Director, Accounting/Payment Operations

University of Rhode Island • Kingston, RI

340d • $110,000 - $130,000

About The Position

The University of Rhode Island enrolls approximately 17,000 students across its graduate and undergraduate programs and is the State's flagship public research university, as well as the land grant and sea grant university, for the state of Rhode Island. The main campus is located in the historic village of Kingston, and the Bay Campus is located in Narragansett. Both campuses are near major beaches in a beautiful coastal community. URI is just 30 minutes from Providence, RI and within easy reach of Newport, Boston, and New York City. The Director of Accounting/Payment Operations is responsible for overseeing the Accounting/Payment Operations for the University of Rhode Island. This includes managing Payment Operations such as Accounts Payable, Check Distribution, Travel, and Vendor Management. The role involves developing, improving, and implementing policies, procedures, and best practices to enhance internal controls and support accounting operational needs. The Director will coordinate financial and administrative functions between the University, the Board of Trustees, and the State Department of Administration.

Requirements

• Master's degree in accounting, finance, or business administration.
• Minimum of seven years of combined accounting/auditing experience and/or payment operations experience with progressively increasing responsibility.
• Demonstrated supervisory experience overseeing multiple direct reports.
• Experience with complex financial software systems.
• Ability to prepare and present detailed studies and reports.
• Strong customer service skills.
• Ability to be a team leader and work collaboratively.
• Ability to prioritize workloads.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills.
• Strong interpersonal and verbal communication skills.
• Proficiency in written communication skills.
• Ability to work with diverse groups/populations.

Nice To Haves

• Higher education experience.
• Experience in a financial operational role including accounts payable or purchasing.
• PeopleSoft Financials experience.
• Experience with eProcurement systems, such as Jagger.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and work with the Purchasing Department and the Controller's Office to manage financial and operational impacts of financial system modifications.
• Recommend and develop processes to consolidate accounting operations where appropriate technology and resources are available.
• Develop and monitor accounting policies and procedures to support well-controlled accounting operations and financial systems.
• Ensure compliance with state and federal regulations in fiscal policies.
• Monitor and assess financial operations and procedures for compliance with University policies.
• Develop and monitor accounting and supplier procedures for best practices in the University's eProcurement system.
• Review processes to ensure efficient invoice processing to pay vendors timely.
• Work with the State of RI on invoices that must be paid through their system.
• Manage vendor relationships and maintain understanding of processes and regulatory information.
• Stay updated on financial methodologies, technologies, and regulatory environments.
• Provide resources for functional support of financial system and eProcurement system implementation.
• Develop and instruct training classes for staff on financial system upgrades and changes.
• Perform reporting and financial analysis as required by the University, state, and federal guidelines.
• Supervise, direct, and train Accounting Operations personnel.
• Assist in developing and administering the Accounting Operations budget.

Benefits

• Full-time, permanent position.
• Exempt from FLSA regulations.
• Anticipated hiring range: $110,000 - $130,000.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Industry: Educational Services
• Education Level: Master's degree