Senior Accountant
Job Location:
New Orleans, LA - USA
Monthly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Position Summary
Dillard University is seeking a strategic and detail-oriented Senior Accountant to handle financial operations with integrity accuracy and adherence to regulations. As an integral part of the Office of Business and Finance Division the Senior Accountant ensures the prompt and accurate recording of financial transactions in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) guidelines Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) guidelines and institutional guidelines. This role involves recording all accounting activities including bonds financial aid student receivables bank and other reconciliations revenues expenses fixed assets accruals deferrals investments and endowments among other transactions. Additionally the Senior Accountant will serve as a Jenzabar system champion helping to improve workflows and maintain data integrity across the universitys financial systems.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
General Accounting & Financial Reporting
- Recording transactions for all general ledger accounts (assets liabilities fund balances revenue and expenses).
- Assist in preparing timely and accurate monthly quarterly and annual financial statements in accordance with GAAP and institutional policies.
- Lead monthly closings year-end closing and audit preparation including coordination with external auditors and internal stakeholders.
- Assist in maintaining updating and revising the chart of accounts and help ensure consistency across departments and programs.
Reconciliations
- Review and prepare monthly bank reconciliations across all institutional accounts (operating payroll investments endowments temporary restricted etc.).
- Reconcile and review student receivable accounts including tuition fees housing and auxiliary services.
- Reconcile and review financial aid accounts including Title IV funds scholarships grants and institutional aid.
- Assist with the timely and accurate posting of students disbursements refunds and returns to Title IV.
- Assist with investigating and resolving discrepancies in collaboration with Financial Aid and Student Accounts teams.
- Monitor aging reports and support collections and write-off processes.
Grants & Sponsored Programs
- Track financial activity of federal state and private grants to ensure compliance with sponsor requirements.
- Assist with preparing/reviewing financial reports for grantors and coordinate with research administration teams.
- Assist in post-award accounting including effort reporting and cost transfers.
Systems & Process Optimization
- Assist in maintaining Jenzabar ensuring data integrity workflows system optimization and cross-functional training.
- Collaborate with IT and administrative units to enhance reporting automation and workflow efficiency.
- Assist with initiatives across finance operations including documentation and training.
- Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
- Support system upgrades and financial reporting automation.
Compliance & Audit Support
- Ensure compliance with institutional policies GAAP FASB and GASB standards and federal regulations (e.g. Uniform Guidance IRS Dept. of Educ.)
- Prepare audit schedules and serve as a liaison during external audits and regulatory reviews.
- Maintain documentation for internal controls and risk mitigation.
- Provide financial assistance to academic and administrative departments ensuring fiscal discipline and transparency.
Other Duties
- Perform all other duties as assigned.
Education Certifications and/or Experience
- Bachelors degree in accounting finance or a related field.
- Minimum of 3 years of progressive experience in accounting financial management or financial and compliance auditing preferably in higher education or nonprofit sectors.
- Excellent analytical and communication skills.
- Demonstrated expertise in FASB GAAP internal controls and federal/state compliance.
- Experience with Jenzabar or similar higher education ERP systems.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Suites especially Excel.
Preferred
- CPA designation or equivalent professional certification or masters degree in accounting finance business administration technology or a related area.
- Experience with financial aid reconciliation student receivables and Title IV compliance.
- Experience with accounting for endowments investments and grants.
Core Competencies
- Intermediate to advanced level accounting.
- Integrity and attention to detail.
- ERP systems fluency (Jenzabar preferred).
- Regulatory compliance and audit readiness.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills coupled with negotiation skills necessary to formulate policies and programs and arrive jointly at solutions with clients and stakeholders.
Other Specifications
- Knowledge of accounting principles and methods preferably with an emphasis in college or university financial reporting.
- Reasonable knowledge of the U.S. Department of Education Federal Student Aid guidelines.
- Excellent technical accounting skills and knowledge (including IRS regulations etc.).
- Knowledge of management methods and ability to provide administrative guidance and provide direct training and supervision as needed.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills coupled with negotiation skills necessary to formulate policies and programs and arrive jointly at solutions with clients and stakeholders.
- Personal attributes to include high ethics integrity patience flexibility adaptability persistence and tact as necessary to deal with a highly decentralized environment.
Required Experience:
Senior IC
About Company
Dillard University, Louisiana's first HBCU, offers a transformative liberal arts education in the vibrant heart of New Orleans. Contact us today to embark on your academic journey!
