Vanderbilt University Jobs

The Senior Account for Financial Reporting is responsible for preparation of the university’s annual (GAAP) external financial report (EFR), internal quarterly financial report (QFR), and related briefing materials for executive management and the Board of Trust. This individual will be responsible for assisting in technical accounting research and interpretation and will assist in coordination of the annual external audit. The Senior Accountant for Financial Reporting will also be responsible for compliance with financial accounting policies and serving as an accounting and reporting resource to individuals throughout the organization.

The Accounting and Financial Reporting team supports the university in the areas of financial reporting and analysis while providing technical accounting resources to the departments as well as executive management. Financial reporting collaborates with the accounting team and supervise the financial reporting process for the university in order to assure effective financial reporting and compliance with all financial regulations and university policies and procedures.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Contribute to the quarterly and annual financial reporting processes including the preparation/review of reporting journal entries to ensure compliance with GAAP, preparation of financial statements and related footnotes, and review of footnote and supplementary information provided by others. Contribute to the completion of all deliverables within tight timelines, maintaining the highest quality, reliability, and accuracy.

• Contribute to the compilation and review of materials for executive management and the Board of Trust including PowerPoint presentations and briefing memos and participate in quarterly close meetings.

• Assist the external auditors during the annual financial statement audit. Ensure accurate information is provided in a timely manner and any issues are resolved timely.

• Contribute to technical accounting efforts including research of new accounting standards and assessment and documentation of impact.

• Prepare and/or review journal entries on a monthly basis, particularly during the GL close period. Additionally, during quarters and year-end, assist Accounting team with assessment of completeness of journal entries necessary to ensure financial statement compliance with GAAP.

• Responsible for adherence to the university’s financial reporting policies and preparation of internal control documentation related to the financial reporting process and deliverables.

• Prepare tax schedules and supporting workpapers for financial-related schedules of the university’s Form 990 in partnership with the Tax department.

• Prepare annual financial surveys for external institutions such as IPEDS (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System) and Cambridge Financial Indicators survey.

• Build relationships across the institution, serving as an accounting and reporting resource to decentralized members of Finance.

• Assist in preparation and review of ad hoc requests for financial information from various departments and executive management.

Supervisory Relationships: This position has no direct supervisory responsibility, but functions as part of a high-caliber fast-paced team and will be required to functionally supervise various projects including staff from other areas to achieve goals. This position reports administratively to the Director of Accounting and Financial Reporting and functionally to the Accounting Manager – Financial Reporting.

Qualifications

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education is necessary.

• A Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in accounting or finance is preferred.

• CPA or MACC/MBA is preferred.

• 3+ years of relevant financial reporting/accounting experience is necessary.

• Skill in advanced Excel, Word, and PowerPoint applications is necessary.

• Time management skills and the ability to work well in a team environment is necessary.

• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people, understanding their needs and goals is preferred.

• Ability to work co-operatively with others as part of a team, as opposed to working separately or competitively, is preferred.

• Proven detail-oriented work style in collaboration with effective written and verbal communication skills is necessary.

• Vanderbilt Experience or experience in higher education with focus on financial reporting is preferred.

• Public Accounting Experience is preferred.

• Experience in an internal service delivery role is preferred.

• An active understanding of current and emerging accounting and reporting requirements for large private higher education institutions is preferred.

• Experience facilitating external audits, including coordination with both the external audit firm and internal personnel to ensure timely completion of all deliverables is preferred.

• Advanced understanding of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and General Ledgers is preferred.

• Openness to change, adaptability, and the ability to work effectively in a variety of situations, with individuals or groups is preferred.

• Ability to understand and appreciate different and opposing perspectives on an issue is preferred.

• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders is preferred.

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Commitment to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion At Vanderbilt University, we are intentional about and assume accountability for fostering advancement and respect for equity, diversity, and inclusion for all students, faculty, and staff. Our commitment to diversity makes us who we are. We have created a community that celebrates differences and lets individuality thrive. As part of this commitment, we actively value diversity in our workplace and learning environments as we seek to take advantage of the rich backgrounds and abilities of everyone. The diverse voices of Vanderbilt represent an invaluable resource for the University in its efforts to fulfill its mission and strive to be an example of excellence in higher education. Vanderbilt University is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Women, minorities, people with disabilities, and protected veterans are encouraged to apply.