Accounting Manager

Accounting Manager

The Accounting Manager of the Montana State University Alumni Foundation ("Alumni Foundation") proactively orchestrates, audits, and validates the operational execution of the general ledger, the end-to-end monthly close cycle, and complex tax/audit work papers. Reporting directly to the Controller, this pivotal leadership position serves as the critical bridge linking high-volume transactional subledgers with advanced GAAP financial analysis. The Accounting Manager champions internal control compliance, engineers workflow efficiencies, establishes rigorous performance trackers, and conducts cross-departmental financial reviews to drive institutional transparency. The Accounting Manager supervises the Associate Director of Accounting and the Accounts Payable Specialist(s).

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

1. Close Cycle Orchestration & Subledger Validation
   • Spearhead and manage the end-to-end monthly and annual accounting close processes for all Alumni Foundation entities and subsidiaries, maintaining strict accountability for an on-time close.
   • Coordinate and monitor day-to-day workflow tracking and team deliverables utilizing advanced project management platforms.
   • Audit, approve, and post all general ledger journal entries and statement of financial position reconciliations prepared by the Associate Director of Accounting and Accounting Specialist throughout the close cycle.
   • Govern month-end platform cut-offs, ensuring seamless data synchronization between front-end spend management networks and the core accounting database.
   • Oversight and management of payables and receivables, including vendor and bill approvals, invoicing, credit card and employee reimbursement processes and team.
   • Formulate and push automated system notifications and execute assertive follow-ups with delinquent cardholders and approving managers to secure timely reconciliations.
2. Financial Analysis & Cross-Departmental Partnership
   • Extract and evaluate detailed budget-to-actual variance reports immediately following the soft close to identify and flag critical discrepancies.
   • Schedule, lead, and facilitate strategic monthly budget alignment sessions with department heads.
   • Serve as the primary technical resource for internal management and staff, independently resolving complex accounting questions, interpreting internal policies, and delivering clear explanations to non-accountants.
3. Advanced Reconciliations & Payroll Governance
   • Formulate and post bi-weekly payroll journal entries and model intricate monthly payroll accruals based on human resource statistics.
   • Direct and review ongoing clean-up initiatives for historical and inactive general ledger accounts to eliminate outstanding legacy balances.
   • Reconcile and analyze high-risk payroll liability accounts, including paid time off, retirement fund withholdings, and employee benefit tracking.
4. Audit Defense, Tax Compliance & Fund Stewardship
   • Construct complex, advanced annual audit and tax work papers in Excel, systematically pulling testing samples and assembling documentation packets for external auditors and tax preparers.
   • Audit and approve long-term and short-term pool investment schedules, running verification trials against historical balances before final internal reporting.
   • Investigate and research non-standard, unique, or complex gifts to ensure exact GAAP fund accounting treatment and compliance with strict donor restrictions.
   • Execute and govern the annual Spending Distribution (SPD) process
   • Proactively identify operational bottlenecks, architect internal control enhancements, and design automated task efficiencies across financial software ecosystems.
5. Team Management & Collaboration
   • Supervise and develop Accounting staff, including conducting performance evaluations, delivering feedback and coaching, and supporting professional development.
   • Coordinate work across Accounting and Accounts Payable positions and systems to ensure collaboration and communication between teams.
   • Ensure ongoing staff training and cross-training, including onboarding of new team members.
   • Support the Controller and Chief Operations & Finance Officer in staffing planning and hiring for new positions.
6. Affect and maintain a professional, proactive, positive, highly collaborative, and performance-centric work environment.
7. Fulfill other responsibilities and duties as needed.

Duties and responsibilities may change at any time.

Special skills and qualifications include:

1. Technical Mastery: Thorough knowledge of and demonstrated ability to apply Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) standards specifically tailored to non-profit fund accounting.
2. Internal Control Architecture: Proven capability to design, implement, and monitor robust internal control workflows to safeguard corporate assets.
3. Analytical Problem Solving: Advanced capability to independently analyze complex data sets, interpret ambiguous IRS non-profit regulations, and trace/rectify deep subledger errors.
4. Communication Excellence: Exceptional written and verbal communication style with a proven knack for conveying highly technical accounting logic in a concise, digestible manner to university stakeholders.
5. Ability to prioritize, manage multiple tasks, and work both independently and as an effective team member.
6. Proven track record of ethical and strategic leadership, collaborative problem solving, and positive personnel management and supervision.
7. High standard of professional ethics.

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance (all of which are 90-100% employer-paid for employee-only coverage), 403(b) retirement plan with 7% employer contribution after 1-yr anniversary, up to 5 weeks' paid time-off, 11 paid holidays, tuition assistance and more.

Applications and recruitment: Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, a resume, and three professional references online. Recruitment will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. Compensation will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. The MSU Alumni Foundation is an equal employment opportunity employer who believes that diversity, equity and inclusion allow us to better serve our students and communities and are critical to supporting the mission of Montana State University as a land grant institution.