Accountant, Sr

Position Summary

The Senior Accountant is part of the finance and accounting team supporting all departments within the Division of Administration; responsible for the day-to-day business operations. This position is responsible for approving all purchase requisitions, performing various complex financial analysis and is expected to perform with a high attention to detail. Reporting directly to the Senior Business Officer; the Senior Accountant is expected to interact with other Financial Unit Managers (FUM), central finance representatives and professional peers on a frequent basis to help facilitate process changes and resolve transaction issues.

The Senior Accountant will review and approve all expense transactions, indirectly give direction to procurement requestors, prepare month end general ledger analysis, prepare accounts receivable uploads, prepare sales taxes, prepare all intercompany entries, oversee the department’s purchasing card program, assist in preparing quarterly forecasts, operating budgets, monthly headcount reconciliations, monthly cost/revenue forecasts and reconciliations.

The Division of Administration sits at the heart of Vanderbilt’s daily operations, working across the university to ensure our campus functions with care, precision, and purpose. Through diverse departments and initiatives like Auxiliary Services, Public Safety, Office of Equal Access, Dialogue Vanderbilt, and Vanderbilt University – New York City, we support the people who make Vanderbilt extraordinary.

• Provide information monthly to the Senior Business Officer concerning expenditures, reimbursements, and balances for operating budgets. Flag unusual fluctuations and alert management of concerns.
• Perform multiple accounting transactions to accurately record deferred revenue, inventory, prepaid expenses, meal plan allocations, tax, and other business activity for multiple DofA departments. This includes – but is not limited to – preparing entries such as accounts receivables, cash management, credit card reconciliations, internal billings, intracompany transfers, journal entries, and month-end reconciliations.
• Reconcile accounting transactions against external source systems to ensure accuracy of records and resolve discrepancies where needed.
• Prepare applicable tax reports and summaries including – but not limited to – sales, business, property, and liquor-by-the-drink taxes, and unrelated business income tax.
• Serve as Financial Unit Manager for various DofA departments, which includes reviewing and approving expense reports, budgetary responsibility, and approval authority for purchases up to $10,000.
• Maintain the division’s accounting records and provide information regularly to upper management regarding expenditures, reimbursements, balances for operating budgets, and any unusual fluctuations or concerns.
• Perform monthly review of accounting reports to ensure entries are accurate and all business activities are submitted timely.
• Prepare ad hoc financial reports and participate in special projects as needed.
• Lead, cross train, and serve as a resource for DofA accounting team members.

This position does not have supervisory responsibility; this position reports administratively and functionally to Senior Business Officer.

• A Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution of higher education – or relevant equivalent combination of education, military experience, and skills – is required.
• A Bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in accounting is preferred.

• Necessary:
• 4+ years of accounting experience.
• Knowledge of accounting principles and general ledger.
• Skill in Excel and Word applications is necessary.
• Time management skills and the ability to work well in a team environment.
• Preferred:
• 6+ years of accounting experience.
• Experience with tax reporting.
• Prior experience with Oracle ERP.
• Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships with a range of people, understanding their needs and goals.
• Ability to work co-operatively with others as part of a team, as opposed to working…