Director, Accounting

Position Title: Director, Accounting

Department: Finance Office

Advertised Pay: Competitive

Campus Location: Washburn University

Application Deadline:  Application review will begin as applications are received and will continue until the position is filled. Applicants can be assured of full consideration if submitted by: April 4, 2025.

Position Summary: Washburn University is a teaching-focused, student-centered, public institution located in the metropolitan setting of Topeka that has earned national recognition for its high-impact programs for first-generation students. Washburn has a student body of over 5,500 undergraduate, graduate, and law students, a significant and growing number of whom are first-generation and Pell-Grant eligible. The University has created educational pathways for all students to be successful and achieve their educational goals.

Washburn is dedicated to recruiting and retaining a dynamic faculty, staff, and student body, and cultivating a vibrant learning and working environment and curriculum. We employ more than one thousand faculty and staff on our campuses throughout Topeka and strive to offer competitive wages, an excellent benefits program, and a supportive culture and a healthy work/life balance. Washburn seeks to create an environment that reflects our core values for creating positive IMPACT: inclusion, modernization, partnership, achievement, community and transformation. In 2024, Washburn was recognized as one of the best colleges in the nation to work for, according to Great Colleges to Work For® program.

The Director, Accounting performs professional accounting duties and prepares for month-end and year-end closing procedures, including the annual audit. Assists the Assistant Vice President Finance with oversight of the University’s daily accounting and Finance office operations.

Essential Functions:
• Responsible for maintaining a healthy work environment by exercising teamwork and collaboration. Actively promote a professional workplace culture of mutual respect and collegiality for all members of the institution. Work to build positive and cooperative relationships with staff, encouraging them to work toward individual and departmental goals.
• Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate the performance of assigned staff. Areas of supervision include payroll, accounts payable, general and grant accounting.
• Assist with developing and maintaining accounting policies, procedures and controls per sound accounting principles, applicable regulations, laws, and best practices. Oversee general accounting functions, financial reporting, audits, accounts payable, grants, contracts accounting and tax compliance. Ensure compliance with federal and state laws, regulations, and university policies and procedures.
• Execute an internal control system and process that ensures successful audits to allow Washburn to continue receiving state and federal funds and be a responsible steward of others’ monies.
• Compile and analyze financial data and develop financial reports to apprise members of the Washburn University Board of Regents (WUBOR) of the University’s financial position. Submit prepared reports before board meetings for review, proofing, and modification.
• Coordinate preparation of schedules and reports required for the University’s Annual Audit. Assign completion of schedules and due dates to appropriate staff. Review completed schedules to verify accuracy. Prepare certain schedules including financial statements and submit for review. Compile completed schedules into the audit report for distribution to the WUBOR and other stakeholders.
• Review and analyze new GASB accounting pronouncements to identify those that affect the University, determine their impact, and develop recommendations to assist with implementation.
• Schedule and handle all year-end closing procedures, including general ledger roll and encumbrance rollover to the new fiscal year
• Prepare schedules for annual 990T tax return and coordinate filing of return with auditors.
• Compile data and prepare special reports and analyses as requested or appropriate for inclusion in surveys and other external reports.
• Provide information such as general ledger account balances and explain accounting transactions as requested to assist with budget management and departments’ record reconciliation. Research records to assist with resolving accounting issues and discrepancies at the department level.
• Monitor bank account and Municipal Investment Pool (MIP) balances and make transfers between accounts consistent with cash needs to maintain positive cash balances and maximize return on cash and cash equivalents. Make transfers to MIP for semi-annual debt service payments.
• Develop and maintain a cash requirements forecasting model to ensure that sufficient cash is available to allow the University to meet its financial obligations.
• Monitor and report on spending on annual capital and equipment projects to keep administrators apprised of financial issues relative to ongoing projects. Prepare quarterly billing to the foundation for capital projects as needed.
• Analyze purchases of capital assets to determine proper accounting for such purchases. Enter assets to be capitalized into the appropriate software program, run the annual depreciation process at year-end, and complete year end workpapers on fixed assets.
• Oversee staff that reconciles, investigates and corrects discrepancies in the operating and payroll bank accounts, outstanding checks, positive pay system, and remits unclaimed property to the state.
• Direct and assist staff with fund and account reconciliations, foundation billing and general accounting questions.
• Supervise and guide staff about Federal laws affecting grant expenditures, reporting requirements, payroll payment issues and guidance on IRS payroll law, and ensure all tax payments and reports are filed timely
• Serve as an accounting resource to staff as needed.
• Perform additional job-related duties as assigned or as appropriate.

Required Qualifications:
• A bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field.
• At least five years of progressively responsible accounting or finance experience that demonstrates senior-level expertise.
• Two years of experience supervising or managing various classifications of employees.
• Demonstrated effective ability to work with minimal direction, adapt to change and work well in a team environment.
• Proven proficiency in Microsoft Office, especially Excel.
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal, communication, organizational, and leadership skills.

Preferred Qualifications:
Master's degree (MBA, MAcc, or equivalent).
CPA, CMA, or CIA certification.
Five or more years of related experience.
Higher education accounting, reporting, and analysis experience.
Familiarity with GASB accounting and reporting rules (especially for colleges/universities or other business-type activities).
Experience using a large integrated ERP system such as Banner or PeopleSoft.

Exempt, Full-time, Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm   
Background Check Required