Senior Accountant

Company: Washington University of Science and Technology

Location: Alexandria, VA

Clearance Required: —

Salary: $80,000 per year

Description

We have a Senior Accountant position opening too:
https://www.indeed.com/viewjob?jk=b53ea478aeaf8a25

Senior Accountant
Washington University of Science and Technology
2900 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22314

Professional development assistance, Tuition reimbursement, Parental leave, 401(k), Health insurance, 401(k) matching, Paid time off, Employee assistance program

Evenings as needed, Monday to Friday

Washington University of Science and Technology (WUST) is seeking a detail-oriented and experienced Senior Accountant to oversee daily accounting operations, monthly/annual closing processes, financial reporting, and compliance. This position carries direct financial oversight and operational cost accounting for WUST’s campus facilities. The Senior Accountant will bridge general ledger accounting with active real estate and facilities financial management, ensuring accurate cost allocations, lease/debt management, vendor processing, and capital asset tracking across both managed properties.

Key Responsibilities

Core Accounting & Financial Operations

Manage full-cycle general ledger operations, including month-end and year-end closing processes, journal entries, and account reconciliations.
Prepare timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements (Balance Sheet, Income Statement, Cash Flow) in compliance with US GAAP.
Oversee accounts payable (AP) and accounts receivable (AR) processing, ensuring proper coding and tuition revenue recognition.

Support internal controls, annual external audit preparation, and for-profit/higher education regulatory filings (e.g., Form 990, state reporting).
Perform bank reconciliations, cash flow forecasting, and payroll accounting integration to support annual financial & compliance audit.

Multi-Building Facilities & Operations Financial Management

Serve as the primary financial manager of the university-owned and operated campus facilities, maintaining building-level financial ledgers and operational budgets.
Oversee lease accounting (ASC 842), property taxes, facility insurance policies, debt service schedules, and mortgage/CAM reconciliations across both properties.
Track and allocate recurring property expenses—including utilities, HVAC maintenance, janitorial services, physical security, and IT infrastructure—across academic and administrative cost centers.
Manage capital expenditure (CapEx) accounting, tracking facility improvement projects, leasehold improvements, and equipment acquisitions from budgeting through depreciation.
Review, negotiate, and audit vendor contracts, service agreements, and purchase orders related to campus operations and building management.
Maintain the university’s fixed asset register, conducting periodic physical inventory audits across both campus locations.

Budgeting & Financial Analysis

Coordinate with executive leadership to build annual operating budgets and long-term capital reserve plans for both facility locations.
Conduct monthly variance analysis comparing actual building operational costs against budgeted targets, identifying key drivers and recommendations for cost optimization.

Provide dynamic financial modeling for potential spatial expansions, lease renewals, or facility improvement programs.

Proven accounting experience with a focus on financial systems such as Workday, QuickBooks, Sage, PeopleSoft or similar platforms.

Extensive knowledge of GAAP standards and SOX compliance requirements.

Demonstrated ability in double entry bookkeeping, journal entries, account reconciliation and general ledger management.

Experience working in public accounting or within a corporate finance environment is highly preferred.

Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite—particularly Excel—including formulas like VLOOKUP and pivot tables for data analysis.

Familiarity with payroll management systems such as ADP or UltiPro; experience with payroll processing is advantageous.

Ability to handle multiple priorities efficiently in a fast-paced setting while maintaining high attention to detail.

Excellent analytical skills combined with strong communication abilities for effective collaboration across teams.

Work Environment & Benefits

Schedule: Full-time, Monday through Friday, with occasional weekend or evening hours during peak financial audit and fiscal year-end cycles.
Work Location: On-site at WUST main campus facilities in Alexandria, VA.
Benefits Package: 401(k) retirement plan with employer match; paid time off (PTO) and institutional holidays; tuition assistance programs, on-site gym; flexible parental leave etc.
Compensation starting at $80K/year, commensurate with experience
Pay: From $80,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) matching
Employee assistance program
Health insurance
On-site gym
Paid time off
Parental leave
Professional development assistance
Work Location: In person

Requirements

Qualifications & Requirements

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration required. Master’s degree (MSA/MBA) preferred.

Certifications: CPA (Certified Public Accountant) or CMA (Certified Management Accountant) designation or candidacy strongly preferred.

Experience: 5+ years of progressive accounting experience. Prior experience in higher education, profit institutions, or commercial property/real estate accounting is required.

Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in MS Excel (pivot tables, complex formulas, financial modeling). Experience with higher education ERPs (e.g., Ellucian, Workday, Sage, QuickBooks, or similar systems).

Regulatory Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of US GAAP, fixed asset accounting, lease accounting standards (ASC 842), and vendor/contract management.
Core Competencies

Analytical Precision: Strong problem-solving abilities with high attention to numerical accuracy and detailed reconciliation.

Operational Insight: Ability to translate physical facility needs and vendor contracts into structured accounting schedules.

Cross-Functional Communication: Excellent written and verbal communication skills to interface effectively with facility supervisors, academic department heads, and external auditors.

Time Management: Demonstrated capability to manage competing priorities and tight deadlines in a growing academic environment.

Join us as a Senior Accountant if you’re eager to leverage your technical expertise in a vibrant environment that values precision, innovation, and continuous growth!