Assistant Director for Accounting Services

Assistant Director for Accounting Services

Work type: Permanent Full Time

Location: Bellingham, WA

Categories: Business and Financial Affairs

Position TitleAssistant Director for Accounting Services

About the University

Western Washington University, with over 15,000 students in seven colleges and the graduate school, is nationally recognized for its educational programs, students and faculty. The campus is located in Bellingham, Washington, a coastal community of 90,000 overlooking Bellingham Bay, the San Juan Islands and the North Cascades Mountain range. The city lies 90 miles north of Seattle and 60 miles south of Vancouver, British Columbia. Western has additional sites in Anacortes, Bremerton, Everett, Port Angeles, and Poulsbo. Western is recognized nationally for its successes, such as being named one of the top public masters-granting institutions in the Pacific Northwest for 25 years in a row by U.S. News & World Report.

Western Washington University is committed to achieving excellence through advancing inclusive success, increasing our Washington impact, and focusing on transformational education grounded in the liberal arts and sciences and based on innovative scholarship, research, and creative activity. Westerns greatest strength is the outstanding students, faculty, staff, and alumni/ae who make up its community. Western supports an inclusive governance structure for all and provides a learning and working environment in which everyone can thrive. In pursuit of this excellence, individual employees are expected to establish and maintain productive and effective inclusive working relationships amongst diverse populations including staff, faculty, administration, student, and external constituents. Further, individual employees are expected to have the ability to operationalize sustainability concepts (economic, societal, environmental) into all aspects of performing their job duties.

About the DepartmentThe Accounting Department supportsWesterns mission (https://president.wwu.edu/mission-strategic-plan) , which states that together with our students, staff, and faculty, we are committed to making a positive impact in the state and the world with a shared focus on academic excellence and inclusive achievement. We encourage applications from women, people of color, people with disabilities, veterans, and other candidates from underrepresented backgrounds and with diverse experiences interested in this opportunity.

About the PositionUnder the supervision of the Controller/Director of Financial Services, the Assistant Director for Accounting Services is a hands-on leader responsible for managing a team of fiscal analysts. This role ensures University financial activities and records adhere to University and State requirements, following the standards set by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).

This is an advanced Accounting position which involves applying critical thinking and analytical skills to provide thorough stewardship of the University’s financial reporting, auditing, internal control objectives, and accounting system design. This role serves as the Subject Matter Expert (SME) driving complex, strategic initiatives while supporting a diverse and dynamic community of internal and external customers in a diverse team environment.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership

Plans, organizes, and directs the activities of the Accounting department, overseeing fund accounting, general ledger reconciliations, journal entries, student financial accounting, fixed assets, and tax reporting.

Supervises daily operations, including leading a team of fiscal analysts.

Designs, establishes, and maintains an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish organizational goals and objectives.

Oversees staff recruitment, training, coaching, mentoring, supervision, and evaluation.

Manages staff involved in general ledger maintenance, fixed assets, student accounting, and financial and various tax reporting.

Assists the Controller/Director of Finance Services in the departmental strategic planning process.

Provides leadership in the absence of the Controller/Director of Financial Services and offers backup support for accounting personnel as needed.

Participates in and manages department-level projects and committees, representing the needs of Accounting Services. Provides consultation on software implementations, new business initiatives, and customer service practices.

Financial Reporting

Prepares the University’s annual financial statements, including two auxiliary units.

SME for Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) to ensure financial reporting is accurate, transparent, and compliant with established standards. Responsibilities encompass process design, standards implementation, system design, test, and accuracy verification.

Provides guidance and assistance in resolving complex accounting issues; interprets and addresses problems identified by staff, auditors, or other departments; and researches and analyzes information, financial reports, summaries, statistical data, findings, and recommendations.

Leads the preparation and analysis of financial reports to deliver insights for informed decision-making.

Coordinates all external audit activities through to completion, including conducting and documenting audit entrance and exit interviews, and preparing responses to audit findings and issues.

Ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations by enforcing adherence, filing necessary financial and tax reports, and advising management on required actions and areas for improvement.

Manages accounting in accordance with GAAP and University policy, ensuring that practices support division goals and objectives.

Monitors fiscal accountability and internal controls to safeguard assets, meet audit requirements, and ensure the accuracy of the general ledger, while collaborating with management to address identified deficiencies.

Ensures the integrity of transactional data in accounting systems and provides expertise in financial systems, processes, and integrations.

Oversees student accounting processes to ensure financial integrity and compliance.

Participates in and manages department-level projects and committees, representing Accounting Services needs. Consults on software implementations, new business initiatives, and customer service practices.

