Director of Accounting and Reporting, Payment Services

California State University, Bakersfield • Bakersfield, CA

7d • Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Associate Vice President & Chief Accounting Officer (AVP), the Director of Accounting and Reporting, Payment Services (DPS) provides leadership and accountability for the department of Payment Services, which includes Accounts Payable, Travel, Procure-To-Pay (P2P) Data Analytics, and Procurement Card (ProCard). The DPS is responsible for providing leadership for a best-in-class payment services operation that includes a customer centric mindset while ensuring the safeguarding of assets (i.e., being alert to phishing scams and maximizing ProCard rebates), and the timely, efficient, and accurate processing and data reporting of payment services activities. The DPS reviews and analyzes current and proposed payment services policies, procedures, and processes and makes recommendations to the AVP. The DPS is also responsible for ensuring the successful campuswide implementation of the California State University (CSU) P2P system (CSU Buy) and the Concur system including the initial setup and ongoing development of policies, procedures, processing, spend analytics, reporting, and campuswide staff training as appropriate. The position requires strong initiative and consistently dependable judgement to assure compliance with government laws and regulations, and CSU and CSU Bakersfield (University) policies governing payment services activities.

Requirements

• EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE – Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in Accounting, Finance, Purchasing, Business Administration, Public Administration, or a related field and (6) years or more of recent progressively responsible general accounting, budgeting, payment services or accounts payable experience in the private or public sector, or a university administrative environment, with (1) year of leadership experience providing lead direction or supervision to staff.
• SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES (SKA’s) – Regular and reliable attendance is required.
• Intermediate to Advanced knowledge of Excel.
• Ability to delegate effectively to plan and direct the work of subordinates while maintaining a spirit of teamwork and positive working relationships.
• Familiarity or ability to learn bargaining unit contracts and apply regulations appropriately.
• In depth knowledge of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and ability to lead implementation of systems.
• Strong knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Strong knowledge of tax reporting (sales tax, 1099’s) and ability to perform expense forecasting.
• Ability to lead a team through audits and produce appropriate responses timely.
• Ability to develop training programs and adjust as needed.
• Strong knowledge in budget development and maintenance.
• Ability to determine areas of improvement and evaluate to increase efficiencies.
• Experience with Microsoft Office software, especially PowerPoint.
• Demonstrated customer service experience requiring a very high level of diplomacy and professionalism.
• Ability to use tact and diplomacy to effectively handle a broad range of high level and sensitive interpersonal situations with diverse personalities, and to respond appropriately to conflicts and problems.
• Ability to initiate, establish, and foster communication and teamwork by maintaining a positive, cooperative, productive work atmosphere in the University with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships within a diverse population and with those from various cultural backgrounds.
• Excellent communication skills; ability to effectively communicate information in a clear and understandable manner.
• Thorough knowledge of English grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
• Ability to interpret, communicate and apply policies and procedures.
• Ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to set own priorities to coordinate multiple assignments with fluctuating and time-sensitive deadlines.
• Excellent computer skills and competence with a variety of computer applications including word-processing, spreadsheets, databases, on-line systems, Internet as well as online calendaring and email.
• Working knowledge of or ability to quickly learn University infrastructure.
• Must be willing to travel and attend training programs off-site for occasional professional development.
• Must be able to work occasional holidays and adjust working hours to meet special jobs.
• May be called back periodically to perform work as needed on an emergency basis.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or Finance.
• Enterprise Resource Planning system implementation and/or experience such as PeopleSoft.
• Accounting year-end experience.
• Previous management experience at an institution of higher education.
• GAAP accounting experience.
• Demonstrated skills in an institutional/educational environment possessing a customer-oriented and service-centered attitude.

Responsibilities

• Payment Services Leadership & Accountability Serve as the primary business officer for Payment Services responsible for the oversight of comprehensive payment services programs for the University.
• Provide accounting and reporting for Payment Services requiring comprehensive knowledge of government and not for profit accounting methods (i.e., GAAP, FASB, GASB, UPMIFA and OMB guidelines) and ensure all month-end and year-end accounting functions related to Payment services are complete.
• Serve as the University subject matter expert for CSU Buy and Concur, and other new systems, to ensure systems are successfully implemented and effectively and efficiently adapted campuswide.
• Oversee disbursement processes and ensure accurate and timely payments including wire transfers, procurement cards, travel cards, checks and electronic payments.
• Provide oversight of the University travel, travel credit card program, and ProCard operations ensuring campuswide compliance, efficiency, and maximizing of ProCard rebates.
• Interpret government laws and regulations, and CSU and University policies and procedures and ensure compliance while communicating updates and important information to the department staff and campuswide stakeholders.
• Annually review department policies and procedures for accuracy and revise as needed including monitoring CSU Chancellor’s Office (CO) communications and ensuring the department policies and procedures match the CO.
• Notify and train the department staff on any changes/updates to applicable government laws and regulations, and/or CSU and University policies and procedures.
• Oversee the development of new trainings to ensure campuswide knowledge and compliance with Payment Services policies and procedures, including CSU Buy and Concur.
• Annually review and recommend updates of all department forms to the AVP.
• Collaborate with ITS to create and implement new forms and workflows correlated to current and new system adoption.
• Oversee campuswide data analytics as prepared by the P2P Data and Budget Analyst to identify campuswide spending patterns and provide reports and make recommendations to the AVP as appropriate.
• Review financial statements, establish Key Performance Indicators and other key metrics in support of the CSU Buy and Concur, and consider and recommend options for improvement.
• Participate in the CSU Accounts Payable affinity group as the University principal representative.
• Perform special projects as directed by the AVP.
• Payment Services Staff Supervision/Management Directly supervise staff through selecting, training, and disciplining as needed.
• Provide day-to-day operational leadership for staff through planning, organizing, and directing others in their work while providing leadership and encouragement of staff growth, cross-curricular experiences, and increased responsibilities as needed.
• Regularly meet with staff to mentor, coach, and train as needed.
• Promote open communication and transparency that builds relationships and trust.
• Disaster Service Worker All MPP employees are considered Disaster Service Workers, (CA Gov. Code Section 3100), and are required to attend trainings and possibly hold a position in the CSUB Emergency Operations Center (EOC), as assigned.

Benefits

• CSUB offers a best-in-class benefit package for eligible employees that includes an array of medical plans, choice of dental plans, vision coverage, retirement participation in CalPERS, CSU tuition waiver, up to 24 vacation days per year, sick leave with unlimited accrual, 15 paid holidays per year and more!
• See our benefits website for additional information.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 251-500 employees