This role is responsible for assisting our controller and managers with higher-level accounting, financial analysis, budgeting and forecasting, lease negotiation and management, and financial administration for our finance department as well as student housing program with a goal of increasing our effectiveness in driving positive outcomes for our students. You will be working closely with C.F.O. on Housing operation.

Duties and Responsibilities

Accounting and Finance– We need someone to work with the Controller and managers to assist us with some of the higher-level accounting work and the close cycle.

• Prepare account reconciliations and other reports as part of month end closing and financial statement preparation.
• Create and maintain monthly reporting packages including financial reports and tracking of operational metrics for senior management and department managers.
• Assist the Controller in managing the annual budget process including creating budget templates and supporting data for each department, develop the budget timeline and ensure managers adhere to the timeline, review and consolidate budget submissions, present budgets to senior management, coordinate revisions until budget is approved and upload budget to the ERP system.
• Prepare ad hoc financial analysis and reports to help the institution increase its effectiveness in driving positive outcomes for our students.
• Create financial and analytic template reports using report writer software
• Gather data for regulatory authorities
• Assist finance department with the fiscal year-end audit requests
• Create and update policy procedure, update the contents of materials for both website and physical forms.
• Daily bank deposit, payment plan, wire transaction reconciliation and posting.
• Journal entries and reviews
• All other assignments and projects given by managers

Housing finance– Responsible for managing all finance related issues for the housing program including the following: (Work closely with CFO)

• Manage all lease related activities including identifying apartment complexes that could accommodate DigiPen students as tenants, negotiate and execute leases in line with DigiPen’s financial targets and potential fluctuating demand among fall, spring and summer enrollment, communication with Housing team and ensuring insurance coverage is up to date. Develops contingency plan to cover any need for overflow housing.
• Work with Housing team to develop their annual budget, track actuals against budget and provide updated forecasts to senior management throughout the year.
• Review all housing related invoices for accuracy and alignment with leases.
• Analyzes market conditions (real estate and higher education markets) and makes recommendations for future housing program pricing. Communicates final pricing to students and appropriate teams at DigiPen.
• Be a backup for our AR/collection specialist on any accounting related issues including deposit tracking and refunds at end of term, reimbursement of any overpayments, collection of unpaid balances, answering questions regarding billings or costs, working with Housing to bill for damages. Also works with Financial Aid Office to assist students with financial need.
• Creates and prepares financial analyses on housing performance including profitability, cost per student, retention, comparisons to other universities and other performance driving metrics.
• Maintain partnership and open line of communication with Housing team.

Required Skills/Abilities

• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Understanding of laws, guidelines, and best practices of property management.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite
• Report writing
• Accounting software
• Fixed Asset software
• Audit experience a plus

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting/Finance
• Minimum of Five years of working experience as a senior level accountant.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 15 pounds at times.

Other

• This position does not supervise other staff members
• This is a non-exempt position
• This position requires interaction with students/parents in person and requires working on-site.