Accounting Specialist (part-time) in Kent

Physical Location: Kent Campus - Kent, OH

Salary: $16.12 per hour

Basic Function: Provides complex accounting, administrative, and clerical assistance for the administration of Kent State University and department programs and projects; assists administrators with financial reports and budgets. Reports to Department Head or other designated administrative supervisor.

Examples of Duties:

• Analyses financial and statistical data; prepares financial projections; provides financial information to others involved in preparing and reconciling divisional budgets.
• Reviews and monitors adjustments made to accounts, ledgers, or journals; determines accuracy and validity of accounting documents and transactions.
• Prepares financial reports, oversees the receipt and disbursement of university resources, reconciles and balances accounts.
• Recommends changes in department/organizational unit business office policies, procedures, and practices.
• Assists in the administration of department programs and projects; ensures compliance with policies, procedures, and regulations originating within and outside the university; provides technical advice and information to aid administrator in decision making; answers questions and independently resolves administrative and budgetary problems.
• Serves as liaison and acts on behalf of administrator in regular dealings with persons within (e.g., faculty, professional, and supervisory staff, etc.) and outside the university (e.g., representatives of agencies, professional contacts, etc.); represents administrator at meetings and conferences; may make presentations at meetings and conferences.
• Communicates and responds to questions/concerns with internal and external constituents.
• Composes routine and non-routine correspondence concerning requests for information.
• Provides clerical support for programs and projects; prepares and processes forms; maintains a system of paper and/or computerized files.
• May plan and direct the work activities of clerical/secretarial employees or student workers; assigns and monitors work duties and responsibilities; establishes and modifies work methods, schedules, and priorities.
• May recommend formal personnel actions (e.g., hiring termination, promotion, discipline, layoff/recall) for assigned employees and initiates appropriate action to implement recommendations.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent plus completion of 12 to 18 months training in a financially related area (or equivalent training or experience which provides comparable knowledge, skills, and abilities).
• A minimum of one year progressively responsible experience in a financially related area.

Knowledge Of:

• Bookkeeping/accounting procedures and terminology
• Office practices and procedures
• Standard procedures for alphanumeric filing
• Spreadsheet software packages

Skill In:

• Interpersonal communication to effectively interact with University personnel and public in person and over the telephone (e.g., to explain policies and procedures, answer routine questions)
• Public speaking, if required by position
• Written communication (e.g., to compose reports, correspondence and memos)
• Typing (i.e., 35 net words per minute), if required by position

Ability To:

• Gather, collate, and classify information according to established methods
• Define problems, collect data, and draw valid conclusions
• Apply and interpret policies and procedures
• Resolve problems independently and make decisions
• Operate various office equipment (e.g., calculator, copy machine, facsimile machine, etc.)
• Operate a computer for word-processing, data entry/retrieval, and data management; specific software preferred
• Perform basic mathematics (e.g., add, subtract, multiply, and divide whole numbers, fractions, and decimals, and to calculate percentages)
• Plan and direct work activities, to manage time effectively, and to set priorities
• Locate and correct bookkeeping/accounting errors
• Read and comprehend a variety of written material

Working Conditions / Physical Requirements: Normal office environment; may work varied hours to include evenings and weekends during peak periods; may require off-campus travel.

Working Schedule: Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; however, schedule may vary to meet departmental needs.

Additional Information: Must pass a security check. Kent State University is committed to creating a community that is culturally and intellectually diverse and to attracting and retaining a diverse staff. We strive to create and maintain working and learning environments that respect differences, and are inclusive, welcoming, respectful and kind.

Kent State University is a Smoke-Free, Tobacco-Free University effective July 1, 2017. Smoking and tobacco use are not permitted on any of Kent State’s campuses or other locations and properties that are owned, operated, or leased by Kent State, both domestic and international.