Accountant I (Financial Aid)

UMass Amherst•Amherst, NY

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Accountant I provides finance, bookkeeping, and general administrative support for Financial Aid Office operations and Financial Aid budgetary units. This role involves setting up and configuring campus scholarships, preparing reconciliation reports, processing budget transfers and journal entries, and monitoring expenditures. The position also coordinates day-to-day office operations, manages inventory, communicates with vendors, coordinates meetings and events, and handles payroll for the Financial Aid department. Additionally, the Accountant I serves as the building coordinator for the off-campus operational building and performs other assigned responsibilities.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent
At least three (3) years of financial management or accounting experience, preferably in an office environment.
Knowledge of accounting/financial principles and practices.
Ability to read, interpret, and prepare financial reports.
Strong computer skills, particularly with word processing software, spreadsheets, and databases.
Ability to create formulas and pivot tables and present reports.
Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail with the ability to maintain accurate records.
Strong oral and written communication skills.
Ability to write concisely, express thoughts clearly, and to develop ideas in a logical sequence.
Ability to work independently and meet project deadlines with a minimal amount of supervision.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively with multiple stakeholders.
Strong critical thinking skills with the ability to think through problems, organize information, identify factors in underlying causes and generate solutions.
Ability to exercise sound judgement and maintain confidentiality.
Ability to understand, apply, and explain laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree or above in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
Experience processing journal entries.
Basic understanding of financial aid processes and regulations.

Responsibilities

Sets up and configures all campus scholarships within the campus’ Student Information System (currently PeopleSoft), ensuring proper fund disbursement controls, funding source allocation, and general ledger interface management.
Prepares monthly reconciliation reports for private loan program totaling approximately $50M annually.
Identifies discrepancies and prepares wire transfer return of funds to lenders.
Assists with posting of incoming loan disbursements.
Processes budget transfers and journal entries to maintain accurate financial aid accounts.
Prepares disbursement forms to return grant and scholarship funds to state and private agencies.
Monitors expenditures and cash balances for all state and private funded scholarship accounts.
Records and monitors operating budget and expenditures and projects funding needs.
Assists with documentation preparation for annual federal, state and internal financial aid audit.
Reviews and releases student financial holds for enrollment changes during term add/drop periods.
Coordinates day-to-day office operations of the Financial Aid Office including distribution of mail and packages, tracking physical checks, and preparing financial aid documents for imaging.
Monitors inventory and purchases office supplies.
Communicates with vendors to request equipment maintenance or resolve order discrepancies.
Coordinates meetings and events; reserves space, creates virtual meeting links, orders and/or sets up catering, and coordinates parking for off-campus guests.
Coordinates payroll for the Financial Aid department.
Enters time, clears exceptions, runs and submits reports, and liaises with Human Resources as needed.
Provides comprehensive training to professional and classified staff and answers general questions regarding timekeeping policies and procedures.
Serves as the building coordinator for the off-campus operational building.
Coordinates work-orders, movers, renovations, furniture orders, and deliveries.
Liaises with campus facilities services to authorize and maintain building access for staff and student workers.
Performs other responsibilities as assigned.