Senior Specialist Accounting

Senior Specialist, Accounting

Under general direction, the Senior Specialist, Accounting performs highly responsible, independent, and advanced fiscal, budgetary, accounting, and financial analysis work that supports the organization's strategic and operational goals. As a key member of the Fiscal Services Department, this position plays a critical role in ensuring the financial integrity, sustainability, and compliance of the school's operations.

Reporting to the Finance Budget Manager, the Senior Specialist, Accounting serves as a key technical expert in developing, administering, and monitoring the organization's budgets. Working collaboratively across the Fiscal Services Department, the position supports both budget and accounting functions through financial planning, forecasting, reporting, compliance monitoring, and complex financial analysis. The Senior Specialist, Accounting, develops and maintains budgetary controls, prepares financial reports, and provides guidance to leadership and departments to support sound fiscal management and informed decision-making.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Accounting:

1. Reviews financial and accounting records for accuracy, completeness and compliance with standards
2. Prepares and submits financial and statistical reports and claims as required and assists the auditor in the annual audit process
3. Performs financial and statistical studies to assist the administration in the formulation of programs and procedures
4. Prepares monthly and annual journal entries, or as required throughout the year
5. Assists school personnel in obtaining current balances on accounts
6. Supports the department with the annual financial audit
7. Codes and uploads payroll entries into the accounting system
8. Supports with the month-end and year-end close process

Budget:

1. Assists in the development, implementation, and monitoring of a comprehensive budget and accounting program
2. Assists in the budget development process; initiates and recommends budget adjustments; revises the budget for all funds
3. Assists in the development, preparation, and analysis of interim budget reports
4. Assists in the preparation and analysis of multi-year financial projections
5. Analyzes and reports on actuals versus budget for revenues and expenditures
6. Prepares and/or assists with Federal, State, and Local reporting requirements
7. Tracks Categorical Programs' revenues and expenditures and ensures that the funds are expended on allowable costs

Administrative Support:

1. Answers phone calls and provides a high level of customer service
2. Welcomes office visitors and directs them as needed, providing a high level of customer service
3. Supports and facilitates office and school events
4. Develops, streamlines and improves systems and procedures within the department and across other departments within the school as needed

Accounts Payable Support:

1. Completes invoice match and uploads process on purchase orders
2. Assists the department in working with materials and/or community providers to resolve any invoicing or billing issues
3. Assists with tracking down old invoices for orders that have not been billed
4. Manages the department's efforts to resolve stale dated checks
5. Assists with all the schools' compliance reporting to various State and Federal agencies
6. Assists with responding and/or disseminating email messages for the shared accounts payable email
7. Assists in the development, collection, and maintenance of operational metrics
8. Prioritizes daily tasks in order to meet operational metric goals
9. Suggests improvements and efficiencies related to accounts payable processes
10. Supports the annual 1099 and the quarterly sales and use tax reporting

Other Duties:

1. Responds to all school-related written correspondence, phone calls, voicemails, and emails within 24 business hours
2. Refers all formal disciplinary actions involving students and staff to school management ensuring compliance with the schools' Uniform Complaint Policy and the schools' Uniform Technology Policy; addressing and resolving complaints from students, parents, and staff in a timely manner; and complying with the provisions of California Penal Code Section 11166 (Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act)
3. Performs other duties as assigned

Qualifications Guide

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

Education and Experience:

1. Three (3) years of general accounting experience with a charter school organization preferred
2. Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance preferred
3. Additional years of experience or education may be substituted to meet the minimum qualifications

Other Qualifications:

1. State and federal fingerprint clearance (LiveScan) to work with students (Ed. Code 44237). No prospective employee can report to work without this clearance being received and the Human Resources department notifying the immediate supervisor of this clearance.
2. Proof of a clear TB Tine test or signed Certificate of Completion dated within the last 60 days (Ed. Code 49406) upon employment and thereafter updated every four years

Knowledge:

1. Computer and technology literacy:
• Operate office equipment including a calculator, copier, fax machine, computer and assigned software
• Google Docs, Google Sheets and other online collaboration tools to send and receive information
2. Basic arithmetic calculations
3. Knowledge of applicable laws, codes, regulations, policies, and procedures
4. Knowledge/experience with modular accounting systems, experience with Sage Intacct a plus
5. Knowledge/experience with Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS) is highly desired.

Skills:

1. Conflict resolution
2. Record-keeping techniques
3. Methods of collecting and organizing data and information
4. Strong analytical abilities and technical expertise

Abilities:

1. Embraces Sage Oak's core values
2. Maintains integrity at all times
3. Works independently with little direction
4. Maintains developed, clear communication and interpersonal skills that maintain a respectful, professional, and courteous manner
5. Maintains a flexible and adaptable mindset
6. Demonstrates sensitivity to individual differences and cultural backgrounds
7. Maintains confidentiality of sensitive and privileged information
8. Follows established procedures and meets all established deadlines
9. Allocates time and resources effectively
10. Understand complex, multi-step written and oral instructions

Physical Demands:

1. Hear and speak to exchange information
2. Dexterity of hands and fingers
3. See to read a variety of materials
4. Bend at the waist, kneel or crouch
5. Sit or stand for extended periods of time
6. Lift objects up to 50 pounds with or without assistance

Work Environment:

1. Office environment
2. Noise level is generally moderate
3. Meetings conducted in public and private settings
4. Indoor and outdoor in varying temperature
5. Employee must have available transportation and be able to travel up to 100 miles in a day

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions and perform any other related duties as assigned by their supervisor.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:

Employer is an equal opportunity employer. Recruitment, hiring, and promotion of individuals in all job classifications will be conducted without regard to actual or perceived race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and hairstyle, including but not limited to braids, locks, and twists