College: SOWELA

Department: Finance

Sub department: Business Office

Type of Appointment: Unclassified - Administrative/Staff

Salary: Start of $72,000 with actual offer based on experience and education

Duties and Responsibilities: • Responsible for preparing financial analyses of campus operations, financial position reports on all funds, and financial forecasts, as required to ensure adequate financial controls and to meet SOWELA System and external agencies reporting requirements.
• Provides advice regarding unrelated business income activities, revenue-generating proposals, academic fee income projections, grants and contract issues, debt service issues, and contracting issues.
• Ensures that accurate internal ledgers and records are maintained and are reconciled monthly with reports generated by the College’s financial management system.
• Communicates with public and private accountants; state, federal, and independent auditors; banks; and program or management personnel of external entities for the purpose of providing information and technical assistance needed to resolve problems.
• Primarily responsible for the timely preparation of financial statements and related disclosures which may include the compilation and analysis of data required for the preparation of specialized reports.
• Consults with the Vice Chancellor for Finance, College Deans, Directors, and other personnel on financial issues.
• Responsible for monitoring compliance with operating and capital expenditure guidelines and providing financial control to ensure the protection of College resources.
• Prepares responses for the Vice Chancellor for Finance on appropriate audits and ensures adequate measures are implemented to comply with audit findings.
• Responsible for developing the College’s internal control plan and implementing procedures to ensure the safety of College assets including collection and disbursement of all College funds.
• Plans and directs the development of the College automated financial systems to ensure adequate internal controls and directs the preparation of annual financial reporting required by the Louisiana Community Technical College System (LCTCS) and the Board of Regents.
• Serves on college committees as directed by the Vice Chancellor for Finance and attends regional and national conferences to keep abreast of issues necessary to perform duties as directed.
• Keeps the appropriate College personnel apprised of changes in financial policies, procedures, and statutes and serves as a consultant to various faculty, staff, and student governance committees.
• Within the Finance Department, initiates personnel actions such as hiring, coaching, developing, evaluating, and disciplining. Prepares work schedules; assigns or delegates responsibilities. Monitors payroll and timesheets. Sets deadlines to ensure completion of any Finance tasks and projects.
• Responsible for planning, controlling, communicating and implementing procedures and processes for the overall efficient operations of the department.
• Provides accounting services for the SOWELA Technical Community College Foundation under the terms of the College’s Cooperative Endeavor Agreement with the Foundation Board. These services include oversight of accounts payable and receivables, preparation of financial reports for the Foundation Board of Directors, allocation of investment earnings and losses to individual restricted funds, annual preparation and/or review of the IRS Form 990, assistance with preparation of the annual donor statements, and other accounting/financial tasks as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field.

Required Experience: Five (5) years of experience at a senior finance level, working with fund accounting, financial reporting, chart of account maintenance, budget control and general ledger functions.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: • Effective interpersonal, organizational, analytical and communication skills.
• Ability to handle multiple priorities.
• Ability to manage financial data and reconciliations.
• Ability to provide leadership and staff management.
• Knowledge of and experience with complex computer-based financial management systems.
• Leadership and management skills sufficient to lead a staff, potentially operating on a rotating schedule in multiple locations.
• Proficiency in the use of standard office equipment and networked personal computers.
• Proficiency in or ability to become proficient in a variety of software, including but not limited to Microsoft Office.
• Oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to perform basic mathematical computations needed to complete job tasks.
• Skilled at planning, organizing, and prioritizing job duties to meet deadlines.
• Maintaining interpersonal professional working relationship at all levels – students, peers, and Executives.

Required Licenses or Certifications: 

Preferred Education: Master’s degree and/or CPA.

Preferred Experience: • Work experience in accounting at a public higher education institution or state agency.
• Work experience in policy development.

Preferred Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: 

Benefits: As a member of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, SOWELA has an attractive benefits package with a wide variety of benefit options. Benefits offered include retirement, multiple medical insurance options, supplemental insurances (dental, term life, disability, accident, vision, etc.), Tax Saver Flexible Benefits Plan (saves tax dollars on some child care and medical expenses), holidays (14 per year, typically includes longer break at Christmas), generous annual (vacation) and sick leave benefits and Employee Assistance Program. Specific benefits depend on job category, percent effort and length of employment.

Passing pre-employment criminal background screen is required as a condition of employment. SOWELA is an equal opportunity/equal access employer. SOWELA is a State As a Model Employer (SAME) agency that supports improved employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.