Accounting Associate: Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology - UTK

University of Tennessee•Knoxville, TN

18d•Onsite

About The Position

The Accounting Associate provides financial support for the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, including travel support for faculty, students, staff, and visitors. The role liaises with college and university personnel to verify or support financial records and ensure compliance with university policies and procedures. It prepares correspondence, answers accounting inquiries, interprets policies and regulations related to sponsored research grants and contracts, and guides students, staff, and faculty on compliance. Financial duties include reconciling and analyzing accounts; reviewing documentation, expenditure classifications, and policy compliance; maintaining records and account spreadsheets; communicating financial status; processing journal entries and petty cash reimbursements; supporting summer salary and vendor processes; reviewing timesheets; assisting with activity code balances and event transactions; managing field station reservations, invoices, payments, and reconciliations; assisting with tax and unrelated business income reporting; backing up deposits; and coordinating sponsored-project effort verification. Travel duties include entering travel requests, reimbursements, advances, and prepaid travel for department faculty, staff, and graduate students. The Associate also assists with lodging and airfare reservations through the GetThere Travel system and works professionally with travelers, the UT Treasurer’s Office, and World Travel Agency representatives.

Requirements

High school diploma and 4 years of accounting or financial experience.
Ability to perform accounting transactions, budget development, and analysis.
Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work assignments to meet deadlines and facilitate workflow.
Strong interpersonal skills and effective verbal and written communication.
Ability to interpret contracts and related regulations.
Ability to understand and interpret policies.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Word, and ability to learn new systems.
Ability to work with little direct supervision, attention to detail, and ability to work as part of a team.
Ability to learn quickly and demonstrate a strong work ethic.
Legally authorized to work full-time in the United States without current or future need for sponsorship for an employment-based visa.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree with 2 years of accounting or financial experience, or bachelor’s degree with 1 year of accounting or financial experience.
Knowledge of a large-platform ERP, such as Oracle Cloud.
Knowledge of Uniform Guidance.

Responsibilities

Analyze, reconcile, and evaluate account balances, revenues, and expenditures.
Review accounts for adequate documentation, correct expenditure classifications, and compliance with policies and regulations.
Maintain records in accordance with record-retention policies.
Inform the Business Manager, faculty, staff, and students about financial status, budget modifications, overspent accounts, and account closures.
Prepare journal entries as needed to maintain accurate ledger accounts.
Maintain the department’s general ledger account listing spreadsheet, including faculty and student research accounts, gift accounts, general notes, and funding.
Process petty cash reimbursements.
Help organize summer salaries and verify budgets.
Enter T-27s for special payments to non-contract vendors and assist in establishing new vendors.
Review biweekly and monthly timesheets for accuracy.
Assist the Business Manager with maintaining activity code balances.
Work with the Events Coordinator on department events and related financial transactions.
Maintain EEB Field Station reservations and prepare and send invoices to users.
Collect and distribute Field Station payments to appropriate accounts, reconcile vendor accounts, and maintain a tracking spreadsheet.
Work with the Business Manager on monthly taxes to the Controller’s Office and annual Unrelated Business Income Reports.
Serve as backup for deposits.
Serve as the department’s Primary Effort Coordinator, verifying payroll alignment with sponsored-project effort and ensuring charges are assigned to the correct projects.
Enter travel requests, reimbursements, advances, and prepaid travel for faculty, staff, and graduate students as needed.
Assist travelers with lodging and airfare reservations in the GetThere Travel system and interact with travelers, the UT Treasurer’s Office, and World Travel Agency representatives.