Accountant IV

New Mexico State University•Las Cruces, NM

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The College of Arts & Sciences Business and Research Center is seeking to fill two Accountant IV positions. This role involves significant financial administration, compliance, and fiscal oversight, including reviewing and approving financial transactions, managing expense and budget transfers, reconciling financial records, and preparing financial analyses. Additionally, the position handles accounting for personnel transactions, ensuring accuracy and compliance with university policies. The role also includes developing and implementing training initiatives, serving as a subject matter expert, and supporting business operations. A portion of the role is dedicated to project management accounting, supporting special projects, and participating in process improvement efforts.

Requirements

Associate's Degree + 7 years of relevant experience or a Bachelor's degree + 5 years of relevant experience.
Experience reviewing and approving financial transactions for allowability, funding, account coding, documentation, and compliance.
Experience managing budgets and personnel funding in a higher education or similarly complex organization.
Knowledge of university, state, and sponsored funding requirements as they apply to expenditures and personnel actions.
Demonstrated ability to exercise independent judgment when resolving complex financial or personnel transaction issues.

Nice To Haves

Experience analyzing financial data and preparing reports and recommendations for leadership.
Demonstrated ability to identify gaps in accounting processes and implement improvements that strengthen internal controls and efficiency.
Experience training staff, interpreting fiscal policies, and developing clear procedures or guidance for departments.

Responsibilities

Review, evaluate, and approve financial transactions and supporting documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, appropriate funding availability, and compliance with university policies, state regulations, sponsor requirements, and established business procedures.
Serve as a financial reviewer for college transactions by analyzing financial documents, expense transactions, and other financial records to ensure expenditures are allowable, properly documented, budgeted, aligned with institutional priorities and funding restrictions, and free from errors, discrepancies, compliance concerns, and potential financial risks.
Process and oversee all expense and budget transfers for the college, ensuring timely, accurate, and properly documented financial adjustments.
Monitor account balances and funding sources to verify sufficient funds are available prior to transaction approval and commitment of resources.
Research, investigate, and resolve financial discrepancies by collaborating with departments, faculty, staff, and College Fiscal Management Directors.
Reconcile financial records and review account activity to identify inconsistencies, correct errors, and promote compliance with accounting standards as well as sponsor and university requirements.
Prepare financial analyses, reports, and recommendations to support sound fiscal decision-making and resource management.
Manage college systems access and security requests, ensuring appropriate approvals, segregation of duties, timely processing, and compliance with university security requirements.
Review, prepare, and submit hiring and personnel documentation for faculty, staff, graduate assistants, student employees, and temporary personnel.
Review and approve personnel actions to ensure accuracy, funding availability, and compliance with university policies and employment regulations.
Verify position funding, salary distributions, account coding, and budget availability associated with personnel actions.
Monitor personnel transactions to ensure processing deadlines are met and employment records remain accurate and compliant.
Provide guidance to departments regarding hiring procedures, funding requirements, personnel policies, and business processes.
Develop, coordinate, and implement training initiatives that enhance financial compliance, operational efficiency, and administrative consistency across the college.
Train and mentor college staff, department administrators, and new employees on financial procedures, university systems, personnel processes, and accounting best practices.
Create and maintain training materials, process documentation, and reference resources to support continuous learning and operational effectiveness.
Serve as a subject matter expert and resource for financial and administrative procedures, providing guidance on complex transactions and policy interpretation.
Promote consistent application of business procedures and internal controls across departments.
Support operational continuity by assisting with workload management, cross-training efforts, and business process improvements.
Supports special projects for the college, coordinating activities across departments to ensure the successful completion of project objectives while ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with established guidelines.
Analyze project requirements, identify resource needs, monitor progress, and provide status updates to leadership and stakeholders.
Participate in process improvement efforts designed to strengthen financial controls, improve operational efficiency, and enhance customer service.
Research and compile data to prepare reports for operational planning, policy implementation, and in support of decision-making.
Perform other related duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of the college's mission and strategic objectives.