(Hybrid) Corporate Accountant Lead - Property Management

The Financial Projects and Compliance Department at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Corporate Accountant Lead in Property Management.

About the Opportunity

This is a professional level position serving West Virginia University and the regional campuses/divisions. The position performs advanced accounting and financial system assignments to support specialized areas of accounting and financial management at the institution level. The work of this position has broad impact throughout the institution, inclusive of the regional divisions in regard to fixed asset accounting and property management reporting. This position provides training and functional guidance to other accounting levels within Finance, Shared Services and the various Colleges/Departments within WVU. This position leads the Property Management unit and the University in the development, monitoring, modification and control of systems necessary to provide the financial data required to comply with Federal and state regulations and University policy regarding Fixed Asset accounting and Property Management issues.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
• Wellness programs

What You'll Do

This position leads the University with Property Management responsibilities that include the coordination, development and application of systems, policy, and procedure to ensure the University is in compliance with federal, state and other sponsor regulations as they relate to property management issues. This includes preparing in-depth analyses, trend analyses, and developing recommendations for new policies, practices, and procedures. Responsible for coordinating, developing and applying the systems, policy, and procedures to ensure that all property processes, activities, systems and functions are in compliance with Federal, State, and University regulations, requirements, standards, and policies. Assigned tasks include but are not limited to:

• Leads the designing and coding of programs to extract data from the Accounts Payable module, Grants Module, Fixed Asset Module and General Ledger Module to identify transactions that require further research and to ensure that all transactions reconcile to Federal, State, and other external agency records. The Incumbent is responsible for ensuring that all asset transactions are properly posted to the University's accounting system in accordance with policies and practices at WVU, WVU divisions, WVURC, State, and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
• Responsible for developing and maintaining a thorough understanding of the various modules, from a system and functional perspective, and their integration within the overall financial and human resources administrative systems. This includes, but is not limited to, the general ledger, grants accounting, cash management, accounts receivable, fixed asset, procurement, accounts payable, human resources and payroll.
• Leads the design and implementation of the core Fixed Asset accounting module that will successfully capture and report comprehensive fiscal activity for the institution. This includes the creation, review and maintenance of set-up tables, look-up values and auto-accounting rules that drive the module and related functional activity. Directly impacts institutional policy through system design and set-up.
• Leads testing and implementing new functionality or modifications to the Property Management process in the Fixed Asset Module. Responsible for performing this task to meet efficiency and consistency standards to ensure they adhere to Federal guidelines as well as University policy and procedures for Property Management and the related accounting requirements.
• Leads testing requirements related to financial system upgrades that involve the Fixed Asset Module tables and functionality. The accounting must be reviewed regularly to identify new scenarios that arise and to map the appropriate action each scenario must take in the Fixed Asset Module.
• Responsible for troubleshooting and issue resolution related to the module by working in conjunction with the Financial Systems functional analyst team. Requires significant decision making capabilities and exercising of judgment. Must constantly consider the long-term effects of cost and efficiency of any actions on or modification to the system.
• Responsible for conducting the annual assessment of WVU's Property Management policies, procedures, and systems to ensure the University is in compliance with all Federal regulations governing Property Management. This includes analyzing Federal property reporting deficiencies and developing recommendations on new policies, practices, and procedures.
• Responsible for the management and reconciliation of the University's Fixed Asset System. Incumbent works independently to analytically examine all transactions in the Fixed Asset System and to research transactions that cause the General Ledger asset accounting transactions to be out of balance from the Fixed Asset Module.
• Responsible for preparing, analyzing, and recording all year end close Property Management entries as determined by institutional policy. The incumbent uses analytical and problem solving skills to ensure that the appropriate entries are recorded.
• Responsible for the analysis and reporting of Property Management activity to the University's various sponsored award agencies including the University's cognizant Federal property agency, the Office of Naval Research (ONR). Incumbent must possess an understanding of various Federal Agency property management systems and Federal regulations pertaining to property. The incumbent must develop methodologies that can support calculations from internal sources as well as external agencies and research any discrepancies that arise. It is imperative that this information be extremely accurate because the approval of WVU's Property Management system is vital to future sponsor funding.
• Serves as liaison between the University and all external agencies, auditors and external consultants concerning property accounting and property management issues which significantly affect the University's operations. Functions include information gathering, explaining, and defending institutional practice and policy, and responding to audit findings. Responding to audit findings may include the development of new policy and/or procedures.
• Coordinates and manages the campus wide self-reported physical inventories with the University Business Offices to ensure the campus is conducting physical inventories in an accurate and timely manner. The position must ensure the University is in compliance with state and Federal guidelines.
• Responsible for developing and implementing methodologies to be used for various other property accounting reports and special projects as needed.
• Trains University personnel including classified exempt and non-exempt staff, non-classified staff, and faculty on issues pertaining to property management. Training can be formal or informal and pertains to property management in accordance with federal and state regulations, institutional policies and procedures, as well as individual award terms and conditions.
• Reporting and advising to senior management any concerns or discrepancies related to Property Management.
• Carries out special projects to achieve institutional missions and unit objectives as time and workload dictates.
• Participates in job-related continuing education seminars and workshops (i.e. computing, fund accounting, NASA property reporting training, property management, Federal Regulations, etc.). This involves in-state and out-of-state travel.
• Acts as backup to other positions within the unit and may on occasion be required to perform others' duties. Positions within Property Management participate in several institutional processes which require limited amounts of evening and weekend work hours.

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or related field
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in the following:
  • Demonstrated ability to perform the job duties and responsibilities indicated above typically acquired by five years of progressively responsible experience in financial operations of a complex organization.
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• High level analytical and critical thinking abilities, organizational and time management skills, and problem solving skills.
• Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of theory and application of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles as established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
• Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of accounting guidelines as established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.
• Demonstrated comprehensive knowledge of fund accounting procedures and regulations.
• Demonstrated understanding of automated double entry accounting systems and demonstrated ability to manipulate system to provide both standard information and other information for analytical use.
• Demonstrated skills necessary to perform complex financial calculations, such as financial ratios, statistical analyses, and trend analyses.
• Demonstrated oral and written communication skills necessary to explain complex guidelines to University staff, to justify recommendations, and to interact with regulatory agencies and auditors.
• Demonstrated ability to organize information, perform financial calculations, draw logical conclusions, and prepare financial reports, analyses, and summaries for upper level administration.
• Proven analytical ability to interpret, apply, and implement federal, state, university, and professional guidelines to unique University situations.
• Proven ability to efficiently operate a personal computer with thorough knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, and database applications software packages, including the proven ability to apply these applications to create other sophisticated applications.
• Proven ability to use a high-level computer language and apply this skill in writing reports/queries to extract data from the accounting system.
• Demonstrated ability to maintain institutional attendance and punctuality standards.
• Demonstrated ability to foster cooperation and harmony among groups and exercise professional judgment in new and/or unusual situations.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree
• Prior experience with advanced financial systems software is desirable.
• Advanced graduate degree in Accounting and or Finance and/or Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation.
• Certified Public Accountant or Certified Research Administrator will be given preference

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.