Senior Accounting & Compliance Specialist

Senior Accounting & Compliance Specialist

Description

Job Code: 002083SR

School/Unit Harvard University Central Administration

Job Function Finance

Location Cambridge

Job Type Full-time

Salary Grade 056

FLSA Status Exempt

Union 00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Term Appointment No

By working at Harvard University, you join a vibrant community that advances Harvard's world-changing mission in meaningful ways, inspires innovation and collaboration, and builds skills and expertise. We are dedicated to creating a diverse and welcoming environment where everyone can thrive.

Harvard University's Central Administration (CADM) is a 5,000+ employee organization that supports the university's overall excellence by understanding and serving the needs of its schools, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and surrounding communities. Through dynamic and collaborative partnerships, CADM provides high-quality and efficient services to the schools to help them achieve their goals.

Campus Services provides essential services to the Harvard community. The 14 Campus Services departments have approximately 1,800 active employees (70% of staff are represented by eight unions) and a combined annual budget of more than $700 million. These departments provide stewardship, strategic support, and client/customer services in the areas of buildings and facilities, graduate housing, capital projects, sustainability, parking, engineering and utilities, dining, hospitality and events management, and international support.

The Campus Services Finance & Administration Department (CSFA) provides accounting, financial analysis, budgeting and planning, taxes and financial administrative support services to the Campus Services business units and the customers they serve. The organization is comprised of two main functions:
Controller's Office (Accounting Operations) and Financial Planning and Analysis.

Independently perform a variety of accounting activities including posting journal entries, reconciling accounts, and preparing reports. As a vital member of the CSFA team, the Senior Accounting & Compliance Specialist reports to the Senior Accounting Manager and contributes significantly to the execution of financial and accounting operations within the CS Operating Unit. This role is primarily responsible for supporting accounting functions, implementing efficient processes leveraging technology and automation, and maintaining robust internal control.

The Senior Accounting & Compliance Specialist collaborates with a team of professionals, handling day‑to‑day responsibilities such as Campus Services general ledger accounting, billing and accounts receivable, and reconciliation, while proactively driving process enhancements. They play an essential role in University Issued Card, Chart of Account, and System Access Administration. They uphold and continuously improve internal controls and ensuring adherence to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), University and CS‑specific accounting and financial policies, and applicable federal and state regulations.

This position emphasizes independence, critical analysis, strong communication, technical accounting system skill, and innovative problem‑solving to ensure operational excellence and compliance in all aspects of accounting.

• Serve as an accounting subject matter expert on key financial systems (e.g., Triple Seat, Agilysys, etc.), collaborating with IT, business units, and colleagues to optimize utilization, identify and resolve system accounting issues.
• Leverage technology and automation to drive enhancements in accounting processes and strengthen internal controls by proactively identifying automation opportunities, mapping and improving workflows, providing accounting and process requirements for technical solutions, and participating in system integrations.
• Participate in User Acceptance Testing and system implementations, collaborating closely with business units, CS HUIT, and other…