Sr. Reporting Accountant

University of Miami•Coral Gables, FL

22h•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Reporting Accountant is a highly technical accounting professional responsible for complex accounting and financial reporting activities within the University's Financial Reporting & Accounting function. The position researches, interprets, applies, and documents U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (U.S. GAAP) and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) guidance related to complex, significant, and nonroutine accounting matters. This position is responsible for analyzing transactions and agreements, determining appropriate accounting treatment, preparing and reviewing complex accounting analyses, reconciliations, journal entries, rollforwards, financial statement schedules, and supporting documentation, and assisting with the preparation of the University's financial statements and related disclosures. The Senior Reporting Accountant independently exercises professional judgment in evaluating accounting issues and developing technically supportable conclusions. The position serves as a technical accounting resource to the department and other University business units and works closely with management, external auditors, and cross-functional teams. Areas of responsibility may include debt and financing transactions, leases, capitalized interest, pension accounting, trusts and beneficial interests, contributions and pledges, net assets and NARRs, consolidations and intercompany activity, capital assets, and other complex accounting and financial reporting matters. This expands upon the existing Accountant 3 core summary, which currently emphasizes maintaining financial records, recording transactions, and reconciling subsidiary ledgers to the general ledger.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or other relevant field required.
Minimum five years of relevant accounting, financial reporting, external audit, or related professional experience required.
Advanced knowledge of U.S. GAAP and demonstrated ability to research and interpret FASB Accounting Standards Codification and other authoritative accounting guidance.
Ability to evaluate complex transactions, identify relevant accounting issues, analyze facts and circumstances, and develop technically supportable accounting conclusions.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree preferred
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) a plus.
Financial reporting and preparation or review of financial statements and disclosures.
Technical accounting research and application of U.S. GAAP.
External financial statement audit or public accounting.
Analysis of complex or nonroutine accounting transactions.
Preparation of technical accounting documentation and support for external auditors.
Large, complex, decentralized organizations.
Higher education, healthcare, not-for-profit organizations, public accounting, or similarly complex accounting environments.
Enterprise resource planning and financial reporting systems, including Workday or comparable systems.

Responsibilities

Researches, interprets, and applies U.S. GAAP and FASB Accounting Standards Codification to complex, significant, unusual, or nonroutine accounting transactions and financial reporting matters.
Analyzes contracts, agreements, transactions, financial arrangements, and other supporting documentation to determine the appropriate accounting treatment, financial statement classification, recognition, measurement, and disclosure requirements.
Prepares technical accounting analyses and documentation supporting accounting conclusions, including accounting memoranda, position papers, calculations, schedules, and other documentation required to support management and external audit review.
Provides technical accounting support for significant areas that may include: Debt, bonds, and other financing transactions; Lease accounting, including ASC 842; Capitalized interest, including ASC 835; Pension and other postemployment benefit accounting, including ASC 715; Trusts, beneficial interests, annuities, and other planned-giving arrangements; Contributions, pledges, donor restrictions, and related accounting; Net asset accounting and NARRs; Consolidation and intercompany/interdivisional accounting; Capital assets and construction-in-progress activity; Other significant or complex accounting and financial reporting matters.
Identifies accounting matters requiring technical research, additional analysis, or management judgment and develops recommendations supported by authoritative accounting guidance and appropriate documentation.
Prepares and reviews complex journal entries, reconciliations, account analyses, financial statement rollforwards, supporting schedules, and other accounting documentation to ensure completeness, accuracy, appropriate classification, and compliance with U.S. GAAP.
Performs analytical reviews of significant balance sheet and statement of activities accounts, investigates unusual transactions or fluctuations, identifies potential accounting or reporting issues, and recommends appropriate corrective action when necessary.
Supports monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial close activities, including analysis and resolution of complex accounting matters and preparation or review of significant account balances and related supporting documentation.
Supports the preparation of the University's annual financial statements, financial statement footnotes, disclosures, supporting schedules, and other internal and external financial reporting requirements.
Serves as a key resource during the annual external audit by preparing and reviewing audit schedules and supporting documentation, responding to auditor inquiries, researching technical accounting matters, and supporting the University's accounting positions and conclusions.
Evaluates audit findings, proposed adjustments, passed adjustments, and other identified accounting matters to determine their impact on the general ledger, financial statements, disclosures, and related financial reporting.
Monitors new and emerging FASB accounting standards and other relevant accounting developments, evaluates their applicability and potential impact on the University, and assists management with implementation of new accounting requirements.
Assists in developing, documenting, maintaining, and improving accounting policies, procedures, methodologies, reconciliations, internal controls, and financial reporting processes.
Partners with departments and business units throughout the University to obtain information, understand transactions, resolve accounting matters, and ensure appropriate accounting and financial reporting treatment.
Communicates complex accounting concepts and conclusions clearly to accounting leadership, management, external auditors, and financial and nonfinancial stakeholders.
Reviews accounting analyses, journal entries, reconciliations, schedules, and other work prepared by accounting staff and provides technical guidance, coaching, and feedback as appropriate.
Serves as a technical accounting resource to less-experienced accounting professionals and assists with their development and understanding of U.S. GAAP, financial reporting requirements, and University accounting practices.
Assists management with special projects, accounting assessments, financial reporting initiatives, process improvements, and other complex accounting matters as assigned.
Maintains current technical accounting knowledge through review of FASB guidance, accounting publications, continuing professional education, and other relevant professional resources.
Adheres to University and departmental policies and procedures, maintains appropriate confidentiality, supports the University's internal control environment, and safeguards University assets.