Finance Accountant

GENERAL DUTIES

• Performs professional work in the field of accounting or auditing in a higher education setting, coordinates accounting activities, and may supervise employees engaged in accounting activities. Work may be performed utilizing computer and related technologies.
• There are five Assignment Levels for this position (1, 1-A, 2, 3, 4). All personnel perform related work. This specification describes typical assignments for this position; related duties may be assigned as needed.

ASSIGNMENT LEVEL 1:

• Under close supervision, performs entry-level professional work in the field of accounting, including assisting in the following:
• Maintaining general and special books of accounts.
• Posting accounting entries.
• Preparing trial balances, bank reconciliations, and similar.
• Establishing and maintaining codes for funds and reserves.
• Allocating costs and charges.
• Classifying revenues and expenditures.

ASSIGNMENT LEVEL 1-A:

• This assignment level is only for College Accountants who have five years of full-time service as a College Accountant and have not progressed to Levels 2, 3, or 4.

ASSIGNMENT LEVEL 2:

Under supervision, performs professional work of average difficulty and responsibility in the field of accounting or auditing, including performing the following tasks:

• Maintaining general and special books of accounts.
• Posting entries, including adjustments, closings, and extension.
• Preparing trial balances, bank reconciliations, operating statements, and financial schedules.
• Establishing and maintaining codes for funds and reserves.
• Gathering data for use in preparing and analyzing various budgets and schedules.
• Maintaining records of costs and charges made against budgeted allocations.
• Classifying revenues and expenditures.
• Conducting financial and management audits, preparing preliminary draft reports.

ASSIGNMENT LEVEL 3:

• Under general supervision, coordinates and may supervise the daily activities of a major unit dealing with a specialized phase or phases of accounting, usually in conjunction with student financial aid, funds and grants, payroll, bursar functions, accounting to support financial analysis, budgeting, auditing of financial accounts and records, contract performance and compliance, and similar. May perform difficult independent work in these professional areas. Tasks may include:
• Participating in project planning sessions.
• Assisting in developing unit-wide plans, programs, and procedures for implementing and maintaining appropriate accounting controls.
• Conducting and analyzing accounting studies and surveys in order to identify and satisfy changing trends, conditions, and regulations.
• Analyzing and interpreting statements of financial condition, preparing appropriate summaries and reports.
• Planning and organizing individual audits, preparing and reviewing audit procedures, monitoring audit progress, and reviewing reports.
• Assisting in the design and implementation of computer systems and technology to meet new and changing needs.

ASSIGNMENT LEVEL 4:

• Under general supervision, coordinates and supervises the daily activities of a major unit dealing with a specialized phase or phases of accounting, usually in conjunction with student financial aid, funds and grants, payroll, bursar functions, accounting to support financial analysis, budgeting, auditing of financial accounts and records, contract performance and compliance, and similar. Also performs complex independent work in these professional areas. Tasks may include:
• Participating in project planning sessions.
• Assisting in developing unit-wide plans, programs, and procedures for implementing and maintaining appropriate accounting controls.
• Conducting and analyzing accounting studies and surveys in order to identify and satisfy changing trends, conditions, and regulations.
• Analyzing and interpreting statements of financial condition, indicating deviations, reviewing trends, and preparing data extrapolations for forecasting purposes.
• Implementing performance standards, assuring compliance.
• Assisting in developing and designing computer systems and technologies to meet new and changing needs.
• Overseeing unit participation in University-wide compliance and systems audits, instructing staff in audit techniques, developing audit capabilities, and maintaining communications with all involved parties.

CAMPUS SPECIFIC INFORMATION

The Finance Accountant will assist with cashiering functions for the collection of tuition and non-instructional fees, along with recording and safeguarding of such funds in accordance with the CUNY Cash Accountability Policy. The Finance Accountant reports to the Assistant Bursar. In addition to the CUNY Title Overview, the Finance Accountant will:

• Prepare and reconcile all cash receipts at the end of the day to ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Use Excel to maintain detailed spreadsheets of cashier collections.
• Update service indicators for returned online payments.
• Review weekly refund reports.
• Act as the liaison for the primary and secondary collection agencies by assigning accounts, update CUNYfirst to reflect collection indicators and answer collection inquiries.
• Post monthly collection payments to student CUNYfirst accounts.
• Provide customer service to students, faculty, staff, and the York College community.
• Answer office emails and telephone inquiries.
• Work with the University in yearly 1098T testing; provide troubleshooting and assistance to students regarding their year-end 1098T forms.
• Adhere to the CUNY Cash Accountability Policy.
• Work evenings, extended hours during registration, and weekends as required.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

ASSIGNMENT LEVEL

ALL LEVELS A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution, including or supplemented by at least eighteen (18) college credits in accounting, and at least six (6) credits in data processing, computer science, banking, economics, statistics, or similar courses.

• Demonstrated English language proficiency, including the ability to speak, read, write, and understand English well enough to meet minimally acceptable performance standards set for job tasks.
• For work experience requirements (below), CUNY considers full-time work to be 35 hours per week. Part-time experience of at least 20 hours per week may be prorated and credited instead of, but not in addition to, full-time experience during the same period.
• Part-time experience of less than 20 hours per week will not be credited at all.

LEVEL 1: No additional work experience is required.

LEVEL 1-A: Five years full-time service as a College Accountant, if employee has not progressed to Levels 2, 3, or 4.

LEVEL 2: One year of full-time related experience in an appropriate field.

LEVEL 3: Two years total of full-time related experience in an appropriate field.

LEVEL 4: Three years total of full-time related experience in an appropriate field.

COMPENSATION

Level 1

New Hire: $44,579*

Incumbent: $50,373

• This amount reflects a 13% salary suppression for the first 24 months of employment only.

BENEFITS

CUNY offers a comprehensive benefits package to employees and eligible dependents based on job title and classification. Employees are also offered pension and Tax-Deferred Savings Plans. Part-time employees must meet a weekly or semester work hour criteria to be eligible for health benefits. Health benefits are also extended to retirees who meet the eligibility criteria.

HOW TO APPLY

In order to be considered for this position, applicants must include a cover letter, resume, and contact information for three references (email and telephone). Please upload all materials as ONE DOCUMENT in doc, pdf, or rtf format.

You may only apply online through the CUNY.edu job board.

To apply:

Please go to www.CUNY.jobs.

Filter by Job Location by clicking on York College. The title of this position is Finance Accountant, Job ID # 29008. Click on the title to view the entire job announcement.

Click the ‘Apply Now’ tab and follow the prompts from there, including creating an account or logging into a previously created account.

York College/CUNY is an EEO/AA/IRCA/ADA Employer.

CLOSING DATE

January 12, 2025

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Managerial/Professional

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

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