Accounting Specialist
Position Overview
A full-time, on-campus, benefits-eligible position that reports directly to the Engineering Business Manager. The individual works independently, using discretion and judgment, to prioritize and handle financial projects that impact the School, with numerous and often overlapping priorities and deadlines. The individual also serves as a liaison with Finance Shared Service Center personnel and other department staff and faculty.
This position will serve as the main point of contact for purchasing for all departments in the School of Engineering. This position will collaborate with individuals from the engineering departments and the Engineering Dean’s Office to ensure all purchases and acquisitions are obtained within university policies and procedures, evaluate budgetary obligations and adjust funding sources as necessary.
This position will serve as the main point of contact for purchasing for all departments in the School of Engineering. This position will collaborate with individuals from the engineering departments and the Engineering Dean’s Office to ensure all purchases and acquisitions are obtained within university policies and procedures, evaluate budgetary obligations and adjust funding sources as necessary.
Job Description
Purchasing – 90%
- Serve as point of contact with engineering faculty, staff, and students for explaining and applying university and KUCR requirements and policies for ordering.
- Will coordinate purchasing activities, including travel, with department staff by reviewing and evaluating the request to determine the best method while ensuring the most cost-effective method is used with KUCR, KUEA, and State funds.
- Will resolve problems with vendors regarding product availability, delivery or order status and damaged goods.
- Communicate with department accounting staff and/or the Engineering Business Manager to ensure that funds are available for the purchase and that the proper information is provided to SSC to complete the order when necessary.
- Attend meetings to keep informed of current and new purchasing policies and procedures and communicating any changes to faculty, staff, and students.
- Assist departments or Engineering Business Manager with running monthly and end of the year budget reports.
- Assist departments or Engineering Business Manager with tracking and monitoring purchases.
- Will reconcile orders and resolve any problems pertaining to orders monthly and for year-end processes.
Position Requirements
This position is required to work on-campus.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration or related field OR High School Diploma/GED and three (3) years of relevant experience.
- Excellent communication skills and attention to detail as evidenced by work history and application materials submitted.
- Excellent computer skills in a PC/Windows environment including MS Word and MS Excel as demonstrated by application materials and previous experience.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience using a financial ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning System), such as Oracle Financials (FITC), Concur, etc, as evidenced by application materials.
- Prior work experience requiring analytical and problem-solving skills, as demonstrated by employment history.
- Knowledge of the University of Kansas and/or State of Kansas purchasing policies and financial management programs, as demonstrated by work history.
Additional Candidate Instructions
A complete application includes:
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Cover letter addressing how the required and, if applicable, preferred qualifications are met.
- Contact information of 3 professional references.
Contact Information to Applicants
Heather Abernathy
habernathy@ku.edu
habernathy@ku.edu
Advertised Salary Range
Minimum $42,000 or commensurate with experience
Work Schedule
M-F 8-5
Application Review Begins
Thursday January 2, 2025
Anticipated Start Date
Monday January 20, 2025