at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, United States
Job Description
Job Opening Id: 53935
Department: Accounting Services
Salary/Grade: EXS/8
Job Summary:
The Office of the Controller is responsible for the accounting and financial reporting of Northwestern University, providing a wide range of financial services on behalf of and for the University community. Northwestern operates with an annual budget exceeding $3.5 billion, total investments in excess of $15.5 billion (representing one of the largest endowments in the country), more than $750 million in federal research revenue, land, buildings and equipment of $3.7 billion net, and total long-term debt outstanding of $2.9 billion. The University has more than 23,000 students enrolled in 12 colleges and schools on three campuses. Its fiscal year ends August 31.
Reporting to the Manager, Accounting, in the Controller’s Office, the Senior Accountant contributes to the integrity of the general ledger and to the University’s financial reporting, including the following:
- Prepares journal entries and reviews transactions submitted by others
- Reconciles balance sheet accounts using BlackLine software
- Performs and supervises chart of accounts & chartfield integrity, supporting Specialists & Accountants
- Provides support for the compilation of interim and annual financial statements, including preparing quarterly fund workpapers, variance analysis, and annual report footnotes
- Prepares supporting schedules for the external audit and other financial analyses
- Monitors ledger integrity through queries and individual transaction review
- Contributes to Blackline system administration (reconciliation and tasks modules), including liaising with other members of the Accounting department, the broader finance user community, and Northwestern IT
- Serves as a resource for University internal clients and advises users of University policies and procedures, Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and external regulations
- Partners with University departments and schools to develop best practices or efficiencies
- Manages daily, monthly, quarterly and annual financial processes for the area or program.
- Applies industry and professional standards, interprets university policy and procedure, federal and state laws, granting
