Accountant

Job Title: Accountant

Job Duration: 5+ Months Contract

Job Location: Houston, Texas 77002

Position Summary

The Senior Accountant supports the financial stewardship of a public or higher education institution by leading financial reporting, budgeting, payroll accounting, and audit support activities. This role ensures compliance with public sector accounting standards, institutional policies, and regulatory requirements while providing accurate financial analysis to leadership, faculty, and administrative departments.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Financial Reporting & Close
• Prepare and present monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports for senior administration and institutional leadership.
• Assist with all monthly and year end close processes, including journal entries, accruals, and reconciliations.
• Reconcile bank accounts, liability accounts, and balance sheet accounts prior to each monthly close.
• Conduct and explain variance analysis to management, auditors, and governing bodies.
• Complete year end close and support annual financial statement preparation.

Audit & Compliance

• Serve as lead contact for Schedule A (revenue reporting) during annual audits.
• Provide documentation and support for internal, external, and regulatory audits.
• Ensure adherence to public sector accounting standards and institutional financial policies.
• Develop, implement, and maintain financial policies and internal controls within the division.

Budgeting, Planning & Forecasting

• Support decision making, planning, and forecasting for departmental and divisional budgets.
• Manage and monitor multimillion dollar budgets across P&L, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Balance Sheet accounts.
• Track fund balances, grants, and restricted accounts; notify appropriate personnel when budget limits are approached.
• Determine fund availability for expenditures, requisitions, and procurement activities.

Payroll & Expense Management

• Manage payroll accounting for approximately 120 faculty and staff, ensuring compliance with institutional payroll policies.
• Run bi monthly General Ledger interfaces for payroll and post payroll journals with required budget corrections.
• Audit employee expense reports to ensure compliance with institutional and public sector policies.
• Perform ongoing expense analysis and month to month trend reviews.

Accounts Payable, Receivable & Procurement Support

• Perform three way invoice matching for high volume invoice processing (600+ invoices per week).
• Reconcile unbilled receiving and follow up with vendors to obtain outstanding invoices.
• Review and approve invoices in coordination with Building Operations and Procurement.
• Respond to payment inquiries and vendor communication.

Tenant, Auxiliary & Student Related Accounting

• Prepare and post monthly journal entries and reconciliations for auxiliary operations and commercial tenants.
• Maintain multiple tenant and auxiliary reconciliations (30+ accounts).
• Collaborate with the Bursar’s Office on cash applications, receivables, and tenant payments.

Operational & Administrative Support

• Manage operational resources including space planning, inventory control, and physical assets.
• Support departmental operations with financial guidance and analysis.
• Communicate effectively with faculty, staff, administrators, students, and external stakeholders.
• Provide financial insights to support institutional goals and public accountability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Demonstrated accounting experience within public sector, higher education, or nonprofit environments preferred.
• Strong knowledge of general ledger accounting, reconciliations, and financial reporting.
• Experience supporting audits and managing large budgets.
• High attention to detail and ability to manage large transaction volumes.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with fund accounting or higher education financial systems.
• Knowledge of governmental or public sector accounting standards.
• Experience working with faculty, grants, auxiliaries, or student related accounting functions.
• CPA or other relevant professional certification a plus.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Ability to explain financial information to non finance stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a highly regulated environment.
• Commitment to public accountability, transparency, and service excellence.