Job Title: Senior Financial Accountant - Revised Requirements
Location: Finance
Regular/Temporary: Regular
Full/Part Time: Full-Time
Job ID: 4569
Staff Posting Details

Position Description:

Responsible for accounting and analysis activities related to endowment. Oversees life income accounting, tax and disbursement processes. Responsible for daily banking and short-term investment activity accounting, including coordination of wire transfers and analysis of daily cash balance sufficiency.

Responsibilities:

Endowment

Coordinates all accounting activities related to the university’s endowment investments.Reviews donor restrictions and university designations as documented by donors and university officials to ensure proper classification of net asset balances in general ledger and endowment unitization model.Maintains and updates the endowment unitization model, including fund information, endowment type, nature and classification of transactions, use restrictions, payouts, market values, etc. Ensures that the endowment unitization model is synchronized and in balance with the general ledger.Through electronic transfer, web query, statement receipt, or other means, retrieves records and reconciles information from bank trustees, investment managers, custodians, and outsourced chief investment officer (OCIO) to ensure complete and accurate accounting for all investments. Prepares monthly supporting schedules for OCIO to facilitate monthly endowment report preparation , including review of draft performance reports prepared by OCIO.With the assistance of the OCIO, compiles responses to NACUBO’s annual endowment survey. Reviews new investment agreements prepared by OCIO for accuracy and processes for required university signatures.In collaboration with the Director of Finance, reviews and approves disbursement/wire transfer requests initiated by OCIO, for accurate and timely payment of endowment-related capital calls, expenses, and fees. Provides information support to the Office of University Relations (OUR), as needed, to facilitate individual donor stewardship.Prepares endowment audit schedules for GAAP financial statements.

Life Income (Split-Interest Agreements)

Reviews donor restrictions and university designations as documented by donors and university officials to ensure proper classification of net asset balance in general ledger.Through electronic transfer, web query, statement receipt, or other means, retrieves records and reconciles information from bank trustees, investment managers, custodians and consultants to ensure complete and accurate accounting for all life-income funds.Initiates disbursement or wire transfer requests, as appropriate, for accurate and timely payment of life-income expired interests. Confirms calculation of beneficiary payments by outside charitable giving administrator and ensures timely and accurate payment to beneficiaries.Reviews trust tax returns prepared by outside preparer/administrator.Prepares annual life-income reports for management and Investment Subcommittee.Works in a collaborative way with the Office of University Relations and others to coordinate the university’s role under these agreements.Works with outside charitable giving service, actuary, and/or others to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.Coordinates preparation of annual state annuity filings.Prepares annual life Income asset/liability audit schedules for GAAP financial statements.

Cash, short-term investments, and banking

Reconciles university receipts, general ledger activity and bank deposits.Monthly retrieval and electronic storage of external bank documents to include statements and account reconciliation package.Performs all monthly bank and short-term investment reconciliations, including testing/monitoring of outstanding and cleared checks.Daily retrieval of banking transactions using Wells Fargo CEO, copy and distribute to appropriate department depending on transaction type. Follow-up with bank on any unusual items. Calculate liquid cash needs to determine if withdrawal or investment in core cash portfolio needs to be processed. Initiate approved outgoing domestic and international wires.Updates the Rate Information Sheet with current rates for the banking, debt and investments holdings.Assists with merchant credit card transactions including monitoring of monthly activity and assisting new merchant account holders with training on capture devices (readers, on-line, and credit card machines).

Gift accounting

Processes all non-cash gifts in kind.Coordinates liquidation of all non-cash gifts. In coordination with OUR, tracks all outstanding bequests. Prepares monthly OUR gift report reconciliation.Reviews and confirms supporting documentation is in place for pledges, prepares unconditional promise audit schedule and related entries, and identifies and compiles information for conditional promise disclosures.

Other Essential Functions

Supervises student staff in the senior accounting areaReviews university annual L&I Surety requirement. Should annual escrow requirement change, work with AVP for Finance to secure appropriate investment and value. Coordinates, monitors, and accounts for Other Sponsored Programs, including budget projections.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Student staff and temporary staff

Budget Responsibilities

No direct budget authority exists for this position

Qualifications:

Requires bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of experience and training, and significant, increasingly responsible accounting experience, to include an understanding of GAAP related to investments, automated accounting systems/data bases, and complex financial analysis and reporting.Requires the ability to work in cooperation with other team members to achieve the university’s goals and objectives. Must have superior aptitude for and skill with technology, including learning new technology and using Microsoft Word, Excel, and Access or other database reporting tools. Must have initiative, ownership of projects, ability to meet deadlines, attention to detail, strong analytical skills, excellent communication skills, and be a quick and continuous learner. Ability to juggle multiple tasks simultaneously and respond positively to changing circumstances. Higher education and/or non-profit experience very desirable.Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community.

Diversity Statement:

• We acknowledge the richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community; the intrinsic worth of all who work and study here; that education is enhanced by investigation of and reflection upon multiple perspectives.
• We aspire to create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community; to increase the diversity of all parts of our University community through commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts; to foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.
• We act to achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity; to ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here; to prepare effectively citizen-leaders for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/diversity-at-puget-sound/

Compensation and Benefits: Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations.

This position is exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package. For more information, visit: http://www.pugetsound.edu/about/offices--services/human-resources/overview-of-university-benefit/.

Application Deadline: Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified. Interested individuals are encouraged to submit application materials no later than January 28, 2019 to ensure consideration.

Required Documents:

When prompted to upload required documents, please upload resume. All additional documents can be uploaded within the application before submission. Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered.

• Resume
• Letter of Interest

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of a background inquiry and if applicable for the position, drug screen, physical test and functional assessment.

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.

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