Staff Accountant

JOB TITLE: Staff Accountant (hybrid/remote until fully trained)

DEPARTMENT:  Finance

REPORTS TO:  Assistant Vice President & Controller

Summary:

The Staff Accountant position is primarily responsible for maintaining and processing gift schedules and payments, maintaining the unitized investment and endowment schedules, and calculating gain/loss appropriations and yearly spending rule income. It is also responsible to assist the Controller and auditors/external tax accountants with the annual financial statement audit and the preparation of the annual Form 990.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

  • Maintains and processes charitable gift schedules and payments.
  • Documents the flow of gifts for accounting and financial reporting purposes; maintains gift documentation as needed for audit and tax purposes.
  • Assists Controller and auditors with the annual financial statement audit.
  • Coordinates flow of audit work papers to auditors; manages auditor firm's audit file system (Huddle) with the University's audit work papers and files directory setup.
  • Assists in preparation of the Form 990 in collaboration with the external tax accounting firm.
  • Coordinates flow of Form 990 tax return work papers to external tax firm; manages tax firm's file system (Huddle) with the University's tax work papers and file directory setup.
  • Maintains monthly/quarterly unitized investment and endowment account schedules.
  • Prepares the monthly/quarterly/annual Unitized Investment and Endowment Account schedules; monitors contributions that change from restricted endowments to unrestricted.
  • Prepares and analyzes general ledger account and financial analyses.
  • Responds to senior staff and departmental inquiries; works closely with HR, Development, and others in obtaining and reviewing the files that are needed for monthly/quarterly and year-end accounting processing and input; prepare AR & AP monthly reconciliations.
  • Responsible for calculation of quarterly gain/loss appropriation and yearly spending rule income.
  • Works with investment firms in obtaining necessary reports and documents needed for general ledger and financial reporting; calculates the quarterly appreciation/depreciation of these endowment investments; calculate the 5% annual spending rule of these endowments (income) and adjust the 5% when needed/requested.
  • Processes journal entries for monthly, quarterly, and year-end closings accurately and in a timely fashion.
  • Prepares all endowment, investment appreciation/depreciation, and 5% spending rule, etc. related journal entries on a monthly/quarterly/annual basis; prepares journal entries relating to Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable reconciling items.
  • Assists the Development Department with endowment and/or scholarship account inquires.
  • Works with Development in determining the proper classification of gifts - unrestricted or restricted, etc.; disputes Development's categorization of gifts, when needed.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by the incumbent; they do not purport to describe all functions.  Incumbent may be assigned other duties, and the essential functions may change from time to time as necessary.

Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting/Finance required.

Experience:

  • Minimum of 4 years accounting work experience, preferably in higher education or a not-for- profit accounting or finance environment.
  • Strong PC skills.
  • Expertise with Excel and Accounting software.
  • Working knowledge of U.S. GAAP.
  • Experience with interacting with auditors.
  • Experience with general ledger and financial reporting
  • Experience with endowments, investments, and gifts.
  • Experience with Form 990 (tax return for Not-for-Profit – Exempt from Income Tax)

Competencies, Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

  • General ledger and financial reporting proficiency.
  • Ability to establish priorities and manage multiple activities to meet department and University deadlines.
  • Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships internally with senior staff and administrative staff;
  • Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships externally with auditors, external tax accountants, donors, and other external parties.
  • Ability to work independently and identify more effective methods of operation.
  • Accounting for Endowments proficiency.

Supervisory Responsibility:

  • None

About The University:

The mission of the University of the Arts is to advance human creativity. With a history stretching back to 1876, UArts believes creativity is the most essential skill for success in today’s society, and has educated generations of innovative artists, performers, designers, and creative leaders for nearly 150 years. After being granted university status in 1987, University of the Arts became the largest institution of its kind in the nation, offering programs in design, fine arts, media arts, crafts, music, dance, theater, and writing. It now features 28 undergraduate arts majors, 12 graduate programs, and the nation’s first PhD program in Creativity. UArts is also home to innovative centers across disciplines, including the Philadelphia Art Alliance, Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery, and the Center for Immersive Media. Learn more about UArts.

TO APPLY: Interested, qualified applicants should submit letters of application and resumes to the Human Resources Department via email to jobs@uarts.edu. Please ensure job title is in the Subject line.
 

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, The University of the Arts publishes its Annual Safety Report at the following link for your reference:

http://www.uarts.edu/about/campus-crime-fire-reports

 

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE ARTS IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Title IX Statement: The University of the Arts prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in its programs and activities, including admission and employment, in accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The Director for Title IX, Equity, & Compliance is responsible for overseeing compliance with Title IX and other civil rights laws and regulations. To contact the Director for Title IX, Equity, & Compliance, e-mail titleix@uarts.edu, visit The University of the Arts, 320 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, Pa. 19102, or call 215-717-6362. To learn more about the University's Title IX policy and response to sex discrimination, including sexual harassment and sexual violence, please visit www.uarts.edu/titleix. Inquiries may also be directed to the Federal agency responsible for enforcing Title IX, the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights.

 

 

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