Accountant & Systems Application Specialist (Promotional Opportunity Only)

UMass Lowell•Lowell, MA

About The Position

This being a promotional opportunity, only current UML Employees within the same Bargaining unit are eligible to apply for this position. The Controller’s Office is responsible for financial management and reporting, tax filing coordination and maintaining a control environment for the proper use of funds in accordance with Federal, State, and University policies. The Office establishes business practices and procedures, prepares campus financial statements and liaisons with internal and external auditors. The Office has frequent interface with the President’s Office Controller and Central Services in coordinating financial activities of the campus with overall University goals and objectives. The Controller’s Office further manages the integration of the university finance systems with accounting operations and actively analyzes financial information through the use of queries, spreadsheets, databases, and other reporting tools for trend analysis, forecasts, and financial ratios. The Controller’s Office includes General Accounting, Financial Analysis and Reporting, Cash Management/Treasury/Ecommerce and Student Financial Services. The Office works closely with other Financial Service areas including Budget, Procurement, Accounts Payable, Payroll and Facilities and with other business units (e.g., Research, Advancement, Student Academic and Affairs).

Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in accounting or related field.
Experience: 2 to 3 years accounting experience preferably in University or large non-profit organization.
Technical skills: Intermediate skill level with Microsoft Excel and familiarity with Word, Power Point.
Communication skills: Excellent oral and written communication skills

Nice To Haves

Preferred MBA
Knowledgeable of GAAP and GASB.
Excellent organization skills.
Strong analytical skills.
Ability to work as a team player and collaborate with all levels of the organization.
Experience with budget, accounting, and reporting.
Ability to work independently and prioritize work with time-sensitive deadlines.
Willing to train and prepare tutorials or other resources.
Experience working with queries, databases, and other reporting tools
Prefer working knowledge of PeopleSoft finance, Kuali, Docusign, or other ERP system

Responsibilities

Analyze Unrestricted, Restricted and Other Funds - Analyze accounting activity and perform account reconciliations for Controller team and departments.
Journal Entry Processing - Analyze, review and/or prepare entries, and enter into PeopleSoft GL. This includes review of journals to upload and post from departments. Entries include monthly, quarterly, annual, adjustments and reclassifications.
Closing Process and Financial Reports - Assist the monthly and year-end closing process including preparing analysis, reconciliations, and supporting schedules for financial reports and statements.
Customer Service Support - Respond to requests from campus administrators for financial information and questions. Provide support for campus compliance of the BTE policy and system; this includes exceptions and the approval management process. Manage invoicing and payment processing for the non-sponsored billing module. Provide Notary Services for the campus as needed. Assist the Controller’s Office in managing process improvements. Responsible for developing and maintaining the BuyWays Repository for all non-vendor agreements campus wide.
System Applications and Documentation- Develop forms and resources using various platforms to provide technological and business process improvements. Work with Controller’s Office and Departments to develop and streamline current business workflows and data reporting. Assist in developing/reviewing accounting documentation e.g., Campus Policy and Procedure (CPP) documentation and web content.
Performs other related tasks as assigned.
Position involves working across campuses.
Nature of position may require occasional work on evenings and weekends.
The accountant is a key member of the Controller team and is expected to exercise professional judgment, work independently and communicate effectively within area of responsibility.
Expected to remain current with GAAP guidelines, GASB and applicable accounting procurements and industry best practices to support recommended accounting procedures/policy to Controller, finance staff, and departments.
Performs routine general accounting tasks and reconciliations.
Also requires flexibility to adjust work for competing and changing priorities while managing other assigned tasks.