Accounting Manager (Staff Associate)

at  Framingham State University

Location: Framingham, MA Category: Staff Posted On: Tue Mar 5 2024 Job Description:

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related field
• 3-5 years of relevant progressive accounting experience including supervisory experience
• Knowledge of GAAP, GASB, State and Federal policies, procedures and systems.
• High level of integrity, strong understanding of accounting principles and ability to monitor and ensure compliance.
• Ability to work independently and prioritize tasks.
• Ability to work effectively with all University academic and administrative departments and to express oneself in oral and written communications, finding solutions to problems, attention to detail, strong interpersonal, managerial, and problem resolution skills as well as the ability to multi-task in a high volume, fast-paced environment.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Five years of supervisory experience of three or more employees in the accounting or finance area.
• Knowledge and experience in University Business Office and accounting operations.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft applications such as Excel, Access, Word and Power Point.
• Experience in Higher Education Finance and Accounts Receivable Systems as well as payment gateway systems.
• Bi-lingual speaking and writing skills, with special preference to Spanish and / or Portuguese.
  Substitutions:
  Education toward such a degree will be prorated on the basis of the proportion of the requirements actually completed.
  Additional Information:
  This is a full-time, exempt, benefits-eligible position in the Association of Professional Administrators (APA) bargaining unit with a union title of Staff Associate. The starting salary range is $75,000-82,000.
  Framingham State University conducts criminal history and sexual offender record checks on recommended finalists prior to final employment for all positions.
  Framingham State University is an equal opportunity employer.
  Members of underrepresented or minoritized groups, women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and all persons committed to equity, diversity, and inclusive excellence are strongly encouraged to apply

GENERAL STATEMENT OF DUTIES:

The Staff Associate supports the Assistant Controller (Director) and / or the Controller (Executive Director) with the operation, requirements and financial management of the University Business Office. The position hires, evaluates, manages, and trains a general accounting staff of 3 accountants and also may assist in the hiring of other employees in the Business and/or Student Accounts Offices.
This position provides oversight to the University’s general accounting and revenue collection area. Critical components of this position are the oversight & management of ongoing processing/recording, reconciliation, and review/approval of various accounting related to university revenues, bank and general ledger reconciliations, student refunds, Foundation revenue recording and billing, Student Accounts (SA) billing/discount/financial aid/deposit accounts, Admissions & other cashiering sessions & the related review of SA: Finance transactions, maintenance of Banner & TouchNet systems, FSU petty cash funds. Liaison with the Student Accounts, Continuing Education, and Admissions Offices regarding interactions between the Student Accounts and Student modules and the Finance module etc.
This position reviews & approves the appropriate data entry and reconciliation of FSU 901 Reporting to MMARS; confirms University revenue, expenses, fund balances, transfers, and receivables with MMARS and other State Administrative systems along with overseeing the daily operation of these systems. The position prepares complex or highly complicated reconciliations and/or financial reports. It develops, recommends, and/or assists in the writing, revision, improvement, implementation, auditing, and training of University-wide and Business Office internal controls and procedures. It also provides information supporting the fiscal year opening and closing, prepares data and responds to follow-up inquiries of University audits. It coordinates between the Business Office and the IT Department with respect to the design, implementation and improvement of administrative procedures along with daily operations.

EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Directly manages 3 General Accounting accountants and may indirectly manage other accounting staff in the Assistant Controller’s absence;
• Hires, evaluates, manages workflow and workload, provides training, cross-training, and external training recommendations, and other staffing oversight responsibilities. Provides backup coverage for staff short-term vacancies / absences.
• Reviews & approves numerous GL reconciliations prepared by accounting staff; ensures all related transactions are accurately reflected in Banner. Provide guidance & problem resolution. Reconciliation areas include:
• Accounts related to student revenues, financial aid, & payments, collected through NelNet, TouchNet, & various cashiering.
• Student Health Insurance student deposits & related vendor payments
• Miscellaneous revenue recognition
• Due to/from Framingham State University Foundation (FSUF)
• Bank, Petty Cash & Cash Advance accounts
• Various clearing, asset, and liability accounts.
• Ensures adherence to monthly, quarterly, and annual closing deadlines established by Assistant Controller and Controller.
• Provides guidance & problem resolution related to various accounting functions performed by accounting staff; ensures all related transactions are accurately reflected in Banner, MMARS, bank accounts, etc. Functional areas include:
• Student and miscellaneous revenue processing; ensure deposits recorded accurately & timely.
• Student refunds in paper & electronic checks & the related cancellations & reissues.
• Accounting / processing of all FSUF gift payment batches & feeds to Finance; billing FSUF for funds due to the University.
• Positive Pay uploads to the bank, Positive Pay exceptions (fraud detection etc.), online credit card and ach payment processes.
• Manages logistics and relationships with FSU’s bank services, merchant services, off-campus merchant services, electronic payment gateway, etc. Implements new services, accounts, or system upgrades with these providers (e.g. Off-campus merchant implementation, change in merchant services platform, etc.).
• Develops procedures, audit schedules, training protocols & provides training for all petty cash accounts.
• Liaison with the Student Accounts (SA), Financial Aid (FA), Continuing Education, and Admissions Offices regarding interactions between the Student Accounts and Student modules and the Finance module; Recommends enhancements, investigates and resolves problems, and implements required changes.
• Works collaboratively with the SA and FA management to review and resolve all variances as identified through either the reconciliation of the subledger to the general ledger, non-federal financial aid analyses, nightly jobs, and/or other analyses / reconciliations.
• Review and /or propose the creation of and / or modifications to all detail codes to ensure proper financial accounting & reporting.
• Review and resolve any issues detected in the nightly finance & student jobs / reports.
• Prepares complex or highly complicated account reconciliations and / or financial reports in collaboration with or review by the Assistant Controller.
• Review & approve / prepare additional Accounting and Financial Reporting requirements as required, including but not limited to:
• Assisting in the fiscal year opening and closing; manages the preparation, review and submission of data to the University’s external audit firm and responds to follow up questions,
• Coordinating between the Business Office and the IT Department with respect to the design, implementation and improvement of administrative systems & procedures & related reports along with daily operations,
• Evaluating, developing, recommending, and implementing internal financial controls and methodologies utilized to ensure the financial integrity of the general ledger asset and liability accounts; develops and recommends policies and procedures; develops, implements, and oversees training materials / programs for both business office and university staff regarding same
• Other duties as assigned.
• Accountable for ensuring that affirmative action, equal opportunity, and diversity are integrally tied to all actions and decisions in areas of responsibility