Senior Accountant

EmployerZane State CollegeLocationZanesville Campus, OHJob TypeFull-Time StaffDivisionAccountingOpening Date06/24/2026DescriptionBenefitsQuestionsPosition DescriptionThe Senior Accountant provides critical technical expertise in accounting and financial reporting. This role ensures the integrity of the College's financial records and supports compliance, audit readiness, and informed decision-making through accurate and consistent financial data. The Senior Accountant is responsible for general ledger accounting, financial reporting, reconciliations, and audit support for Zane State College. This role ensures the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of the College's financial records. The position operates as a highly skilled individual contributor, providing technical accounting expertise and supporting the overall financial reporting framework of the institution. The Senior Accountant plays a critical role in maintaining compliance with accounting standards and supporting internal and external reporting requirements. This role works closely with the Chief Financial Officer, Senior Director of Fund Accounting and Budget (SDFAB), and Senior Director of Finance & Business Operations to ensure alignment between financial activity, reporting, and budget structure. Hiring Range - 61,500.00 - $70,250.00 Essential Duties and Responsibilities General Ledger Management Maintain and oversee the integrity of the general ledger within Jenzabar OneEnsure accurate recording and classification of financial transactionsReview and post journal entries as neededMonitor account activity and resolve discrepancies Account Reconciliations Perform and review reconciliations for ALL balance sheet accounts to ensure every account is understood, supported, and signed off. This includes but is not limited to: cash and bank accountsreceivables and payables-related balancesrestricted and designated fundsaccounts receivable balances — while AR accounts are managed day-to-day by the Bursar and SDFBO, the Senior Accountant reviews and finalizes the reconciliation to ensure accuracy and completeness in the general ledgerfixed assets (see Fixed Asset Management below)prepaid expenses, deferred revenue, and other accrual accountsInvestigate and resolve reconciling items in a timely mannerEnsure all reconciliations are documented and maintained Financial Reporting Prepare internal financial reports and supporting schedulesAssist in the preparation of financial statementsSupport reporting needs for leadership, departments, and external stakeholdersEnsure consistency and accuracy in financial dataPrepare financial data and schedules to support year-end reporting and external compliance submissions (e.g., Auditor of State reporting), in coordination with the Senior Director of Fund Accounting and Budget (SDFAB) Audit Support and Compliance Serve as a primary point of contact for external auditorsPrepare audit schedules, documentation, and supporting materialsEnsure compliance with applicable accounting standards and institutional policiesAssist in implementing audit recommendations as needed Journal Entries and Adjustments Coordinate and oversee journal entries across all functional areas. Given the volume and breadth of entries required, each functional department is responsible for initiating and owning the journal entries related to their area of operations. The Senior Accountant reviews, checks, and reconciles all entries to ensure accuracy and proper GL classification. This includes: month-end and year-end adjustmentspayroll-related entries from ADP into Jenzabar Oneallocation and accrual entriesEnsure all entries are properly documented and approved Financial Aid Reconciliation Financial Aid holds primary ownership of the monthly financial aid reconciliation and is responsible for initiating and completing that processThe Senior Accountant reconciles financial aid activity to the general ledger, ensuring that aid postings are accurately reflected in the GL and that no discrepancies exist between Financial Aid records and institutional financial data Fixed Asset Management Fixed assets remain under the ownership of the Senior Accountant within the general ledgerWhen the College acquires an asset, the Senior Accountant records the addition directly in the GL — debiting Fixed Assets and crediting the appropriate income statement account. All entries must run through the general ledger; the College does not rely on third-party accountants or external preparers to make entries outside of Jenzabar OneAssets are depreciated in accordance with the College's depreciation schedule; the Senior Accountant records depreciation entries and maintains the fixed asset schedule Coordination with Budget and Operations Work closely with the Senior Director of Fund Accounting and Budget (SDFAB) to: align budget data with actual financial activitysupport accurate reporting of budget-to-actual performanceCollaborate with the Senior Director of Finance & Business Operations to: ensure operational transactions are recorded accuratelyaddress discrepancies between operational activity and financial records Process Documentation and Standardization Support development and maintenance of accounting processes and proceduresEnsure documentation of key workflows related to financial reporting and reconciliationsPromote consistency in accounting practices System Oversight and Data Integrity Maintain working knowledge of Jenzabar One financial systemEnsure data integrity within the general ledgerSupport system