Accountant I

University of South Florida • Tampa, FL

8d • $48,000 - $50,000

About The Position

The University Controller's Office is led by the Associate Vice President/Controller and has approximately 150 employees. The UCO consists of Accounting and Reporting Services General Accounting, Research Cash Management, Asset Management, and Construction Accounting; Student Financial Services (Cashier's Office, Student Accounting & Customer Service, and Accounts Receivable); Payroll and Tax Services and the Office of Supplier Diversity. The UCO's mission is to safeguard institutional resources and provide accounting and operational support to the USF System while ensuring compliance with all Federal, State and regulatory financial guidelines. The Accountant supports both departmental and university-wide financial operations by processing and reviewing accounting transactions, ensuring adherence to university policies, and maintaining accurate financial records. Key responsibilities include preparing journal entries, performing account reconciliations, setting up new customer accounts, and assisting with treasury and compliance activities. The role also contributes to construction-related financial reporting and serves as a backup for wire transfers and for select investment functions. The Accountant supports university financial operations by preparing cash and investment reports, processing transactions, reconciling accounts, and ensuring compliance with institutional policies. The role also assists with construction accounting and serves as a backup for treasury functions, including investment activities and interest allocation.

Requirements

• This position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and one year of related experience, or a Master’s degree in Accounting or Business Administration (with appropriate Accounting preparation and coursework.)
• The bachelor’s degree is a minimum educational requirement for this position, and cannot be waived.
• Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Nice To Haves

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• Experience: - 1–3 years of professional accounting experience, preferably in higher education, government, or a similarly regulated environment
• Exposure to treasury operations, investment accounting, or construction/capital project accounting is beneficial
• Familiarity with ERP or financial management systems ( PeopleSoft, Banner, Oracle)

Responsibilities

• Journal Entry Processing - Review, and process journal entries in the FAST financial system. Review journal entry submissions to ensure valid chart field combinations. Provide guidance to departments on proper financial coding and accounting practices.
• Wire Transfer Support & Sales Tax Compliance - Serve as backup for wire transfer initiation and approvals. Review transactions for accuracy, authorization, and policy compliance. Follow strict internal controls and fraud-prevention procedures. Serve as backup for sales tax preparation and filings. Assist with data collection, journal entry preparation, and documentation. Ensure compliance with applicable tax regulations and deadlines.
• Customer Setup and Maintenance - Create and maintain customer records for university departments in the FAST system. Ensure accuracy and completeness of customer information. Coordinate with departmental contacts to obtain required setup documentation.
• Abandoned Property Administration - Research and identify potential abandoned or unclaimed property belonging to the university.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees