Accountant II

About Us

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Georgia College \& State University (GCSU) is the state's designated public liberal arts university, where students learn the essential skills to compete in a fast\-paced and technology\-driven global society. The university prepares students for successful careers, leadership in communities, problem solving and life\-long learning through personalized attention in a residential setting with opportunities for a variety of transformational experiences through its award\-winning, high\-impact practices. One of only three selective universities within the University System of Georgia and a top 10 ranked public university in the Southeast, GCSU offers undergraduate degrees in more than 40 majors, more than 30 graduate programs, doctorates in education and nursing, professional certificates, and continuing education programs.

As a member of the prestigious Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges (COPLAC), GCSU is committed to fostering a liberal arts environment that values academic preeminence, interdisciplinary inquiry and an inclusive learning community. GCSU enjoys a strong reputation for academic excellence and nationally ranked programs according to US News \& World Report, The Princeton Review and Colleges of Distinction \- among other ranking sources.

Georgia College \& State University takes great pride in combining the educational experience of a private liberal arts college with the affordability of a public university. Faculty and staff are dedicated to student engagement and experiential learning through high\-impact practices such as internships, service\- and community\-based learning, leadership development, study abroad opportunities, mentored undergraduate research and a capstone project that fosters intellectual curiosity, reasoned inquiry and critical thinking.

The university's beautiful and historic campus is located downtown in Milledgeville, Georgia, a charming college town of approximately 19,000 residents in Central Georgia, and only 90 miles southeast of Atlanta. Milledgeville is also the home of noted American author and alumna, Flannery O'Connor, '45, and the college community enjoys many exciting literary arts programs at O'Connor's former home, Andalusia, a National Historic Landmark owned by the university. Milledgeville is located on the banks of beautiful Lake Sinclair and Lake Oconee, allowing faculty, staff and students to take full advantage of the environmental and recreational benefits of being part of a lake community. For cultural, educational and leisure opportunities beyond Milledgeville \- Macon and Atlanta are located within easy driving distances.

Georgia College \& State University is dedicated to protecting academic freedom in addition to supporting freedom of expression as outlined in the University System of Georgia's Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom policy and its Ethics Code of Conduct. For more information, visit us online at gcsu.edu.

Job Summary

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The Accountant II performs professional accounting and budgetary work within the Fiscal Services division. This position is responsible for maintaining accurate accounting records and contributing to the collection, recording, and dissemination of financial data in an automated accounting environment. The role requires sound knowledge of fiscal policies and procedures and may call for independent judgment on technical accounting and budgetary matters governed by departmental regulations, institutional requirements, and applicable legal standards. Performance is subject to review by a supervisor and periodic audit.

Responsibilities

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Accounts Payable \- 50%

• Review, verify, and process vendor invoices, purchase orders, and payment requests in compliance with university policies, Board of Regents guidelines, and applicable state and federal regulations.
• Ensure proper authorization, supporting documentation, and account coding prior to disbursement; identify and resolve discrepancies with vendors and internal departments.
• Monitor outstanding invoices and coordinate timely payment processing to maintain vendor relationships and prevent late payment penalties.

Other Duties as Assigned \- 10%

• Facilitate campus\-wide training and provide guidance on policies, procedures, and compliance standards to faculty, staff, and departmental personnel.
• Perform other related clerical, accounting, and administrative duties as assigned in support of departmental operations and fiscal services functions.

Auditing \- 20%

• Monitor open purchase orders to ensure timely completion and closeout, coordinating with vendors and internal departments to resolve outstanding items and maintain accurate financial records.
• Review invoices for accuracy, relevance, and compliance; identify discrepancies, duplicate charges, or non\-compliant submissions and communicate findings and corrective actions to appropriate personnel.
• Review journal entries for accuracy, proper account classification, and compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), institutional policies, and Board of Regents reporting requirements.

Accounts Reconciliation \- 20%

• Perform monthly reconciliations of accounts payable ledgers, verifying the accuracy of posted transactions and resolving outstanding items in a timely manner.
• Investigate and reconcile discrepancies between purchase orders, receiving documents, and vendor invoices (three\-way match); escalate unresolved variances as appropriate.
• Assist with month\-end and year\-end closing activities to ensure all payable transactions are accurately recorded within the appropriate accounting period.

Required Qualifications

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Educational Requirements

A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in Business Administration, Public Administration, Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field is required.

An equivalent combination of education and directly related experience may be considered.

Required Experience

A minimum of five (5\) years of directly related accounting or fiscal experience is required.

Proposed Salary

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This position is a pay grade 9\. The minimum starting salary is $52,880\.00\. Starting salary within this range is based on relevant years of experience.

For more information about GCSU compensation practices, click here: https://www.gcsu.edu/humanresources/pay\-grade\-structure.

Required Documents to Attach

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• Cover Letter
• Resume / CV
• List of References

Knowledge, Skills, \& Abilities

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ABILITIES

• Ability to exercise independent judgment on technical accounting and budgetary matters within established regulatory and institutional frameworks.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with vendors, faculty, staff, and administrative personnel across the institution.
• Ability to interpret and apply fiscal policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements accurately and consistently.
• Ability to facilitate training sessions and communicate compliance expectations to multi\-faceted audiences in a clear and professional manner.
• Ability to adapt to evolving system requirements, regulations, and organizational priorities while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.

KNOWLEDGE

• Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and their application in a higher education or public sector environment.
• Knowledge of accounts payable processes, including invoice verification, purchase order matching, and payment disbursement procedures.
• Knowledge of applicable federal, state, and institutional fiscal regulations, including Board of Regents policies and compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of automated accounting and financial management systems and their use in recording and reporting financial data.
• Knowledge of internal audit principles and the practices used to ensure accuracy and integrity of financial records.

SKILLS

• Strong analytical and problem\-solving skills with the ability to identify discrepancies and implement corrective actions.
• Proficiency in automated accounting software, enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, and tools such as Microsoft Excel and Smartsheet.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple tasks, prioritize workloads, and meet established deadlines.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present financial information clearly to non\-financial audiences.
• Skill in preparing, reviewing, and reconciling complex financial reports and accounting records with a high degree of accuracy.

USG Core Values

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The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 25 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8\.2\.18\.1\.2 and can be found on\-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/\#p8\.2\.18\_personnel\_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6\.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on\-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653\.

Equal Employment Opportunity

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Equal opportunity and decisions based on merit are fundamental values of the University System of Georgia (USG). The Board of Regents prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual's age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status ("protected status"). No individual shall be excluded from the participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any USG program or activity because of the individual's protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual's protected status, except that preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.

Other Information

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This is not a supervisory position.

This position has financial responsibilities.

This position will not be required to drive.

This role is considered a position of trust.

This position does not require a purchasing card (P\-Card).

This position may travel 1% \- 24% of the time

This position does not require security clearance.

Background Check

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• Credit Report
• Criminal Background Check
• Education Verification