Summary: The Senior Accountant is responsible for managing and recording donor transactions, reconciling donor information, overseeing grant accounting and reporting, and coordinating federal drawdowns. This role requires close collaboration with various departments, including advancement and financial aid, to ensure accurate and efficient financial operations. The ideal candidate will possess strong accounting skills, attention to detail, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
Responsibilities:
- Donor Transactions: Record all donor transactions within the accounting system, ensuring accuracy and adherence to university policies and procedures.
- Reconciliation: Reconcile donor information with the advancement department to ensure consistency and accuracy of records.
- Grant Accounting and Reporting: Manage all aspects of grant accounting, including preparing financial reports, tracking expenditures, and ensuring compliance with grant requirements.
- Restricted Grant: Ensure the financial integrity of restricted grants by maintaining and reconciling fiscal activity throughout the project/program life cycle.
- Federal Drawdowns: Work with financial aid and other relevant departments to initiate and manage federal drawdowns, ensuring timely and accurate processing.
- Endowment Activity: Record monthly Endowment activity and reconcile the general ledger to investment statements.
- Training and Development: Provide training and support to university staff on fund accounting practices, systems usage, and compliance requirements.
- Donor Reporting: Prepare periodic reports for donors, detailing the use of their funds and the impact of their contributions.
- Grant Applications: Assist in the preparation of financial sections of grant applications, ensuring accurate and comprehensive financial information is provided.
- Data Analysis: Analyze financial data to identify trends, variances, and areas for improvement in fund management.
- Systems Management: Utilize accounting software and other financial systems to enter data, maintain records, and generate reports.
- Process Improvement: Identify opportunities for process improvements in areas of influence to enhance efficiency and accuracy.
- Team Collaboration: Work closely with other departments, such as advancement, financial aid, and finance, to resolve issues and improve overall financial operations.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting, Business Administration, or a related field.
- 5-7 years of previous experience in not-for-profit grant accounting or a related accounting role.
- Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite and experience with accounting software.
- Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
- Knowledge of university housing policies and procedures is preferred.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
- Multilingual skills highly preferred.
Successful candidates should be committed to contributing to a climate that supports a diverse student body, serves first-generation college students, multilingual learners, and contributions to equity and social justice through their work.
Benefits:
This is a full-time position, eligible for the usual and customary benefits. Avila University’s comprehensive benefit package includes a generous holiday schedule, tuition remission for employee and dependents, vacation and sick leave, retirement benefits and health insurance.
The Community:
Kansas City, a two-state metropolitan area with a population of nearly two million, offers a wide variety of cultural, educational and social life opportunities. Avila University, a Catholic university founded and inspired by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, provides undergraduate and graduate education in the liberal arts and professional studies, preparing lifelong learners who make meaningful contributions to the global community.
Additional Employment Information:
Avila University is committed to equal employment opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, color, sexual orientation, disability, national or ethnic origin, marital status, veteran's status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law. You must be at least 18 years of age to be employed by Avila University. All new employees will be required to complete an "Employment Eligibility Verification (Form I-9)" and produce requested documentation after employment. In compliance with the Higher Education Amendments of 1998, the university's annual security and crime statistics report is available at https://www.avila.edu/campus-resources/campus-safety. A copy of this report is available upon request from the Campus Safety Office in the Whitfield building any weekday between 8am and 5pm. Avila University requires the successful completion of a background check as a condition of employment.
