Senior Accountant, Investments & Gifts

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning.

Posted Job Title

Senior Accountant, Investments & Gifts

Job Profile Title

Accountant/Financial Analyst Senior

Job Description Summary

The Experienced Senior Accountant/Analyst performs significant reporting and analysis processes including related internal controls and monthly, quarterly, and annual closing procedures, and highly technical and complex accounting/reporting research. This Experienced Senior Accountant/Analyst reports to the Senior Associate Director in Gifts Accounting and Administration.

The Experienced Senior Accountant/Analyst performs various analyses of business operations which are used by Executive Leadership (e.g., Associate Comptroller, Comptroller, VP, and EVP) and the University’s external auditors. These analyses are key to (1) ensuring the accuracy of the University financial reporting, (2) communicating the financial health and integrity of the Consolidated University to the Board of Trustees and other interested external third parties such as prospective donors, grant making agencies, debt holders, etc., (3) maintaining and improving the University credit rating, (4) ensuring proper financial stewardship/control and (5) safeguarding University assets.

Job Description

Responsibilities:

• Collaborating with Senior Associate Director managing the monthly/quarterly/annual reporting of the University $1billion contribution receivable process. Ensure all financial pledges are recorded both on the Compass gift system and on BEN financials. Review and reporting of all non-financial pledge intentions are appropriately recorded on the Compass gift system. Prepare monthly bad debt allowance and record reserves appropriately. Monitor discounts accretions run monthly and analyze accretions for correctness.
• Provide monthly schedules of pledges, discounts, and specific reserves to the Financial Reporting and Accounting Operations group. Provide analysis of variances and key new gifts for reporting for senior University leadership.
• Provide monthly roll-forward analysis of pledge receivables, intentions and new contributions. Provide support on all new gifts and payments over $5 million threshold to financial reporting.
• Review all new contribution activity over $1m to ensure proper recording on assets/revenue reporting.
• Provide monthly reporting of new contributions, and pledge reviewable activity to UPHS, both consolidated reporting and to each of the 7 hospitals. Complete reconciliation of receipts and review monthly interfund transfers to ensure correct transfer of cash receipts to UPHS.
• Collaborate with schools and centers to ensure gifts recorded to suspense funds are moved promptly to ultimate purposes.
• Help with the preparation of annual contributions of revenue footnotes, including contributions receivable and liquidity footnotes. Aid with the preparation of annual analysis of allowance for uncollectible receivables for monthly reserves.
• Aid with the preparation of quarterly meetings for pledges at risk, both financial and non-financial pledges.
• Aid with the daily/monthly cash & credit card reconciliations to ensure three-way reconciliation between the bank, Compass and BEN financials is completed accurately, and any discrepancies are promptly resolved.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s Degree with 3-5 years of related experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Previous experience managing financial records. Attention to detail/accuracy. Strong business acumen and financial management skills. Knowledge of Penn’s financial systems is a plus. CPA preferred.

• Previous finance/accounting, reporting, and analysis experience required.
• Advance technical skills required (spreadsheet proficiency).
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills are essential, including professional email writing skills and the ability to enforce policies and guidelines diplomatically but assertively, including those at higher levels.