Accountant III

at  California State University

Job no: 543792
Work type: Staff
Location: East Bay
Categories: Unit 9 - CSUEU - Technical Support Services, Administrative, Finance/Accounting, Probationary, Full Time

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

Experience:

• Equivalent to five (5) years of professional level accounting experience.

Education:

• Equivalent to a bachelor’s degree with a major in accounting, business administration, finance or a closely related field OR a combination of education and experience which provides the required knowledge and abilities.

Abilities:

• Prepare complex financial statements and reports.
• Understand and interpret laws and rules.
• Communicate effectively with others inside and outside the unit, including conveying complex and technical professional accounting information to non-Accountants.

Knowledge:

• Extensive knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Office methods and procedures.
• Statistical and mathematical presentation of data.
• Advanced proficiency with current word processing and spreadsheet software programs, web browsers, query tools, integrated financial systems and/or other types of records management systems.
• General knowledge of governmental accounting and internal control methods and related laws, rules, and regulations.
• Working knowledge of federal student financial aid annual reporting requirements, and quarterly grant reporting requirements.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
• Experience with Oracle Peoplesoft Finance Application.
• Experience with Government or Higher Education.
• Advanced skill level experience in Excel.
• Higher level accounting related experience.
• Experience with providing direction/training.
• Strong customer service skills.

Prepare, analyze, and interpret financial reports, statements, and records:

• Conduct extensive financial data compilation, querying and drilling on large volumes of financial data; and use integrated financial systems and/or other types of records management systems:
• Review financial data, reports and statements
• Identify and analyze errors (e.g. FIRMS)
• Take corrective action
• Prepare complex financial statements, reports, and financial transactions (e.g. endowment financial activity, current use donor funds administration, University transactions).
• Analyze account balances and reconcile balances to external data:
• Although more complex, assigned reconciliations are completed accurately
• Reconciliations are consistently completed by the provided deadline.
• Reconciling items are generally resolved within 30 days; 60 days for more complex issues.
• Monitor and report on balances on a Legal and GAAP basis.
• Responsible for the accurate compilation and preparation of various filings such as:
• NCAA reporting
• UBIT Reporting
• Possessory Reporting
• Foreign Source Reporting
• 1042 Report file
• Tax 990 schedules
• Sales Tax
• Respond to internal and external inquiries in compliance with University policy.

Provide training, guidance and assistance to other employees and provide lead work direction to other professional and/or technical staff as assigned:

• Train and assist staff with their assignments and review their work.
• Review journal entries for completeness, accuracy, compliance and ensure there is adequate support for the entry.
• Review reconciliations for completeness, accuracy, timeliness and status of reconciliation items.
• Prepare written review notes with written responses from staff to the review notes; ensure all reconciliations have been completed by established due date.
• Provide technical advice and consultation to campus administrators.
• Respond to a variety of inquiries from all organizational levels and provide guidance and support as needed.

Assure the proper recording and documentation of financial transactions and contribute to audit process; examine documents for conformance to established policies and procedures and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP):

• Interpret financial reports and statements and identify problem areas.
• Assure that assigned accounting reporting systems and procedures are in compliance with established administrative policies and procedures and acceptable accounting standards.
• Ensure activity is appropriate to fund usage; see operating agreements, regulatory agency or governing authority for guidance.
• Represent the University to external organizations on specific issues.
• Prepare audit schedules, financial reports and perform other duties as required by both internal and external audits.
• Key accountant in the GASB implementations and other large-scale projects.
• Ensure accuracy of Lease Accelerator/EZ Lease application to conform to GAAP Lease Reporting Compliance.

Identify actual or potential problems and recommend corrective action:

• Recommend and implement changes to the documentation and maintenance of business processes, standards and procedures.
• Compute and estimate the effect of proposed changes on operating programs or accounting operations.
• Document and maintain business processes, standards and procedures.
• Analyze accounting control procedures and recommend changes or modifications.

Other Duties as Assigned:

• Perform special tasks as assigned.
• Provide initial troubleshooting of financial systems problems and participate in the design and installation of financial systems. upgrades and required testing and verification of results (i.e., system upgrades, testing and implementation of new functionality).
• Attend trainings as required by assigned duties.