General Accountant

Description

LANE COLLEGE

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: General Accountant

DEPT: Business and Finance

REPORTS TO: Chief Financial Officer

FLSA: Exempt

JOB PURPOSE AND REPORTING STRUCTURE: The General Accountant performs a variety of accounting and financial tasks, including general ledger maintenance, account reconciliations, financial reporting, and payroll processing for faculty, staff, and student employees. This role ensures compliance with institutional policies, government regulations, and accounting best practices while supporting the financial operations of the college.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES includes the following:

Payroll Duties

• Process biweekly payroll for faculty, staff, and student employees.
• Verify timesheets, leave balances, and overtime calculations.
• Ensure accurate deductions for taxes, benefits, retirement plans, and other withholdings.
• Resolve payroll discrepancies and respond to employee inquiries.
• Work directly with Payroll contractor.
• Complete month-end close including roll-forward calculations, payroll accruals, and payroll analysis.
• Reconcile payroll to general ledger including payroll liabilities and quarterly 941s.
• Prepare and submit payroll tax filings and year-end reporting (W-2s, 1095-C, etc.).
• Maintain payroll records in compliance with federal, state, and institutional policies.
• Stay updated on payroll regulations affecting higher education (e.g., FLSA, IRS, state labor laws).

Accounting Duties

• Maintain and reconcile general ledger accounts, ensuring accuracy and compliance with GAAP.
• Prepare and post journal entries for month-end and year-end closing.
• Assist in budget preparation, monitoring, and variance analysis.
• Process pre-pay and receivable transactions as needed.
• Support annual audit preparations and provide documentation as required.
• Assist with grant accounting and restricted fund management (if applicable).
• Collaborate with other departments to ensure proper financial recordkeeping.

Compliance & Reporting

• Ensure adherence to college policies, state/federal laws, and funding agency requirements.
• Assist with financial reporting for internal and external stakeholders.
• Support compliance with Title IV, NCAA, or other regulatory bodies (if applicable)

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or related field (CPA or CMA). Three - Five years of accounting experience, preferably in higher education or nonprofit sectors. One year payroll processing, preferably in higher education. Experience in payroll grant allocations.  Experience with fund accounting, higher education payroll complexities (adjunct pay, student workers, stipends and grants). Proficient in ERP system and advanced Excel skills.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Knowledge of GAAP, GASB, and compliance requirements for higher education.
• High attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work successfully in a team environment, promote teamwork.
• Ability to use confidential information in an appropriate manner and protect employees’ privacy.
• Ability to manage people and have accountability for company assets.
• Basic computer skills and ability to quickly learn modern technology systems.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and comprehend instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to prepare correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations to customers, clients, and other employees of the organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to perform basic mathematic functions. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money and weight measurement, volume, and distance.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out detailed but uninvolved written or oral instructions. Ability to deal with problems involving a few concrete variables in standardized situations.

OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES:  Requires the ability to operate a variety of standard business machines, such as a computer and the job-related software, a keyboard, calculator, telephone, FAX, photocopier, shredder, etc.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform their essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; sit; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and use foot/feet to operate machinery.

The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly exposed to risk of electrical shock. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles.

The nose level in the work environment is usually moderate.