Senior Accountant & Financial Aid Administrator

The Senior Accountant & Financial Aid Administrator is a key member of the Business Office, responsible for a broad range of accounting, financial reporting and financial aid responsibilities. Serving as a vital bridge between the Business Office and Admissions, this position plays an integral role in supporting the School’s enrollment management efforts while ensuring accurate financial reporting, sound financial stewardship, and exceptional service to prospective and current families. This position requires exceptional attention to detail, strong analytical and organizational skills, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively across departments. Success in the role depends on building strong working relationships and communicating effectively with colleagues, prospective and current families, students, auditors, and external partners while handling sensitive information with professionalism, discretion, and care. We seek someone who is committed to navigating today’s changing and diverse landscape to help the School promote and nurture diversity, equity, and inclusion. The School encourages candidates from under-represented groups to apply, as well as those who have demonstrated experience with diverse populations. Essential Responsibilities Accounting & Financial Reporting Manage accounting and financial reporting for key functional areas, including cash and investments (including endowment activity), fixed assets, receivables (including tuition), and other assigned general ledger accounts. Prepare account reconciliations, journal entries, and supporting documentation in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to ensure accurate and timely financial reporting. Monitor New York State Education Department funding opportunities and reimbursement programs for nonpublic schools, evaluate the School's eligibility, and coordinate all related applications, reporting, reconciliation, and compliance activities to maximize available funding. Analyze financial results, investigate variances, and prepare reports and recommendations to support informed decision‑making. Act as the primary Business Office contact for designated budget managers, providing guidance on spending, budget activity, account coding, and expense allocation. Meet with budget managers at least monthly to review financial activity, ensure transactions are accurately recorded, and support effective budget management. Support the monthly and annual financial close processes, including the preparation of financial statements, schedules, and management analyses. Serve as the Business Office liaison for the School's JesterMester program, partnering with trip leaders and program leadership to provide guidance on budgets, purchasing, expense reporting, account activity, reconciliations, and payment processing. Lead or support special accounting, financial reporting, system implementation, and other Business Office initiatives as needed to support the School's operational and strategic priorities. Audit and Compliance Coordinate assigned aspects of the annual independent audit, including preparation of schedules, workpapers, and supporting documentation. Prepare schedules and supporting documentation for the School's annual Form 990, sales tax filings, and other regulatory filings, surveys, and required financial reports, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and compliance with applicable reporting requirements. Support the School's system of internal controls by maintaining accurate financial records and promoting compliance with institutional policies and procedures. Collaborate across departments on strategic initiatives, system implementations, reporting enhancements, and other projects that support the goals of the Business Office and the School. Perform other related responsibilities and contribute to special projects as assigned in support of the evolving needs of the Business Office. Financial Aid Administration & Enrollment Support Serve as a key member of the Financial Aid Committee, leading the administration of the School’s financial aid program for prospective and returning students, including application review, award recommendations, reconciliation, reporting, and year‑end analysis. Act as the primary administrator for the School's financial aid management system (Clarity), ensuring accurate and efficient processing while maintaining the integrity of financial aid and enrollment data. Partner closely with the Admissions team throughout the enrollment cycle to align financial aid administration with the School's recruitment, enrollment, and retention goals. Review financial aid applications and supporting documentation, evaluate family financial information, and prepare award recommendations consistent with School policies and budget parameters. Serve as the primary point of contact for prospective and current families throughout the financial aid process, coordinating the issuance of enrollment contracts and reconciling financial aid awards with tuition billing and student account records. Prepare reports and analyses related to enrollment, tuition revenue, tuition discount rate, and financial aid to support institutional decision‑making. Support the ongoing enhancement of financial aid and enrollment processes while providing families with a welcoming, respectful and supportive experience and exercising the highest level of discretion when handling sensitive and confidential financial information. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required. Five to seven years of progressive accounting or finance experience required; nonprofit or independent School experience preferred. Strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), financial reporting, and account reconciliation, budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. Experience administering financial aid programs, tuition assistance, enrollment management, or other student financial services preferred. Proficiency with Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace applications, along with financial and student information systems; experience with Blackbaud, Clarity, or similar enterprise software is preferred. Demonstrated analytical, organizational, and problem‑solving skills, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment. Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to build collaborative relationships across departments and provide outstanding customer service. Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and communicate with professionalism, empathy, and respect while working with individuals from a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. Salary $80,000 - $110,000 based on education and experience. #J-18808-Ljbffr Emma Willard School