POSITION IDENTIFICATION
TITLE Director, Accounting and Budgeting
CLASSIFICATION NUMBER 1516
GRADE 48
CLASSIFICATION Exempt
IMMEDIATE SUPERVISOR Assistant Vice President Finance and Accounting
GENERAL FUNCTION
The Director of Accounting and Budgeting supervises and performs professional accounting and administrative work necessary to maintain the financial accounting records for the University, including accounts payable, grant and contract reporting, capital projects, and fixed assets. The Director of Accounting and Budgeting supervises the preparation of the University Internal Operating Budget, the Operating Budget Request submitted to the State Legislature for appropriation of state funds, the annual fee resolution, and carry-forward reports including expenditures made from the President’s carryforward account. The Director of Accounting and Budgeting is responsible for projecting revenues and expenses, planning and executing the budget, and maintenance of budget control. The Director of Accounting and Budgeting develops and assesses the effectiveness of computer support systems to ensure that proper accounting standards and principles and procedures are followed during the daily updating of financial records and to facilitate the reporting process. The Director of Accounting and Budgeting assists the Assistant Vice President Finance and Accounting in budget planning, analysis activities, and preparing the response to proposed legislation for the University. The Director of Accounting and Budgeting supervises accounting professionals and accounting clerks and works with academic and administrative staff and internal and independent auditors to ensure adherence to prescribed accounting principles, standards, and procedures.
MINIMUM ACCEPTABLE QUALIFICATIONS
Education: A bachelor’s degree in accounting or a related business field with at least 20 hours of coursework in accounting is required; a master’s degree in accounting or a related business field with at least twenty hours of coursework in accounting is preferred. An equivalent combination of years of experience and education may be considered for substitution of educational requirements.
Experience: At least six years of experience in accounting, business planning or operations, or financial analysis is required. Management experience is preferred.
Certification: Certification as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is preferred.
Skills: High aptitude in accountancy and a good understanding of computers and their role in accounting is required. The ability to work and communicate effectively with individuals possessing varying levels of accounting and budgeting knowledge is required. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Develops a competent, productive and efficient departmental staff by supervising,
directly and through delegation, professional accountants and accounting clerical
support personnel.
2. Manages the daily accounting functions of the University by supervising the accounting
functions necessary to maintain the University's accounts payable, general ledger,
grant and contract reporting, capital projects, fixed assets, and various reconciliations.
3. Ensures that proper accounting principles and standards are followed by reviewing
the daily, monthly and yearly internal controls in the office.
4. Develops new accounting systems, both automated and manual, by working with other
University departments and by formulating new policies and procedures regarding the
proper internal controls necessary for the accurate and timely operations of the new
systems.
5. Improves or modifies methods of budgeting, budget reporting, resource allocation,
and budget control by assuring the utilization of available techniques and technologies.
6. Assists the Vice President Administration and Finance and the Assistant Vice President
Finance and Accounting in the preparation of the University Internal Operating Budget
by implementing methods, models, and other decision support systems and assuring timely
submission.
7. Oversees the preparation, construction, and implementation of a detailed campus
operating budget by monitoring the solicitation of program resource needs and budget
plans and the communication of completed budgets from the individual operating units.
8. Provides information concerning operating resource requests and allocations to
the University’s senior administrators, Board of Governors, and others by assisting
the Assistant Vice President Finance and Accounting in the preparation of recommendations
and reports.
9. Assists the Assistant Vice President Finance and Accounting by collecting, organizing,
and analyzing financial data for preparation of various reports and statistical data
outlining the University’s financial position in areas of income and expenditure based
on past, present, and forecasted operations.
10. Assists in the establishment of system-wide policies and procedures which ensure
that resources are used in the most effective and efficient manner by all campuses
of the University.
11. Assists Vice President Finance and Accounting with preparation of interim financial
and statistical reports and the audited annual financial report by compiling, researching,
and analyzing financial data.
12. Provides various accounting information to the Assistant Vice President Finance
and Accounting and other University administrators as needed by remaining familiar
with the information available in the University's accounting system.
13. Supervises professional accountants and accounting clerical support staff by reviewing
their procedures in performing daily accounting work and performing various reconciliations
to ensure the accuracy of their work.
14. Serves on various University committees as assigned.
15. Facilitates to a work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and
development of skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds.
16. Remains competent and current through self-directed professional reading, developing
professional contacts with colleagues, attending professional development courses,
and attending training and/or courses required by the Chief Financial Officer.
17. Contributes to the overall success of the Office of Financial Services by performing
all other duties and responsibilities as assigned, maintaining high levels of accuracy,
maintaining a professional demeanor and appropriate levels of confidentiality, and
providing excellent customer service.
SUPERVISION
The Director of Accounting and Budgeting supervises professional accountants and accounting clerical support staff and reports to the Assistant Vice President Finance and Accounting and functions with relative independence within a broad framework of stated objectives.
OFFICE OF HUMAN RESOURCES
REVISED SEPTEMBER 2023