Senior Financial Governmental Accounting Analyst - Institutional Accounting Reporting and Analysis

West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a remote Senior Financial Governmental Accounting Analyst. This professional level position is responsible for the preparation, analysis, and external audits of the financial statements for the University and its affiliates, ensuring compliance with governmental accounting standards and providing guidance to accounting staff across the institution.

Responsibilities:

• Manages the development, preparation and analysis of the annual and interim financial statements (Statement of Net Position, Statement of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Net Position and Statement of Cash Flows) for West Virginia University (“WVU”) and the West Virginia University Research Corporation (“WVURC”)
• Also responsible for the development, preparation and analysis of the annual and interim financial statements for West Virginia University at Parkersburg (“WVUP”) under WVUP’s service agreement with WVU
• This includes the preparation of footnote disclosures and required supplementary information in accordance with governmental accounting standards issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), including GASB Statements No. 34, “Basic Financial Statements – and Management’s Discussion and Analysis – for State and Local Governments” and No. 35, “Basic Financial Statements – and Management’s Discussion and Analysis – for Public Colleges and Universities”, as amended, and other guidance
• This also includes coordinating the annual external audits and mid-year review/agreed upon procedures engagement, analyzing and researching a significant volume of detailed financial transactions, performing a detailed analysis of variances, preparing client assistance schedules, and compiling supporting audit documentation as required for the external audits in addition to preparing closing book forms required by the WV State Department of Administration/Financial Accounting and Reporting Section and the Higher Education Policy Commission for the State’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and the WV Higher Education Fund
• Directly responsible for ensuring that the financial statements and the financial data recorded in the financial system complies with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) for state and local governmental entities and/or public colleges and universities
• This requires advanced knowledge of accounting and financial reporting guidance including GASB Statements and Interpretations, Technical Bulletins, Implementation Guides, guidance from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and other applicable accounting guidance such as Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Statements and higher education industry guidance from professional associations and regulatory agencies such as the National Association of College and University Business Officers (NACUBO)
• Governmental accounting requirements are complex and constantly evolving; this position is responsible for the interpretation and application of new and amended guidance for implementation by the effective dates established by GASB
• Noncompliance will result in a qualified audit opinion which could have critical financial implications for the University or the Corporation
• Maintaining audited financial statements with an unqualified audit opinion and compliance with GAAP is required by State Code 18B-5-9 (Higher Education Fiscal Responsibility)
• This also requires extensive knowledge and functional expertise with the University’s financial system, including the core general ledger module, subledgers (including the student financial system) and their interfaces and interdependencies, in addition to accounting setups and customizations
• Directly responsible for accounting and financial reporting for the auxiliary units at an institutional level
• This includes ensuring compliance with generally accepted accounting principles, governmental accounting standards and higher education industry practice
• This requires advanced knowledge of the applicable accounting guidance in addition to the ability to analyze complex revenue contracts with sponsors, vendors and other parties and determine the appropriate accounting treatment
• This also includes the preparation of footnote disclosures and schedules required for the external audits in addition to providing an analysis of cash inflows, cash outflows and non-cash transactions related to the auxiliary units for preparation of the Statements of Cash Flows and for cash forecasting and budgeting at an institutional level
• This also includes advising and directing the auxiliary Expert Business Officers/Strategic Business Advisors and business office staff on a wide range of other accounting and reporting issues
• At June 30, 2025, WVU reported total auxiliary revenues of approximately $152 million on its most recent audited financial statements
• This also includes the design, coding and generation of reports from the financial system, subledgers and other related systems using various reporting tools
• Directly responsible for maintaining the core general ledger which serves as the system of record for the comprehensive fiscal activity for the institution, its regional campuses, the Corporation and WVUP
• This includes management of the accounting setups and related customizations of the financial system including all subledgers and their integration with the General Ledger module
• Responsible for troubleshooting and issue resolution related to the system and account structures as it relates to accounting and financial reporting
• Also responsible for modification, design, testing, and configuration of the financial system as it relates to financial accounting and reporting
• This also includes performing processes related to month end and year end close
• This requires significant decision-making capabilities and exercising professional judgment
• Must constantly consider the long-term effects of cost and efficiency of any action on or modifications to the system
• Directly impacts institutional policy in this role
• Directly responsible for providing advanced accounting guidance, advice, direction and support to central administrative areas (including Treasury Operations, Administrative Financial Planning, Budget Planning, Shared Services, Student Financial Services, Facilities and Services and others), auxiliaries, Expert Business Officers (EBOs)/Strategic Business Advisors (SBAs), the Health Sciences Center, regional campuses, WVU Parkersburg, and other areas
• This includes the review of a significant volume of detailed accounting transactions, in addition to schedules and supporting documentation prepared and submitted by other central administrative units, EBOs/SBAs, and regional campuses, for compliance with accounting requirements
• Additionally, this includes the analysis and interpretation of complex agreements and contracts and determining the appropriate accounting treatment
• This requires extensive knowledge of the applicable accounting requirements and University policy and practices, problem solving skills, and sound professional judgment
• Serves as subject matter expert for specialized areas related to financial accounting and reporting (for example, accounting for pensions and other postemployment benefits, compensated absences, leases, subscription-based IT arrangements, sponsored awards, nonexchange transactions, construction projects, capital-related debt, public private partnerships, service concession arrangements, and fair value reporting)
• As a subject matter expert, assists with the development of institution-wide policies and guidelines for central administrative units and EBOs/SBAs
• Collaborates with Budget Planning, Treasury Operations, and other central administrative areas on the development of forecasted and budgeted amounts required for financial planning, budgeting and analysis at the institutional level (for example, projections and analysis of depreciation/amortization expense, interest expense, capital expenditures, gift/capital grant and gift revenue, and other cash outflows and inflows)
• This includes assisting with the analysis of actual revenues and expenses, as reported in the financial statements, to budgeted amounts
• Errors or misstatements could have a material impact on the University’s budget and financial projections which could result in negative repercussions to the institution such as a loss in federal and state funding, a downgrade in bond ratings, and unfavorable publicity
• Manages the development, preparation and analysis of various other financial reports for external agencies and senior administrators and governing bodies of WVU, WVURC and WVUP (including the WVU Board of Governors)
• This includes reports required by WV state agencies, the WV Higher Education Policy Commission (HEPC), agencies of the federal government, rating agencies, and other external and internal parties
• This includes preparing the Statement of Revenues, Expenses and Changes in Net Position (on an accrual basis) for the WVU Health Sciences Center (HSC) and an annual report of the HSC’s operating expenses required by HEPC
• Additionally, this includes ad hoc reporting and analysis (for example, assistance with the preparation of cash forecasts and budgets at the institutional level)
• Coordinates and completes finance related projects as assigned by:
• Performing special finance related projects
• Formulating and preparing extensive financial analysis and decision support information for the Senior Associate Vice President for Finance, Associate Vice President for Finance, the Vice President/Chief Financial Officer, other senior administrators, and governing boards (WVU Board of Governors and WVURC Board of Directors)
• Assisting in policy and procedure development as it relates to financial accounting and reporting and the overall fiscal integrity of the system
• Serving on committees related to finance
• Continuing professional education required to maintain current knowledge of GAAP and keep up to date on changes in governmental accounting standards, industry practice, generally accepted auditing standards, and other accounting and reporting issues impacting higher education and/or state government
• Prepared to act as backup, cross train, or perform duties of other positions within the unit based on departmental requirements, established deadlines, and other priorities