Ensures the accurate and timely completion of month-end and year-end close processes.

Monitors the Chart of Accounts to ensure it facilitates the extraction of accurate financial data.

Reviews and analyzes the Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement with the Federal Government.

Reviews all balance sheet account reconciliations and documents material variances.

Conducts analytical review of University revenues and expenses.

Reviews the reconciliations and transmissions of monthly financial data to the state accounting system.

Serves as the liaison to Human Resources for payroll tax reporting, including reviewing tax notices and communicating with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

Other Duties

Develops and implements process improvement procedures to enhance operational efficiency. Leads special accounting projects and analyzes process change requirements to meet critical project needs.

Analyzes financial data to support management reporting, including ratio and trend analysis, and reviews various external surveys.

Delivers campus-wide training on accounting processes and procedures to ensure the quality and accuracy of financial data in the general and operating ledgers.

Required Qualifications

Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance or related field.

Five years of experience in the preparation, presentation, and analysis of financial statements.

Five years of experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems or complex accounting systems.

Demonstrated ability to apply critical thinking, analytical and consultative skills effectively.

Demonstrated ability to translate, simplify, and communicate written and verbal information effectively to diverse stakeholders.

Demonstrated experience in understanding and implementing GASB standards in university and auxiliary financial statements.

Demonstrated commitment and ability to cultivate work environments that are equitable and inclusive for individuals from diverse social identities and backgrounds.

Experience with tax preparation.

Strong attention to detail and accuracy.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Experience in Governmental Accounting

Experience with Ellucian (Banner)

Professional experience in higher education

Conditions of EmploymentAll employees must comply with our Immunization policies, includingProof of Rubeola Measles Immunity (https://policy.wwu.edu/POL-U1300.01-Requiring-Proof-Of-Rubeola-Measles-Immunity) within 60-days of hire. Please reach out toHR@wwu.eduif you need information regarding medical or religious exemption and applicable accommodations.

Salary Hiring range is $95,660 – $110,009. Through longevity this position tops out at $124,358.

Benefits Information

Benefits Overview for Administrative Professional Position (https://hr.wwu.edu/files/2022-01/Benefits%20-%20Professional%20Staff.pdf) .

Application Instructions

Application materials should address your experience related to the position responsibilities and the required and preferred qualifications.

Western Washington University is being assisted with this search by Pikemann. To apply, please visit:

Assistant Director for Accounting Services Jobs in Bellingham WA Job Recruiters (pikemann.com)

Closing Date NotesApplications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Western Washington University (WWU) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer committed to assembling a diverse, broadly trained faculty and staff. Women, minorities, people with disabilities and veterans are strongly encouraged to apply. In compliance with applicable laws and in furtherance of its commitment to fostering an environment that welcomes and embraces diversity, WWU does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy and parenting status), disability, age, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status or genetic information in its programs or activities, including employment, admissions, and educational programs. See WWU’s Policy on Ensuring Equal Opportunity and Prohibiting Discrimination and Retaliation (https://policy.wwu.edu/POL-U1600.02-Prohibiting-Discrimination-Based-on-A-Protected-Class-Interim) . Inquiries may be directed to the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance, Title IX and ADA Coordinator, Western Washington University, Old Main 126 (MS 9021), 516 High Street, Bellingham, WA 98225; 360.650.3307 (voice) or 711 (Washington Relay); crtc@wwu.edu

WWU is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. To request this document in an alternate format or to request an accommodation, please contact Human Resources Disability Services (https://hr.wwu.edu/disability-accommodations) , 360.650.3751 or 711 (Washington Relay).

Annual Security and Fire Safety Report: This report is provided pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (“The Clery Act”). It includes statistics for the previous three calendar years concerning reported crimes that occurred on Westerns campus; in certain off-campus buildings or property owned or controlled by Western; and on public property within, or immediately adjacent to and accessible from, the campus. The report also includes institutional policies concerning campus security, such as policies concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. You can obtain a copy of this report in printed or alternate formats by contacting the Office of the Vice President for Enrollment and Student Services atvpsa.office@wwu.edu. The report can be found at:Annual Security and Fire Safety Report (https://vpess.wwu.edu/files/docs/ASRCleryreport.pdf) .

All new employees must comply with the immunization policy and show employment eligibility verification as required by the U.S. Citizen and Immigration Service before beginning work at WWU. A thorough background check will be conducted on all new hires which includes asexual misconduct background check (https://hr.wwu.edu/sexual-misconduct-background-checks) .

Job no: 501969

Advertised: 02 Oct 2024 09:00 Pacific Daylight Time

Applications close: