The Senior Accountant is responsible for daily, monthly, quarterly, and annual accounting activities and operations, with a concentration on Hobart and William Smith Colleges' $300+ million endowment, $400+ million in capital assets, tax and treasury functions, tracking and recording deferred giving assets/liabilities, and general ledger maintenance for 7+ thousand active accounting strings.
The Senior Accountant ensures efficient accounting procedures and internal controls to monitor and reconcile general ledger activity with accuracy and completeness. This position requires the highest degree of confidentiality given the sensitive nature of information handled in the Business Office, as well as an awareness of and sensitivity to unique social, cultural, and economic circumstances.
Essential Responsibilities:
Endowment & Investment Management
GAAP & NYPMIFA Compliance: Evaluate and recommend appropriate endowment accounting in accordance with GAAP, GAAS, and NYPMIFA regulations.
Fundriver Oversight: Maintain and improve the Colleges' subsidiary ledger data retained in the Fundriver accounting and reporting system.
Spending Calculations: Calculate and distribute annual endowment spending allocations within Fundriver according to institutional policy.
Deferred Giving: Track, monitor, and record all deferred giving assets and liabilities accurately within the general ledger.
Reconcile Quarterly Gift Activity between Raisers Edge and People Soft
Reconcile Monthly Edward Jones Stock Activity between Edward Jones, Fivestar, Raisers Edge, and People Soft.
Capital Asset Management
Fixed Assets: Maintain the fixed asset ledger, monitor capital purchases, calculate straight line depreciation, and record disposals.
Capital Tracking: Monitor, classify, and track capital project expenditures and manage asset capitalization.
Combine Unimarket and General ledger Reports.
Maintain Sodexo's CIP spreadsheet.
Treasury & Cash Operations
Bank Reconciliations: Complete high-volume monthly reconciliations for college Operating, institutional, and treasury bank accounts within PeopleSoft.
Daily Cash Review: Analyze, monitor, and review Staff Accountants Journal Entries of high-transaction-volume treasury activity to optimize and ensure accurate general ledger posting.
Global Faculty Setup: Coordinate banking logistics and authorized signature cards for global education faculty through Community Bank.
Complete Bank Deposits as needed.
Initiate Weekly Wire Payments
Review and upload weekly AP ACH & Positive Pay File.
Sub-Ledger Systems & General Ledger Maintenance
System Reconciliations: Execute efficient reconciliation processes to tie external subsidiary system data into the PeopleSoft general ledger (including Raiser's Edge NXT, Fundriver, Student Accounts, Unimarket).
Cross-Department Collaboration: Maintain positive collaborations with internal and external system owners to ensure general ledger accuracy and completeness across 7+ thousand active accounting strings.
Audit, Tax, & Financial Reporting
Upload 1099s to IRS
Back up for Sales Tax submission
NYS Compliance: Prepare and file the annual New York State (NYS) annuity reporting requirements accurately and on time. Provide need documentation for the 5 year Audit.
Financial Audit Support: Prepare comprehensive work papers, schedules, and reconciliations to assist the controller and Senior Budget Financial Analyst with the annual external financial audit and financial statement preparation.
Internal Controls & Campus Support
Control Evaluation: Perform control functions, monitor general ledger activity, and recommend improvements to internal control processes.
Campus Advisory: Support all finance department functions and assist campus offices by providing accurate data for analysis and responding to inquiries.
Mission Alignment: Demonstrate knowledge of the Colleges' educational philosophy and mission.
Demonstrate an awareness of and sensitivity to unique social, cultural, and economic circumstances.
Performs other related duties as required.
Other Information:
This is a full-time, 12-month, benefits-eligible position. Normal hours of work are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. This position description is not all-inclusive as other tasks or responsibilities may be assigned. Salary range: $75k - $85k
About HWS
A liberal arts and sciences institution, Hobart and William Smith is known for consistent success in preparing students for meaningful lives and fulfilling careers through an outcomes-based focus on their futures. Our nationally ranked faculty are accessible teachers and scholars known for the impact of their research and distinguished by the depth of their mentorship. World challenges are studied in the classroom where critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills are honed. In the field, knowledge turns into discovery. In office hours, plans are carefully crafted to tie interests and talents to an academic path that motivates beyond graduation.
Our location in the heart of the Finger Lakes allows faculty, staff and students to live and work collaboratively on the banks of a resource-rich lake. Student-athletes play for 31 varsity teams boasting 26 national titles, including the 2023, 2024 and 2025 NCAA DIII Men's Ice Hockey Championships. With three graduate programs, students can build on their undergraduate degree with a Master of Arts in Higher Education Leadership, Master of Arts in Teaching, or a Master of Science in Management. Together, the experiences and mentorship at HWS prepare students to lead lives of consequence.
A Bachelor's Degree in Accounting or similar major and five years relevant experience preferred and/or equivalent accounting education, training, and financial record-keeping experience necessary to perform the responsibilities listed above.
Five years of related work or audit experience in accounts payable, accounts receivable, gifts, endowments, fixed assets, and tax.
Proficiency in the use of computerized general ledger or ERP systems and Microsoft Office programs including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint is required.
Knowledge of IT systems, process flows and structured query language (SQL). Experience in implementing new systems and/or system enhancements.
Thorough understanding of business practices relevant to colleges and universities or other complex not-for-profit organizations.
Superior interpersonal skills with the ability to work with a wide range of campus constituencies.
Must have strong organizational and time management skills as well as the ability to communicate effectively.
Must be able to work well under pressure, set priorities to meet established deadlines, and handle multiple tasks concurrently.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
Ability to work onsite.
The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
The Colleges are an equal employment opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination and harassment in their programs and activities against employees or applicants based on race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), color, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity or expression, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, familial status, domestic violence victim status, caregiver status, military status, including past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, social class, or any other category or characteristic protected by applicable law.
If you require a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact our Human Resources team at HR@hws.edu or 315-781-3312.