Requirements:

• A Bachelor‘s degree in Accounting is required
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in financial operations of a complex organization
• Demonstrated ability to perform the job duties and responsibilities indicated above typically acquired by five years of progressively responsible experience in financial operations of a complex organization
• Advanced knowledge of financial systems and software is required
• In depth knowledge of accounting and financial reporting for state governments and public higher education
• Demonstrated expert knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
• Demonstrated expert knowledge of the hierarchy of GAAP for state and local governments, including standards promulgated by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, and the ability to analyze, interpret and apply complex accounting requirements
• Demonstrated expert knowledge of fund accounting concepts, principles, policies and procedures
• Strong accounting experience and experience with the preparation of financial statements, including cash flow statements
• Advanced skills with spreadsheet and word processing software (for example, Microsoft Excel and Word), other accounting software and financial systems
• Strong mathematical skills necessary to perform complex financial calculations
• Strong oral and written communication skills necessary to explain complex guidelines and accounting requirements, to justify recommendations, and to interact with regulatory agencies and auditors
• Demonstrated ability to organize vast amounts of data, perform financial calculations and prepare financial reports and presentations
• Demonstrated ability to evaluate, comprehend and summarize a significant volume of detailed transactions
• Demonstrated analytical and reasoning ability required to interpret and apply accounting requirements and federal, State, and professional guidelines to unique, complex situations
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex contracts and agreements, extract required data elements, research relevant accounting guidance, and determine appropriate accounting treatment
• Demonstrated ability to research and apply critical thinking skills to research and resolve complex issues related to compliance with governmental accounting standards, industry practice and University policy
• Ability to continually learn and adapt to new governmental accounting requirements, policies, procedures, information systems and reporting tools
• Ability to learn comprehensive financial system reporting tools
• Strong professional judgment required to research technical accounting guidance to resolve accounting and financial reporting issues and determine the appropriate accounting treatment
• Demonstrated ability to perform complex financial accounting computations without supervision and manage workflow to ensure that assigned tasks are accurately completed by tight deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage numerous projects, take the required initiative to resolve various issues and problems, and prioritize for completion by challenging deadlines
• Demonstrated ability to work in a demanding, deadline-driven environment with a focus on detail and accuracy
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects and manage cross-functionally
• Demonstrated ability to foster cooperation and harmony among diverse groups and maintain effective working relationships with other team members within IARA and central administrative, business office, and regional campus staff across the institution
• Demonstrated ability to analyze financial impact and conduct risk/benefit analysis
• Self-motivated with demonstrated ability to manage multiple tasks/assignments, produce high-quality work and meet demanding deadlines with minimal supervision in a remote work environment
• Demonstrated proficiency with digital tools and platforms commonly utilized in a remote work environment
• A Master's degree is preferred
• Experience in state or local government or public higher education