improvements related to accounting and reporting Transition and Knowledge Transfer Document existing accounting processes and proceduresSupport knowledge transfer during transition and onboarding of future staffProvide guidance as needed during transition of responsibilities Culture of Respect This role is expected to actively model, champion, and embed a culture of respect throughout every dimension of divisional leadership. The College is firmly committed to its Personal Touch principles of Respect, Responsiveness, and Responsibility (the "Three R's") in all professional relationships: employee to student, employee to employee, and employee to community. They will: Demonstrate and promote respect for the dignity, perspectives, and contributions of all individuals, including students, faculty, staff, administrators, and community partners.Create and sustain an inclusive and equitable divisional climate that values diverse backgrounds, identities, experiences, and viewpoints.Address conflict, misconduct, and concerns in a fair, transparent, and timely manner consistent with college policies and values.Actively teach, model, and reinforce the Three R's — Respect, Responsiveness, and Responsibility — to influence the development of professional behaviors among faculty, staff, and students.Uphold the College's non-discrimination and equal opportunity commitments in all decisions.Qualifications POSITION REQUIREMENTS Bachelor's degree in accounting or related field; master's degree in accounting preferredExperience in higher education or public sector preferred REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES The successful candidate will demonstrate the following competencies: Competency Area - Description Technical Accounting Skills - Strong understanding of accounting principles and financial reporting. Experience with general ledger accounting and reconciliations. Superior efficiency with Microsoft Office Excel, Pivot Tables, and other financial and analytical tools. Communication - Superior written and oral communication skills. Ability to draft polished, error-free professional documents, meeting minutes, and executive-level correspondence. Organization - Attention to detail and strong analytical skills.Exceptional ability to plan, prioritize, and coordinate multiple projects, calendars, and deadlines in a high-volume, fast-paced environment. Discretion - Sound judgment in handling highly sensitive, confidential, and politically nuanced information with absolute discretion. Collaboration - Ability to build and maintain effective working relationships across all levels of the institution and with external community partners and stakeholders. Compliance and Regulatory Acumen - Must stay updated on federal and state regulations, tax laws, and accounting standards to ensure all financial operations comply with legal requirements. This includes preparing documentation for audits and assisting with tax filings, PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS Work is performed primarily in a professional office setting within the Business Office. The position requires the ability to sit for extended periods, use a computer and standard office equipment, and communicate effectively in person and by telephone. Occasional lifting of materials up to 25 pounds may be required for event setup and office operations. Occasional evening and weekend hours are required for Board of Trustees meetings, special projects, and other institutional functions.Employment and Benefits EEOC Statement Zane State College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, national origin (ancestry), military status (past, present or future), disability, age (40 years or older), status as a parent during pregnancy and immediately after the birth of a child, status as a parent of a young child, status as a nursing mother, status as a foster parent, genetic information, or sexual orientation. ZSC offers an excellent benefits package including the following: Competitive base salary Comprehensive healthcare plans including medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage HSA/FSA Employee Assistance Program Life and long-term disability insurance Supplemental retirement savings plans Generous paid time off including vacation, sick, and personal leave Monday - Thursday work week - 10 hr day 2025 SB1 Statement of Commitment As required by Ohio Revised Code section 3345.0216, Zane State College will: educate students by means of free, open and rigorous intellectual inquiry to seek the truth; equip students with the opportunity to develop intellectual skills to reach their own, informed conclusions; not require, favor, disfavor or prohibit speech or lawful assembly; create a community dedicated to an ethic of civil and free inquiry, which respects the autonomy of each member, supports individual capacities for growth and tolerates differences in opinion; treat all faculty, staff and students as individuals, hold them to equal standards and provide equality of opportunity with regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. The final candidate is subject to the successful completion of reference checks and a background check. Excellent benefits include medical, dental, vision, life insurance, long-term disability, and retirement.01 Do you have previous experience in higher education or public sector? YesNo 02 Do you have a bachelor's degree in accounting or related field? YesNo * Required QuestionEmployerZane State CollegeAddress1555 Newark Road Zanesville, Ohio, 43701Phone740.588.4407Website