Accountant I (Journalism)

About UMass Amherst

UMass Amherst, the Commonwealth's flagship campus, is a nationally ranked public research university offering a full range of undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University sits on nearly 1,450-acres in the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, and offers a rich cultural environment in a bucolic setting close to major urban centers. In addition, the University is part of the Five Colleges (including Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College), which adds to the intellectual energy of the region.

Job Summary

The Department of Journalism Accountant I provides comprehensive financial management and administration to ensure the smooth operation of department business functions.

Essential Functions

• Oversee and report on the financial status of the department. Manage department operating funds, prepare budgetary accounts, and analyze expenses. Assist with the set-up of multi-year faculty startup commitments.
• Provide a broad range of financial management and services for the department. Collaborate with the Chair and Department Administrator on overall budgetary planning. Provide long and short-term budget projections, revenue account forecasts, and monthly financial status reports.
• Manage revenue accounts, including budget preparation and requests for new accounts. Project revenues and expenses and advise faculty on changes to funding. Work with the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences (SBS) Assistant Dean for Finance and Planning to submit budgets and make changes. Compile monthly and year-end reports. Improve and maintain a budget-tracking tool for budget planning and expense tracking.
• Serve as a financial liaison with campus offices and vendors on and off-campus in financial matters. Prepare information for financial audits as required. Develop collaborative working relationships with the Dean's office and Controller's office. Attend university and college required financial trainings.
• Analyze revenues and expenses and advise the On-Line program director on financial and enrollment planning to maximize program profitability. Reconcile financial accounts and monitor revenues and expenses for the department and the On-Line Journalism Certificate Program.
• Monitor financial transactions and track receipt of and spending for individual faculty funds and grants earmarked for specific purposes. Monitor faculty accounts, ensure the appropriateness of expenditures, and routinely advise faculty of spending deadlines.
• Manage and approve bank card accounting for faculty and staff and advise on appropriate use. Reallocate expenses to designated funding accounts.
• Manage department financial activities and provide fiscal support for actions including purchasing, contracts, travel, equipment purchases, recharges, business expenses, etc. Implement department bookkeeping activities to assure compliance with University, state, and federal policies and procedures. Manage the expense/reimbursement process; assure that department faculty and staff have necessary training and resources. Regularly communicate budgetary updates to department constituents.

Other Functions

• Serve as Netcom and Physical Plant coordinator.
• Assist with a variety of duties related to the daily operation and administration of the department. Serve in a backup role to the Department Administrator when needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• High School diploma and three years of financial administration or accounting experience. An Associate's degree or higher may be substituted for two years of the required experience.
• Extensive knowledge of accounting and financial management practices including an understanding of equipment depreciation and purchasing cycles.
• Ability to administer accounts and collaborate on financial planning and development.
• Excellent attention to detail, administrative judgment, and stewardship of relevant rules, guidelines, policies, and procedures.
• Excellent time management skills including the ability to prioritize and maintain administrative flow in a fast-paced academic unit. Must be able to work assertively, with initiative, flexibility, and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to plan and maintain organized records systems for financial, personnel, and other administrative activities.
• Extensive computer knowledge and skills required. Proven ability to use advanced features in Microsoft Office applications including the use of formulas in Excel. Strong ability to quickly learn new application software.
• Ability to establish rapport and maintain harmonious, professional, and productive working relationships with others and among constituencies.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential information and the ability to abide by relevant Federal laws.
• Ability to collect and interpret data on faculty and student activities and outcomes, and the ability to prepare reports, analyses, and images where applicable.

Preferred Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, Education, Experience, Certifications, Licensure)

• Three years of financial administration or accounting experience. An Associate's degree or higher may be substituted for two years of the required experience.
• Experience working in higher education financial administration.

Physical Demands/Working Conditions

Typical office work environment.

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.

Salary Information

Grade 15

Special Instructions to Applicants

Please upload a resume, and cover letter along with the completed application. References will be checked at the finalist stage. Please be prepared to provide contact information for three (3) professional references.

UMass Amherst is committed to a policy of equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, caste, creed, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, political belief or affiliation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related condition(s), veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, natural and protective hairstyle and any other class of individuals protected from discrimination in employment, admission to and participation in academic programs, activities, and services, and the selection of vendors who provide services or products to the University. To fulfill that policy, UMass Amherst is further committed to a program of affirmative action to eliminate or mitigate artificial barriers and to increase opportunities for the recruitment and advancement of qualified minorities, women, persons with disabilities, and covered veterans. It is the policy of UMass Amherst to comply with the applicable federal and state statutes, rules, and regulations concerning equal opportunity and affirmative action.

Advertised: Feb 28 2024 Eastern Standard Time Applications close: May 25 2024 Eastern Daylight Time