Accountant I (Project Accounts)

Job Posting Title:

Accountant I (Project Accounts)

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Hiring Department:

Business and Financial Services

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Position Open To:

All Applicants

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Weekly Scheduled Hours:

40

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FLSA Status:

Exempt

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Earliest Start Date:

Immediately

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Position Duration:

Expected to Continue

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Location:

UT MAIN CAMPUS

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Job Details:

General Notes

Your skills will make a difference.

You’ll be working for a university that is internationally recognized for our academic programs and research. Your work will make a difference in the lives of university staff, thereby enhancing the student experience. If you’re the type of person that wants to know your work has meaning and impact, you’ll like working in our department and for UT Austin. UT Austin provides an outstanding benefits package including but not limited to:

• Competitive health benefits (employee premiums covered at 100%, family premiums at 50%)
• Voluntary Vision, Dental, Life, and Disability insurance options
• Generous paid vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Teachers Retirement System of Texas: a defined benefit retirement plan
• Additional Voluntary Retirement Programs: Tax Sheltered Annuity 403(b) and a Deferred Compensation program 457(b)
• Flexible spending account options for medical and childcare expenses
• Robust free training access through LinkedIn Learning plus professional conference opportunities
• Tuition assistance
• Expansive employee discount program including athletic tickets
• Free access to UT Austin's libraries and museums with staff ID card
• Free rides on all UT Shuttle and Austin CapMetro buses with staff ID card

For more details, please see: https://hr.utexas.edu/prospective/benefits and https://hr.utexas.edu/current/services/my-total-rewards

Must be authorized to work in the United States on an ongoing, full-time basis for any employer without sponsorship.

Purpose

Provide account support for the project accounts work group and renovation project delivery unit within Planning, Energy, and Facilities (PEF).  Responsible for various accounts and all records for funding, contract maintenance, payments, reconciliations, closeouts, and reporting.  Provide primary processing and reconciliation/closeout support to Accountant II and/or Accountant III for CIP portfolio (PDC Managed) and complex and/or high visibility projects, as well as training support for new employees.           

Responsibilities

• Prepare funding, encumbrance, payments and correction vouchers via DEFINE/WEB.  Verification of all information required.  Accuracy is a must regarding object codes, amounts, accounts, and vendor setup.
• Backup Accountant II with document review, including VP1/VP2/VE3/VT6/VT7.         
• Coordinate, create, update, and verify supporting documentation/data spreadsheets/tracking log/records for project management files are accurately maintained on all projects. Apply applicable rules, regulations and policies to ensure financial transactions are consistent with university policies and communicate with architects, engineers, directors, department heads, and the deans regarding construction projects.
• Provide consistent, timely, and reliable communication via e-mail or other medium to project managers regarding status of projects such as funding, billing exception errors, project close-out statements, and ad hoc financial updates for projects with complex funding structures.
• Consistently reconcile and close complex/problem CPs after 60 days of the project being placed in ACCOUNTING status.  Reconcile accounts, lapse funds, audit project files for complete documentation and conformance with records retention practices, close projects and provide a final financial statement as projects are completed.  Return unused funds back to the original funding sources for future project use.   
• Post project funding and/or cost information to AiM and process electronic vouchers to ensure prompt and accurate billings to clients.  Accuracy is a must regarding amount reference number, work order number, account, etc.
• Prepare or verify various ad hoc and funding reports and/or analysis as needed by Controller's Office, Vice President's Office to provide accurate financial data.            
• Work closely with Accountant II for new Accountant training, act as point person for teaching new tasks throughout training program for new Accountants. Work closely with Accountant II/Accountant III to propose and execute project account realignments for projects with multiple sources of time limited and/or specific scope funds.             
• Attend meetings as the Department liaison to provide accounting expertise or to assist and answer any financial related questions.  Participate in hiring committees as requested.  Act as backup for co-workers. Other duties as assigned.                     

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in related field or related work experience in governmental or commercial accounting at a level comparable to that of an Accounting Clerk III, or equivalent in the area of complexity.
• Demonstrated experience using a personal computer including experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Outlook.          

