary.
• Reconcile various funds and accounts monthly to ensure the accuracy of all accounts.
• Enter employment data for incidental faculty, staff, and student employees into ERP to establish employee records and facilitate salary payment.
• Review faculty contracts to confirm accuracy and to confirm budget and ERP data matches. Work collaboratively with Human Resources when there are discrepancies to ensure the contract and ERP match.
• Provide administrative assistance as required in support of VPAT activities, performing duties that may include but are not limited to answering telephones, scheduling meetings, maintaining and updating files, copying and distributing materials, creating and distributing correspondence, and compiling data and information for reports.
• Perform additional job-related duties as assigned or as appropriate.

Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, economics, business, or finance and two years of experience in accounting, or
• A combination of experience and education equivalent to six years of accounting experience.
• Proven proficiency using Excel, including formulas, pivot and lookup tables and Microsoft Word.
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal, communication, organizational and time management skills.

Preferred Qualifications:
• Experience working with budgets.
• Experience working with a large ERP, i.e. Ellucian Banner, PageUp, or PeopleSoft.
• Experience in higher education.
• Experience with fund accounting.
• Experience preparing budget/financial reports.

Full-time, Exempt, Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm   
Background Check Required