Accountant
Position Overview
The Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Department is currently seeking to fill a new position as an Accountant. This position serves as the financial, human resource, and general office contact for the department. They are responsible for accounting work, including budgeting, and payroll activities and HR for state, endowment, and some research related accounts, purchasing, and student activity accounts. This position communicates daily with faculty, staff, students, and university administrators and advises the departmental chair on budgeting and financial matters on a regular basis.
The Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Department is comprised of approximately 40 faculty, 5 unclassified and support staff, 40–50 GTA's, and 50–60 student hourly assistants.
The Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Department is comprised of approximately 40 faculty, 5 unclassified and support staff, 40–50 GTA's, and 50–60 student hourly assistants.
Job Description
45%: Budget & Account Management: Works independently with the School of Engineering Business Manager and ETE Shared Service Center on the overall annual budget. Independently develops, analyzes, maintains, and provides forecasts on departmental and unit internal budget ledgers to ensure internal controls and provide accurate reporting. Works closely with Department Chair to develop both long-term and short-term spending plans for all department accounts. Reconcile budget, faculty startup account, and audit expenditures on university financial systems, analyzing and correcting discrepancies or deviations. Perform analyses to identify and implement cost saving measures/techniques across department. Assemble, analyze and provide budget reports and financial advice to the Department Chair. Coordinates with School of Engineering regarding budget transfers and other funding agreements. Coordinates with School of Engineering and ETE Shared Service Center to ensure successful closing of fiscal year funds.
30%: Office Manager, Payroll, and HR: Serve as general point of contact for the EECS Department. Hire, train and supervise support staff positions. Review work performance, set goals, and conduct annual performance evaluations. On a daily basis, encourage creative problem solving and teamwork. Assign work as needed, establishing priorities and deadlines for completion. Hold monthly staff meetings, encouraging open discussion on whether needs are being met and possible solutions. Direct others (Chair, Director of Laboratories, faculty, and staff) on human resource issues, ensuring that policies are adhered to. Evaluate new procedures (university, school, department), determine impact on staff, and schedule necessary training to remain current on all HR policies and procedures. Oversee staff work performance in meeting required GTA evaluation policies established by the department, university, and the Memorandum of Agreement. Maintain GTA evaluation documents separately from academic and payroll files. Keep current procedures posted to the shared drive, as well as monitor staff updates to their procedures.
Plan, implement, and maintain an automated accounting ledger to track payroll expenditures for state and endowment funded salary and fringe payments, while assuring internal controls. Audit salary reports biweekly to ensure accurate payment and adherence to budgeted projections. Request funding transfers when necessary to adequately cover all positions and pools. Serve as the department's personnel-related staff contact and hiring coordinator for faculty, lecturers/adjuncts, unclassified professional, university support, teaching assistant and research assistant contracts, and student hourly appointments. Provide oversight on the recruitment of all student appointments. Perform the departmental data entry in the university 3G system for Graduate Teaching and Research Assistants. Work with the SSC to hire student employees in accordance with developed student budget plan.
10%: Purchasing: Responsible for purchasing and resource management, following University, KUCR and Endowment guidelines and regulations. Provide oversight and direction to faculty, staff, and students on competitive and direct purchase of materials and supplies, equipment with complex specifications, and services according to applicable purchasing regulations. Approves transactions on behalf of the Chair to ensure appropriate funding sources and adherence to the budget plan. Attend meetings and consult with Engineering Budget Office, ETE SSC, Comptroller, Endowment and KU Research staff to ensure that purchasing rules and regulations are strictly followed. Resolve order discrepancies with vendors when necessary. Coordinate with lab personnel to reconcile physical inventory records and maintain inventory monitoring system of assets as applicable to university policies and regulations.
10%: Senior Design and Student Organizations: Works with senior design student project teams on purchasing, distributing orders, and maintaining budgets. Collects and processes senior design sponsorship payments. Oversees funds and spending of EECS support allocated to student organizations and clubs.
5%: Other Duties: There may be other Departmental duties as assigned by the Chair.
30%: Office Manager, Payroll, and HR: Serve as general point of contact for the EECS Department. Hire, train and supervise support staff positions. Review work performance, set goals, and conduct annual performance evaluations. On a daily basis, encourage creative problem solving and teamwork. Assign work as needed, establishing priorities and deadlines for completion. Hold monthly staff meetings, encouraging open discussion on whether needs are being met and possible solutions. Direct others (Chair, Director of Laboratories, faculty, and staff) on human resource issues, ensuring that policies are adhered to. Evaluate new procedures (university, school, department), determine impact on staff, and schedule necessary training to remain current on all HR policies and procedures. Oversee staff work performance in meeting required GTA evaluation policies established by the department, university, and the Memorandum of Agreement. Maintain GTA evaluation documents separately from academic and payroll files. Keep current procedures posted to the shared drive, as well as monitor staff updates to their procedures.
Plan, implement, and maintain an automated accounting ledger to track payroll expenditures for state and endowment funded salary and fringe payments, while assuring internal controls. Audit salary reports biweekly to ensure accurate payment and adherence to budgeted projections. Request funding transfers when necessary to adequately cover all positions and pools. Serve as the department's personnel-related staff contact and hiring coordinator for faculty, lecturers/adjuncts, unclassified professional, university support, teaching assistant and research assistant contracts, and student hourly appointments. Provide oversight on the recruitment of all student appointments. Perform the departmental data entry in the university 3G system for Graduate Teaching and Research Assistants. Work with the SSC to hire student employees in accordance with developed student budget plan.
10%: Purchasing: Responsible for purchasing and resource management, following University, KUCR and Endowment guidelines and regulations. Provide oversight and direction to faculty, staff, and students on competitive and direct purchase of materials and supplies, equipment with complex specifications, and services according to applicable purchasing regulations. Approves transactions on behalf of the Chair to ensure appropriate funding sources and adherence to the budget plan. Attend meetings and consult with Engineering Budget Office, ETE SSC, Comptroller, Endowment and KU Research staff to ensure that purchasing rules and regulations are strictly followed. Resolve order discrepancies with vendors when necessary. Coordinate with lab personnel to reconcile physical inventory records and maintain inventory monitoring system of assets as applicable to university policies and regulations.
10%: Senior Design and Student Organizations: Works with senior design student project teams on purchasing, distributing orders, and maintaining budgets. Collects and processes senior design sponsorship payments. Oversees funds and spending of EECS support allocated to student organizations and clubs.
5%: Other Duties: There may be other Departmental duties as assigned by the Chair.
Position Requirements
This position works on-site.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in a related field and 1 year of related experience OR an associate’s degree and 3 years of related experience or HS diploma and 4 years of related experience.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills as demonstrated by application materials and interview.
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting
- Three years of experience in professional accounting and/or audit work
- Six years of experience in accounting support work
- Experience with fund accounting
- Two or more years of advanced (use of functions, formulas, pivot tables, etc.) experience using Excel software as described in application materials
- Experience with PeopleSoft Financials or HR/Pay system
- Attention to detail as indicated in application materials
- Excellent interpersonal skills
Additional Candidate Instructions
Only complete application packages submitted online will be considered. A complete application includes online application form, resume, cover letter, names and contact information for three professional references.
Review of applications will begin on September 20th and continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.
Review of applications will begin on September 20th and continue until a qualified pool of applicants is identified.
Contact Information to Applicants
Erik Perrins, esp@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
$48,000 or commiserate with experience
Work Schedule
M-F 40 hours/week
Application Review Begins
Wednesday September 20, 2023
Anticipated Start Date
Monday October 9, 2023