Accounting Specialist

Accounting Specialist

The Accounting Specialist plays an important role in supporting the schools day-to-day financial operations. Reporting to the Director of Finance this role centers on transactional Business Office functions including accounts payable purchasing card administration student billing accounts receivable cash receipts bank reconciliations journal entries and other general accounting support.

This is a front-facing service-oriented position that requires strong attention to detail consistent follow-through and effective communication with employees families vendors and other school stakeholders. The Accounting Specialist works closely with the Director of Finance Chief Financial Officer Business Office colleagues and departments across the school to support accurate financial processing timely communication internal controls audit readiness and responsive service to the school community.

Essential Duties

Business Office Operations

• Process financial transactions accurately and timely across accounts payable purchasing card activity student billing accounts receivable cash receipts and general accounting functions.
• Monitor Business Office accounting correspondence and respond to inquiries from employees families vendors and internal departments in a professional and service-oriented manner.
• Maintain organized and accessible Business Office documentation within the shared drive including transaction support reconciliations audit materials process documentation recurring reports and shared financial schedules.
• Follow established internal controls maintain appropriate documentation memorialize current Business Office policies and procedures and escalate questions or exceptions as needed.
• Provide backup coverage and cross-training support during absences peak periods or major financial cycles.

Accounts Payable and Purchasing Cards

• Support accounts payable through the schools designated platform currently including invoice review approval routing coding vendor coordination and payment processing.
• Support purchasing card activity through the schools designated platform currently Divvy including cardholder communication transaction review receipt collection coding documentation and monthly close activities.
• Assist with month-end and year-end accounts payable and purchasing card procedures including review of outstanding items accrual needs prepaid expenses and documentation gaps.
• Help reinforce accounts payable and purchasing card policies deadlines and documentation expectations in a service-oriented manner.

Student Billing Accounts Receivable and Cash Receipts

• Support student billing and receivable processes including tuition fees deposits incidental charges payment plans financial aid tuition remission scholarships auxiliary charges contributions reimbursements and other account activity.
• Prepare review and post charges credits deposits and account adjustments; respond to family billing inquiries with professionalism and confidentiality; and assist with monitoring outstanding balances payment plan changes family account holds and follow-up communications as directed.
• Process and record incoming cash checks electronic payments deposits reimbursements and other receipts in accordance with Business Office internal controls including researching and resolving unidentified misapplied or incomplete payments.

General Accounting Reporting and Audit Support

• Support recurring accounting activities across daily weekly monthly quarterly and year-end cycles including journal entries transactional adjustments coding corrections accruals prepaid expense tracking deferred revenue entries reclassifications bank reconciliations and other close-related activity.
• Maintain selected general ledger and bank account reconciliations research discrepancies or unusual activity and update year-to-date actual information in projection files and other internal reporting tools.
• Play an active role in audit compliance and year-end reporting by compiling requested schedules reconciliations transaction-level detail supporting documentation 1099 information and other materials as assigned.

• Key Skills and Attributes
• Strong attention to detail accuracy and follow-through in transactional financial work.
• Excellent organizational documentation and deadline-management skills.
• Professional service-oriented communication style with employees families vendors and other stakeholders with the ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment.
• Proficiency with accounting systems student billing platforms accounts payable platforms purchasing card platforms spreadsheets shared drives and other financial systems; current systems include QuickBooks Online Divvy and the schools student billing platform.
• Team-oriented and flexible with the ability to research questions resolve discrepancies communicate clearly and support evolving Business Office priorities.

Tower Hill School is a coeducational private school for age 3 through Grade 12 dedicated to living our motto Multa Bene FactaMany Things Done Well. With a beautiful 44-acre campus located in northwest Wilmington Tower Hill has the reputation as one of the top academic schools in the region. Our unparalleled resources include excellent faculty state-of-the-art facilities and individualized learning support.

Mission Statement: Tower Hill School prepares students from diverse backgrounds for full and creative engagement with a dynamic world. Each student is provided with an educational experience that emphasizes the development of an inquisitive discerning and critical mind; the value of being creative and aesthetically sensitive; the appreciation of physical wellbeing; the ability to collaborate and to function as part of a team; and the growth of character.

Tower Hill is an equal opportunity employer.

Please submit a resume and cover letter as soon as possible.