Financial Accounting & Reporting Analyst-Hybrid In State

Summary

The University of Illinois System is seeking a Financial Accounting and Reporting Analyst to support fund accounting and financial reporting within its public university setting. The role assists with reconciliations, year-end reporting, tax return support, audit requests, accounting guidance, compliance oversight, and special accounting projects.

Responsibilities

• Prepare and complete several of UAFR's system-wide bank reconciliations. This includes investigating any bank reconciling errors, reviewing appropriateness of transactions by both the banks and the university, communicating effectively with the appropriate parties regarding bank reconciliation items, and ensuring the proper correcting entries are made in Banner when applicable. This is an important task critical to the operations of the University of Illinois System
• Document procedural information outlining the accounting theory and procedural steps necessary to complete various system-wide bank reconciliations and other essential operational accounting tasks. This is an important task to create essential documentation that contributes towards the documentation of institutional knowledge
• Analyze various Banner transactions (such as invoice vouchers) to determine whether an accrual or deferral adjustment should be recorded to help ensure proper inclusion in the university's annual financial report
• Participate in the Year-End Fact Sheet process, which is an important part of the university's year-end close process to convert cash-basis accounting activities to an accrual basis. This important task helps to ensure the accuracy of the university's annual financial report
• Contribute towards the review and completion of supporting schedules for the university's annual Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) return to ensure compliance with the applicable guidelines outlined by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and university policy
• Help units in identifying financial accounting errors which need corrected (such as misclassified transactions on either the operating ledger or general ledger) and help teach Banner users how to correct these errors and how to avoid them in the future. This helps ensure more accurate financial statement reporting for the university
• Provide guidance, oversight, and accounting expertise on service plan funds (such as the Medical Service Plan funds). This includes (but is not limited to) reviewing and processing requests for new Service Plan funds, serving as a point of contact for questions related to service plan funds, and helping document institutional knowledge and procedural instructions related to service plan funds
• Provide guidance, oversight, and accounting expertise on issues related to student enrollment deposit funds. This includes reviewing student enrollment deposit funds for compliance with accounting guidelines, reviewing, and processing requests for the creation and/or termination of student enrollment deposit funds, and serving as a subject matter expert on student enrollment deposit funds to the university community
• Compile data and supporting documentation to fulfill audit requests from external auditors, both in preparation for and during the annual external financial statement audit
• Document procedural information outlining the accounting theory and procedural steps necessary to complete various operational accounting tasks. This is an important task to create essential documentation that contributes towards the documentation of institutional knowledge
• Perform other duties as assigned which would be appropriate for a Financial Accounting and Reporting Analyst within UAS

Skills

• Bachelor's degree with a major in Accountancy or a related field AND two (2) years of professional level accounting experience
• Possession of current registration as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), or a valid license to practice public accounting
• Master's degree in Accountancy or a related field
• Proficient computer skills and advanced knowledge of applicable computer systems. This would include advanced skills in Microsoft Office products such as Excel, Outlook, and Word
• Ability to produce accurate, detail-oriented work related to financial matters within a higher education setting
• Ability to enforce various applicable policies and regulations while still providing superior customer service
• Ability to use creativity in problem-solving and ability to exercise independent professional judgment and discretion
• Ability to propose ideas that improve and/or maintain the effectiveness of daily financial operations
• Strong verbal and written communications skills to effectively present information and respond to requests for guidance and/or clarification
• Ability to address and resolve challenging accounting issues and strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Understanding of fund accounting principles and a working knowledge of how to apply them in a public university setting within the State of Illinois to ensure compliance with various policies, guidelines, and regulations
• Basic working knowledge of how to navigate within the Banner Finance module
• Familiarity with Microsoft Access, including the ability to edit and run queries
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Bachelor's degree with a major in Accountancy or a related field AND two (2) years of professional level accounting experience
• Possession of current registration as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Management Accountant (CMA), or a valid license to practice public accounting
• Master's degree in Accountancy or a related field
• Proficient computer skills and advanced knowledge of applicable computer systems. This would include advanced skills in Microsoft Office products such as Excel, Outlook, and Word
• Ability to produce accurate, detail-oriented work related to financial matters within a higher education setting
• Ability to enforce various applicable policies and regulations while still providing superior customer service
• Ability to use creativity in problem-solving and ability to exercise independent professional judgment and discretion
• Ability to propose ideas that improve and/or maintain the effectiveness of daily financial operations
• Strong verbal and written communications skills to effectively present information and respond to requests for guidance and/or clarification
• Ability to address and resolve challenging accounting issues and strong interpersonal skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships
• Ability to meet deadlines
• Understanding of fund accounting principles and a working knowledge of how to apply them in a public university setting within the State of Illinois to ensure compliance with various policies, guidelines, and regulations
• Basic working knowledge of how to navigate within the Banner Finance module
• Familiarity with Microsoft Access, including the ability to edit and run queries

Nice to Haves

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
• Certified Internal Auditor (CIA)
• Certified Management Accountant (CMA)

Benefits

• This position is eligible for a hybrid or remote work arrangement, depending on unit operational needs.
• Health
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance
• A Retirement Plan
• Paid time Off
• Tuition waivers for employees and dependents