Cambridge, Massachusetts, Job Summary :
Manage accounting activities such as reconciliations, analysis, and financial reporting.
Job-Specific Responsibilities :
Reporting to the Director of Accounting & Financial Planning, the Accounting Manager is primarily responsible for ensuring the timely and accurate delivery of financial statements and reporting for the $100M+ Harvard University Division of Continuing Education (DCE). This position manages two staff and works closely with DCE's Financial Operations (AP, Payroll), Student Financial Services and MIS groups.
Other responsibilities include:
Supervises the preparation of monthly reconciliations, journal entries, and monthly financial reports for DCE Bank Accounts, the general ledger, and the DCE Student Information System.
Develops processes, tools and trains staff to comply with GAAP and other Harvard-wide accounting requirements (e.g., revenue and expense recognition, asset inventory). Performs and/or supervises the preparation of complex monthly, quarter-end, and year-end closing transactions including expense and revenue accruals.
Prepares financial reports (term, monthly, quarterly, and year-end) using Oracle Financials, Business Objects, Hyperion, Salesforce Einstein and other tools. Manages reconciliations, reporting and payments on DCE partnerships with other parts of Harvard, other Higher Ed institutions and third-party service providers.
Provides financial analysis to major departments within DCE including Professional Development Programs, the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement, Online Education, the Innovation Team and several Summer programs. Partners with program leaders to create budgets and forecasts and to drive operational efficiencies and/or growth opportunities.
Participates in high cadence of upgrade activity for critical financial systems (Touchnet, TargetX, Salesforce, Lumens, Banner) including requirements definition, systems selection, software design and financial process design, documentation and training.
Participates in the audit process with both Harvard Risk Management and external auditors. Responds to areas of concern by creating and documenting new control processes and ensuring internal compliance.
Typical Core Duties :
Responsible for effective staff management, including hiring and orientation, training and development, workflow and performance management, and the promotion of an inclusive and innovative work environment
Evaluate accounting processes and procedures, recommend improvements
Oversee accounting transactions, account reconciliations, journal entry verifications and reporting
May prepare tax documentation and financial statements
Develop and distribute communications to internal and external constituencies
Provide technical expertise, problem-resolution and training
Ensure financial compliance with University policies and procedures, audit and accounting disclosure requirements, and applicable legal rules and regulation
Basic Qualifications :
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or equivalent work experience required
Minimum of 5 years’ relevant work experience
Additional Qualifications and Skills :
Experience with staff management including supervision, training and development, performance management and the promotion of an inclusive and innovative work environment.
Advanced excel skills highly preferred. Should have Intermediate knowledge of data query (e.g., Hyperion, Tableau) and workflow automation tools.
Advanced knowledge of accounting principles including revenue recognition, cost allocations
and risk management/control design, and application of these principles at a large, complex enterprise.
Experience as a subject matter expert or project lead implementing and upgrading Financial systems.
Track record of partnering with departmental leaders to create budgets, forecasts and management reporting to drive operational efficiencies and/or growth opportunities.
Demonstrated interest in organizational-level financial analysis beyond accounting, including budgeting and forecasting. Interest in developing or building subject-matter expertise in Higher Education financial and operational issues.
Additional Information :
The Faculty of Arts and Sciences will not provide visa sponsorship for this position.
In order to be considered for this role, a resume and cover letter specifically stating why you are interested in joining the Harvard University Division of Continuing Education must be submitted with application.
The Division of Continuing Education (DCE) comprises several entities serving about 30,000 students annually. The Harvard Extension School, the Harvard Summer School, the Harvard Professional Development Programs and the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement allow Harvard to serve the learning needs of students across their life. For more than a century, Harvard Extension School has made Harvard faculty and teaching accessible to a diverse community of local, national, and international students. Harvard Extension School enrolls approximately 17,000 students per year in approximately 46 graduate and undergraduate liberal arts and professional fields. More than 1,500 open enrollment courses are offered year-round with over 600 available online are offered at affordable prices to our communities across the world. Harvard Summer School offers approximately 450 courses on the Harvard Campus to 11,000 secondary school, college and adult learners and more than 30 international study abroad programs for up to 600 students each summer. The Division also includes the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement with approximately 550 active members and Harvard Professional Development Programs offering 80 short noncredit courses to almost 4,000 learners annually. All formal offers will be made by FAS Human Resources.
Harvard offers an outstanding benefits package including:
Time Off : 3 - 4 weeks paid vacation, paid holiday break, 12 paid sick days, 11.5 paid holidays, and 3 paid personal days per year
Medical/Dental/Vision : We offer a variety of excellent medical plans, dental & vision plans, all coverage begins as of your start date.
Retirement : University-funded retirement plan with full vesting after 3 years of service.
Tuition Assistance Program : Competitive tuition assistance program, $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and discounted options through participating Harvard grad schools.
Transportation : Harvard offers a 50% discounted MBTA pass as well as additional options to assist employees in their daily commute.
Wellness options : Harvard offers programs and classes at little or no cost, including stress management, massages, nutrition, meditation and complimentary health services.
Harvard access to athletic facilities, libraries, campus events and many discounts throughout metro Boston.