What are the responsibilities and job description for the Accounting Professional position at Clayton State University?
About Us
Located in Morrow, Georgia, Clayton State University is roughly 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta. The university offers employees an adaptable, collaborative environment that fosters professional and personal development.
The university is committed to having a positive impact on the State of Georgia and beyond by serving students and the community through broadening access to high-quality education and advancing workforce development. Clayton State offers multiple certificates, Associate's, Bachelor's, and Master's Degree programs, which currently enroll over 5,500 students in challenging campus and online courses.
Clayton State's main campus is situated on 214 beautiful acres in a lakeside setting just minutes from downtown Atlanta, making access to the vibrant metropolitan area swift. The Atlanta-Journal Constitution has named the university a Top Workplace in Atlanta for six consecutive years. The Chronicle of Higher Education also named Clayton State one of 79 higher education institutions across the nation in its list of 2017 Great Colleges to Work For.
Job Summary
The Accounting Professional is responsible for reviewing, analyzing, and reconciling multiple general ledger accounts, assists accounting staff with reporting and analysis, and provides guidance to campus departments. The Accounting Professional supports major accounting activities and functions in the Budget and Finance area.
Responsibilities
Maintain and reconcile multiple general ledger accounts (20%)
- Complete monthly reconciliations of assigned general ledger accounts in a timely manner
- Reconcile encumbrances of salaries and operating expenses
- Identify any variances and prepare necessary adjusting journal entries
- Ensure adequate backup documentation is provided for assigned account balances
Maintain faculty and staff dual appointment agreements (15%)
- Manage dual appointment billings
- Save all dual appointment agreements by category (i.e., home vs requesting appt)
- Review and approve dual appointment agreements (home institution)
- Ensure dual appointment payroll posts to dual appointment department
- Bill for dual appt salary and benefits
- Reconcile dual appointment department (i.e., sum of salary must equal zero)
Reconcile direct lending, state loans and grants, and designated Scholarships (25%)
- Complete monthly reconciliations of custodial scholarship accounts. This includes federal direct loans, state scholarships (HOPE, ZELL, etc.), and other miscellaneous scholarships.
- Work with the Bursar team to ensure timely and accurate accounting of all scholarship revenues and expenses processed through Banner
- Prepare adjusting journal entries as needed
- Review and approve payment requests for scholarship/loan refunds
- Book receipts for state loans and grants and designated scholarships via journal entry
Review and reconcile revenue accounts (10%)
- Reconcile housing revenue on trial balance to banner and housing/room assignment system each semester
- Review and reconcile tuition and other revenue generating activities for reasonableness e.g., departmental sales and services, auxiliary services, etc.
- Run and review trial balance for revenue-generating activities for reasonableness
Performs a variety of related duties. (15%)
- Process monthly journal entries submitted to Accounting Services email box and ensure proper documentation is provided.
- Prepare and enter monthly journal entry for interest income transactions.
- Prepare and enter journal entry for monthly merchant card service fees.
- Write new and update existing desktop procedures.
- Participate in the ongoing review of process issues and work to identify and implement solutions.
- Periodically review established internal controls to determine that they are operating effectively.
- Perform special projects assigned by supervisors.
- Serve as backup for Assistant Director of Accounting and other staff in critical functions of the department.
- Assist senior-level staff with completing and/or compiling the information required for annual fiscal forms, statements, and filing requirements.
- Compile the necessary backup documentation for annual financial reports.
- Assist with compiling the information requested for annual audit/financial review.
- Approve supplier set up
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or related field
- At least 3 years of accounting experience or a combination of education and experience
Preferred Qualifications
- PeopleSoft and/or Banner experience preferred.
- Experience working in higher education preferred
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
- Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
- Skilled in General Ledger account reconciliation.
- Knowledge of PeopleSoft Financials or other automated financial reporting software.
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook)
- Strong oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to work independently and as a part of a team, depending on the requirements of the task.
- Effective organizational and time management skills.
- Ability to analyze and solve problems.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality of records and information.
- Ability to use independent judgment and to manage and impart confidential information.
- Ability to work as a team member and foster a cooperative work environment.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
USG Core Values
The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.
Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.
Institutional Values
Clayton State University will have a positive impact on the State of Georgia and beyond by serving students and the community through broadening access to high-quality education and advancing workforce development. Our statement of core values is adaptability, collaboration, excellence, integrity, and people-centered. Each Clayton State University community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on Clayton State's Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct can be found online at https://www.clayton.edu/strategic-plan/mission-vision-values and https://www.clayton.edu/human-resources/current-employees/resources-policies
Conditions of Employment
Offers of employment are contingent upon completion of a background investigation, including a criminal background check demonstrating eligibility for employment with Clayton State University, as determined by Clayton State University in its sole discretion, confirmation of the credentials and employment history reflected in application materials and, if applicable, a satisfactory credit check. Applicants may be subject to a pre-employment drug and alcohol screening. Candidate must disclose potential, actual, or apparent conflicts of interest in compliance.
Offers are made expressly subject to the applicable federal and state laws, statutes, rules, and regulations of this institution and the Bylaws and Policies of the Board of Regents (BOR) of the University System of Georgia (USG), which are available for your inspection upon request.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Clayton State University is an equal employment, equal access, and equal educational opportunity and affirmative action institution. It is the policy of the University to recruit, hire, train, promote, and educate persons without regard to race, color, national or ethnical origin, age, disability, gender, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or veteran status as required by applicable state and federal laws (including Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, Sections 503, and 504, AREA, ADA, E.O. 11246, and Rev. Proc. 75-50). Clayton State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Institution. For questions or more detailed information regarding this policy, please contact the Clayton State University Office of Human Resources at (678) 466-4230. For individuals requiring disability-related accommodations for participation in any event or to obtain print materials in an alternative format, please contact the Disability Resource Center at (678) 466-5445.
Clery Disclosure
This position may be considered a Campus Security Authority, CSA. A Campus Security Authority is a Clery-specific term that encompasses certain departments, groups, and individual employees who have a duty to report crimes they become aware of, as defined by the Clery Act.