Accountant III

Accountant III

Portland Community College is the largest post-secondary institution in Oregon and 19th largest in the nation, serving approximately 80,000 full- and part-time students. With four comprehensive campuses, five workforce training and education centers, and 200 community locations in the Portland metropolitan area, our unique role is to make high-quality education accessible to everyone, creating opportunities for our students and contributing to the economic development of our community.

Job Location: Downtown Center - 722 SW 2nd Ave, Portland, OR 97204

The Accountant III serves in a lead capacity, coordinating daily operations for programs and activities that impact the college broadly, including year-end close, annual audit, accounting automation, and other core financial processes. This role collaborates with internal departments, college leadership, external agencies, and the public to ensure accurate and efficient financial operations.

Incumbents bring advanced expertise in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP/GASB), along with strong proficiency in modern accounting systems and technology. The position applies advanced accounting knowledge and management skills to support the development and implementation of college-wide accounting policies, procedures, and systems.

The Accountant III performs complex accounting functions, including preparing financial statements, strengthening internal controls, and ensuring compliance with applicable standards. Additionally, the role conducts financial analysis and leads process improvement initiatives to enhance organizational efficiency and effectiveness.

Working closely with a wide range of stakeholders-including college staff, leadership, faculty, departments, and students-the Accountant III provides critical financial insights and support to inform strategic and operational decision-making.

What You'll Do and Who We Are Looking For

These qualifications, skills and abilities are critical for success in this position. Throughout the screening process, you will be evaluated based on the demonstration of these qualifications.

• Candidates demonstrate a strong technical acumen in finance, accounting (GAAP/GASB), budgeting and software maintenance. This should include compilation of financial statements, evaluation of internal controls and coordination of an external financial audit.
• Candidates show a strong ability to communicate financial results and forward-looking impacts across all levels of the organization.
• Candidates display the ability to work flexibly across various internal functional teams on a variety of accounting and non-accounting projects and deliverables.
• Candidates exhibit the ability to translate financial information including policies and procedures to a diverse audience in a consumable manner.
• Ability to collaborate with external and internal partners, including staff, from diverse communities with respect and attention to belonging, justice, equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Candidate is familiar with accounting for fixed assets and leases.
• Experience with government/non-profit fund accounting.

Minimum Qualifications

To be considered, your application must demonstrate these minimum qualifications. (Experience is calculated based on the start and end dates you provide multiplied by the number of hours per week worked).

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.
• Experience performing the duties described above may substitute for the degree requirement on a year-for-year basis.
• Three years of experience working accounting, or the area of accounting that is related to the assignment is required, including working with preparation of comprehensive annual financial reports.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating and overseeing complex financial projects and audits; working with PC and mainframe computer systems, hardware, and supporting software applications; and experience working with computerized general ledgers and accounting systems.