Relevant education and experience may be substituted as appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in accounting or related experience.
• Two years of experience in governmental or commercial accounting at a level comparable to that of an Accounting Clerk III, or equivalent area of complexity.
• At least two years of experience with Accounts Payable and/or vendor relations.
• Demonstrated experience using a personal computer including experience with Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, and Outlook.
• UT Austin experience desired, with proficiency in DEFINE.
• Familiar with UT Austin vouchering and accounting policies and procedures. Experience processing web-based documents.
• Experience with electronic accounting and work management systems.
• Excellent problem-solving skills.
• Excellent customer service ability.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work both independently and as a team member without day-to-day supervision.
• Ability to multi-task and to prioritize.
• Demonstrated ability to work under pressure of deadlines, while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Demonstrated proficiency in gathering, analyzing, presenting financial data, and making recommendations.
• Experience with accounts receivable and cash handling.
• Experience providing customer service. Professional demeanor.

Salary Range

$50,000 + depending on qualifications

Working Conditions

• Standard Office
• Keyboard

Work Shift

Monday - Friday 8 hours Daily

Required Materials

• Resume/CV
• 3 work references with their contact information; at least one reference should be from a supervisor
• Letter of interest

Important for applicants who are NOT current university employees or contingent workers: You will be prompted to submit your resume the first time you apply, then you will be provided an option to upload a new Resume for subsequent applications. Any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) will be uploaded in the Application Questions section; you will be able to multi-select additional files. Before submitting your online job application, ensure that ALL Required Materials have been uploaded.  Once your job application has been submitted, you cannot make changes.

Important for Current university employees and contingent workers: As a current university employee or contingent worker, you MUST apply within Workday by searching for Find UT Jobs. If you are a current University employee, log-in to Workday, navigate to your Worker Profile, click the Career link in the left hand navigation menu and then update the sections in your Professional Profile before you apply. This information will be pulled in to your application. The application is one page and you will be prompted to upload your resume. In addition, you must respond to the application questions presented to upload any additional Required Materials (letter of interest, references, etc.) that were noted above.

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Employment Eligibility:

Regular staff who have been employed in their current position for the last six continuous months are eligible for openings being recruited for through University-Wide or Open Recruiting, to include both promotional opportunities and lateral transfers. Staff who are promotion/transfer eligible may apply for positions without supervisor approval.

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Retirement Plan Eligibility:

The retirement plan for this position is Teacher Retirement System of Texas (TRS), subject to the position being at least 20 hours per week and at least 135 days in length.

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Background Checks:

A criminal history background check will be required for finalist(s) under consideration for this position.

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Equal Opportunity Employer:

The University of Texas at Austin, as an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer, complies with all applicable federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. The University is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all persons and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, disability, religion, or veteran status in employment, educational programs and activities, and admissions.

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Pay Transparency:

The University of Texas at Austin will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information.

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Employment Eligibility Verification:

If hired, you will be required to complete the federal Employment Eligibility Verification I-9 form.  You will be required to present acceptable and original documents to prove your identity and authorization to work in the United States.  Documents need to be presented no later than the third day of employment.  Failure to do so will result in loss of employment at the university.

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E-Verify:

The University of Texas at Austin use E-Verify to check the work authorization of all new hires effective May 2015. The university’s company ID number for purposes of E-Verify is 854197. For more information about E-Verify, please see the following:

• E-Verify Poster (English and Spanish) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (English) [PDF]
• Right to Work Poster (Spanish) [PDF]

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Compliance:

Employees may be required to report violations of law under Title IX and the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act (Clery Act). If this position is identified a Campus Security Authority (Clery Act), you will be notified and provided resources for reporting. Responsible employees under Title IX are defined and outlined in HOP-3031.

The Clery Act requires all prospective employees be notified of the availability of the Annual Security and Fire Safety report. You may access the most recent report here or obtain a copy at University Compliance Services, 1616 Guadalupe Street, UTA 2.206, Austin, Texas 78701.