Finance and Accounting Specialist

CSCU System Office • Hartford, CT

2d • $76,080 • Onsite

About The Position

The Finance and Accounting Specialist is responsible for accounting functions and financial reporting for the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities (CSCU) System. The position provides functional support using a wide variety of accounting and financial systems and advises CSCU institutions on accounting, reporting, and automated financial systems to encourage consistent recording and reporting of financial transactions in accordance with Board of Regents policy and state and federal statutes. The role works under the direction of the Director of Finance and performs accounting, reconciliation, reporting, audit, fixed-asset, systems-support, and training activities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related field.
• At least three years of accounting experience in a nonprofit or public-organization business office.
• Advanced knowledge and ability to use computers and associated software, including Excel.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Considerable interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively with culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse faculty, staff, and students.
• Strong information technology literacy, including Microsoft Office applications such as Word, Excel, Outlook, and Teams.

Nice To Haves

• Higher education accounting experience.

Responsibilities

• Maintain knowledge of GAAP standards and guidelines and applicable Connecticut statutes, government policies, and higher education procedures.
• Participate in maintaining coding structures so financial activity is properly reflected in internal and external financial systems.
• Assist with monthly Operating Fund, Bond Fund, General Fund, and Check Writing reconciliations; investigate and resolve outstanding items.
• Maintain financial reporting of payroll activities and reconcile payroll expenditures to systems, including calculating workers’ compensation.
• Review operating and general ledger accounts and other activities affecting the General Ledger; advise CSCU institutions on accounting problems, solutions, and proper methods.
• Assist in preparing the monthly non-appropriated Cash Status Report for consolidated CSCU and compile data and reports, statements, studies, and analyses for internal and external entities, including auditors, APA, OTT, and OSC.
• Assist in preparing financial reports such as IPEDS, STIF, SEFA, and GAAP reports.
• Assist with year-end and start-up GASB entries, including depreciation, summer tuition revenue allocation, salary and fringe accruals, accounts payable, allowances for doubtful accounts, unrecorded liabilities, and prepaid expenses.
• Participate in preparing year-end audited financial statements for CSCU and its Foundations, including extracting and assembling financial data, reviewing footnote accuracy, and administering external audits internally.
• Assist in preparing functional specifications for custom financial reports and revisions, and comprehensively test system upgrades and other changes.
• Provide functional support and collaborate with Information Technology to research and troubleshoot user and system problems and develop, test, communicate, document, and implement solutions for fixed assets, payroll, and finance modules.
• Participate in developing and maintaining procedure manuals and training documentation; provide functional training to end users in fixed assets, payroll, and finance.
• Assist with system-wide year-end fixed-asset reconciliation, including record review and updates and coordination of System Office inventory.
• Assist with and oversee reconciliation of internal financial records to State records and general and subsidiary ledger accounts in areas such as cash, receivables, payables, grants, financial aid, and fixed assets.
• Assist in preparing and processing journal entries for expense vouchers, transfer invoices, payroll recovery, and year-end entries.
• Assist in developing accounting and financial procedures and provide accounting support and training across the CSCU system.
• Assist in preparing financial data supporting system-wide indirect cost rates for grant proposals.
• Perform other related duties that do not alter the basic level of responsibility of the position.

Benefits

• State of Connecticut medical insurance.
• Retirement plans.
• Generous leave policies.
• Comprehensive health insurance choices.
• Supplemental benefits.
• Tuition reimbursement may apply if applicable.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level