What are the responsibilities and job description for the Accountant position at SOWELA?
Work type: Staff Full-Time
Location: Lake Charles, LA
Categories: Controller's Office, Finance and Budget
College: SOWELA
Department: Finance
Sub department: Business Office
Type of Appointment: Unclassified - Administrative/Staff
Salary: {sSalary}
- Complete and/or review business transaction documents (i.e., requisitions, disbursement vouchers, travel authorization, expense forms, and Purchasing Card transactions) for compliance with College, State and other applicable policies and procedures including business purpose, appropriate use of funds, correct coding, available funds, and proper supporting documentation.
- Monitor, review, and reconcile purchases posted to the finance and fixed asset systems to ensure compliance with property control and fixed asset capitalization and depreciation policies. Prepare fixed asset and depreciation schedules for the Annual Financial Report.
- Assist Travel and Purchasing Program Administrators with extraction of travel and purchasing card expense transactions from Bank of America WORKS, preparation of journal entries, upload into Banner Finance system and reconciliation on monthly basis.
- Assist in monitoring and recording payments for public works contracts and reconciling retainage accounts monthly.
- Assist in drafting and monitoring contracts and agreements entered into by the College. Contracts and agreements include, but are not limited to: personal, professional, consulting or social services contracts; public works contracts; cooperative endeavor agreements, interagency agreements, memorandums of understanding.
- Assist in development of training materials and conduct training sessions for campus departmental personnel. Topics to include travel regulatory compliance; Banner Finance system features and use; and other subjects as assigned.
- Perform accounting functions for the SOWELA Technical Community College Foundation, including posting of journal entries, preparation of donor statements, and preparation of financial reports as requested by the Foundation Board. Assist Controller with providing information to the external auditor during the annual audit of the Foundation’s books.
- Assist the Controller with providing information to the external auditors to facilitate timely completion of the SOWELA audit. Prepare schedules, reports, and reconciliations requested by the audit team in a timely and accurate manner. Address audit questions and provide comments in a timely and professional manner.
- Perform any other duties assigned by the Controller or Vice Chancellor of Finance.
Required Education: Bachelor’s Degree in accounting, finance or equivalent is required.
Required Experience: Three years of progressively responsible experience in an accounting, auditing or similar position.
- Excellent analytical skills and the ability to resolve problems creatively, using sound judgment while staying within policies.
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite, particularly Outlook, Word, and Excel, with the ability to quickly learn and use new software programs with minimal supervision and training.
- Ability to work effectively within a team environment as well as independently.
- Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively and work collaboratively with diverse groups of faculty, staff and students.
- Attention to detail, ability to process and follow complex verbal instructions, and commitment to quality of output.
- Thorough working knowledge and consistent usage of professionally appropriate grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
- Ability to perform the essential duties of the position within time constraints and through multiple interruptions.
- Ability to be forward thinking and anticipate problems and solutions.
Required Licenses or Certifications: None
Preferred Education: Certified Public Accountant license and/or a Master’s Degree
Preferred Experience: Work experience in accounting at a public higher education institution or state agency
Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: {sTAOther9}
Benefits: As a member of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, SOWELA has an attractive benefits package with a wide variety of benefit options. Benefits offered include retirement, multiple medical insurance options, supplemental insurances (dental, term life, disability, accident, vision, etc.), Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some child care and medical expenses), holidays (14 per year, typically includes longer break at Christmas), generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits and Employee Assistance Program. Specific benefits depend on job category, percent effort and length of employment.
Passing pre-employment criminal background screen is required as a condition of employment. SOWELA is an equal opportunity/equal access employer. SOWELA is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) agency that supports improved employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
Advertised: 10 Apr 2025 Central Daylight Time
Applications close:
