USC Provost Shared Services seeks a detailed-oriented professional to join its team as an Accountant II for the USC Libraries and USC Pacific Asia Museum (PAM). At its core, this position is a customer service role with approximately 70% of duties focused on reconciling and monitoring budgets and 30% of the role dedicated to post-award contract and grant administration.

Specific accounting and transactional duties include auditing actual transactions (such as procurement card charges), coordinating the p-card reallocation process, and preparing routine monthly financial reports as well as ad hoc financial reports to support the Libraries and PAM.  The successful candidate will actively manage accounting records, monitor and review financial activity, apply university policy and accepted accounting principles to produce regular reports as well as analyze them for accuracy.  S/he will work directly with unit account managers to identify trends, address problems, and make necessary changes.  

As grants administrator, the incumbent provides administrative support for a wide range of post-award tasks including expenditure approvals and guidance on expense “allowability” as well as reporting requirement support.  S/he coordinates the submission of notices and requests to sponsors, of interim reports, and reviews final information for award closeout. This role also has primary responsibility for timely and thorough effort certification completion.

Finally, the person in this role coordinates the annual Payment Card Industry – Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS) audit for both units.  This involves coordinating with employees whose responsibilities may include the handling of credit cards or credit card information.  In addition, the Accountant II will also be the point person for the USC Treasury Office as well as PCI auditors.

The ideal candidate must have a minimum of three years of experience in accounting roles and possess strong knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles including fund accounting. Progressively responsible experience as a budget analyst/accountant with knowledge of university financial systems (Kuali). Experience with Workday, TARA, eMarket, Cognos, TM1, and PCI is strongly preferred.

Job Accountabilities:

• Maintains accounting records for an assigned major segment of the university's financial system. Monitors and reviews financial activity. Applies generally accepted accounting principles to design and produce regular reports and statements and analyze for accuracy, problems and trends and makes recommendations.
• Monitors and processes financial transactions. Creates ad-hoc financial reports as needed.
• Conducts internal reviews to determine if units are operating according adherence to university policies and agency regulations.
• Compiles and organizes data for use in budget forecasts and development. Produces regular operating statements. Evaluates actual performance and develops conclusions and/or recommendations to address potential budget variances. Advises and consults with departmental colleagues concerning the accounting and financial implications of existing and projected department activities.
• Advises on university financial policies and procedures, agency laws and regulations, and generally accepted accounting principles.
• Maintains currency with laws and regulations governing accounting policies and procedures.
• May act as a lead to other accountants and/or student workers with work assignments, problem resolution and/or with special projects. Provides leadership and guidance to accountants and/or student workers with work assignments and/or special assignments or short-term projects as needed. Assists in training or scheduling work assignments as required.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Education:

• Bachelors or Masters Degree in Finance or Accounting

Preferred Experience:

• 5 years of directly related accounting experience.
• Private University accounting experience
• Progressively responsible experience as an accountant with knowledge of university financial systems including Kuali and eMarket.
• Grants administration training (“The Cardinal and Gold Curriculum” in TrojanLearn)
• e-cert training
• Payment Card Industry – Data Security Standards (PCI-DSS) training
• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles including fund accounting
• Ability to use a variety of software applications such as databases, spreadsheets, presentations, Adobe, etc.
• Strong customer focus
• Demonstrated knowledge of computer use with various software applications, but specifically, above average Excel skills
• Demonstrated experience balancing figures, verifying calculations, and observing anomalistic data
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical staff/faculty
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced environment, prioritize and follow through on multiple tasks, and adjust to changing priorities
• Ability to learn and adapt quickly