Senior Accountant

Location: Hickory, North Carolina 

Position Summary 

The Senior Accountant provides advanced professional accounting support for the university’s financial operations. This position performs complex reconciliations, manages key accounting processes, and ensures compliance with university policies and applicable regulations. The Senior Accountant works independently and collaboratively with other departments to maintain accurate financial records, prepare reports, and support decision-making across the institution.

Reporting

The Senior Accountant reports to the AVP Business & Finance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Accounts Payable & Expenses
  • Serve as back-up for Accounts Payable functions.
  • Code utilities and related expenses into the general ledger (GP).
  • Participate in special projects as assigned.
• Accounts Receivable
  • Track and reconcile accounts receivable, ensuring major events (e.g., conferences, camps, facility rentals) are properly invoiced and recorded.
• Banking & Cash Management
  • Maintain daily cash balance and outstanding check spreadsheet.
  • Process wire payments and provide supporting documentation to Accounts Payable.
  • Monitor and resolve Positive Pay and ACH fraud alerts.
  • Prepare and distribute daily bank activity reports.
  • Reconcile cash for all funds and prepare necessary bank transfers.
  • Investigate returned payments and resolve discrepancies.
  • Record interest income and expense to the general ledger.
  • Maintain organized electronic files of all monthly bank statements.
  • Research and resolve old outstanding checks and escheat-related issues.
  • Update cash tracking and pending disbursement reports.
• Budget & Financial Reporting
  • Process budget adjustment requests and department reclassifications.
  • Assist in maintaining the accuracy of general ledger and management reporting systems.
• General Ledger (GL) Administration
  • Prepare and key journal entries for account corrections and reclassifications.
  • Reconcile all clearing accounts.
  • Administer new agency accounts.
  • Open accounting and reporting periods in the absence of the Controller or Business Office Manager.
  • Add new accounts to trees and reporting structures as needed.
• Revenue, Contributions, and Deposits
  • Track and code stock gift checks for deposit.
  • Import and reconcile gift batches between Raiser's Edge and the general ledger.
  • Post cash and student account payment batches.
• Credit Card Administration
  • Set up and manage credit cards for new employees.
  • Adjust credit limits and permissions for existing cardholders.
  • Cancel credit cards for terminated employees.
  • Maintain rules and oversight for ESP credit card managers.
• Fixed Assets and Investments
  • Assist with fixed asset management processes and reconciliations.
  • Prepare and distribute monthly investment and bank balance reports.
• Tax and Regulatory Compliance
  • Prepare and submit self-assessed North Carolina sales tax returns.
  • Post and reconcile escheat entries for voided checks.
  • Submit annual escheat reporting to the State.
  • Prepare and file Forms 1099 and 1098-T in compliance with IRS requirements.
• Office Operations and Support
  • Serve as back-up for opening the vault and other office functions.
  • File journal entries and accounting records by date.
  • Assist with student and walk-in inquiries at the business office.
• Special Projects
  • Participate in or lead special accounting and finance projects as assigned by management.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible accounting experience.
• Proficiency with general ledger software (such as Microsoft Dynamics GP) and Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
• Strong understanding of GAAP principles and university or nonprofit accounting practices.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze data, reconcile complex accounts, and meet deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation or eligibility preferred.
• Experience in higher education or nonprofit accounting.
• Familiarity with Raiser's Edge or other donor management systems.

Application Process

While completing the application, candidates will be prompted to submit a:

• Cover letter, specifically discussing how one’s professional experiences and perspectives relate to the needs of the position.
• Resume, including the names and emails of three references. References will only be contacted for finalists, and candidates will be notified in advance.

Lenoir-Rhyne University promotes a welcoming campus environment that is integral to the university's commitment to excellence in engagement and education. We are particularly interested in candidates who have demonstrated experience nurturing a welcoming community, working with faculty, staff and/or students from all walks of life and/or incorporating varied perspectives and traditions in their current or previous positions. This commitment is rooted in our Lutheran tradition of fostering wisdom, nurturing vocation and preparing students for lives of purpose while serving the common good. 

About Lenoir-Rhyne University  

Lenoir-Rhyne University is a co-educational, private, comprehensive liberal arts institution founded in 1891, with its traditional campus located in Hickory, North Carolina, a city of more than 40,000. The university has additional graduate centers in Asheville, N.C., and Columbia, S.C. Situated in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lenoir-Rhyne is less than an hour’s drive from Charlotte, and the Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton Metropolitan Statistical Area has a population of about 365,000. The university now offers more than 45 undergraduate and 20 graduate degree programs to approximately 2,400 students. Lenoir-Rhyne University seeks to liberate mind and spirit, clarify personal faith, foster physical wholeness, build community, and promote responsible leadership for service to the world. Affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), Lenoir-Rhyne is open to people from all religious and non-religious backgrounds. 

Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Policy

Lenoir-Rhyne University is committed to providing a workplace and educational environment, as well as other benefits, programs, and activities that are free from discrimination, harassment and retaliation.

LR is committed to creating a safe campus environment for all members of the LR community, including, but not limited to, those who identify as transgender and gender non-conforming. To that end, LR does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex (including sex stereotypes and sex characteristics), ethnicity, national origin, physical or mental disability, age, marital status, pregnancy or related conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran or military status or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law.

To ensure compliance with federal and state civil rights laws and regulations and to affirm its commitment to promoting the goals of fairness and equity in all aspects of the educational program, activity and employment, LR has developed internal policies and procedures that provide a prompt, fair and impartial process for those involved in an allegation of discrimination or harassment, and for allegations of retaliation.

LR values and upholds the equal dignity of all members of its community and strives to balance the rights of the parties in the grievance process during what is often a difficult time for all those involved. 
 

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