Staff Accountant III - Southern Louisiana

Staff Accountant III - Southern Louisiana

Location: Southern Louisiana

Role Mission: The Staff Accountant will provide accounting and financial reporting services for all financial functions and business operations within IDEA Public Schools Louisiana. In doing so, the Staff Accountant III will be charged with executing on the strategic financial vision for our growing activities and working with Business Office staff to sustained efficacy in all aspects of finance and accounting for Louisiana.

The Staff Accountant III must possess an entrepreneurial mindset and the ability to rapidly and creatively adjust plans based on the changing needs of our schools and fluid plans for growth in Louisiana.

The Staff Accountant III for IDEA Public Schools Louisiana's mission is to provide accurate and timely financial information to IDEA stakeholders as well as to ensure compliance with any federal and state financial reporting guidelines.

Reporting to the Director of Finance, the Staff Accountant III will play a critical role in ensuring that schools in Louisiana are equipped with the financial resources to ensure that all students learn, grow, and achieve transformative life outcomes.

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Accountabilities/Responsibilities:

Financial Planning

* Serve as a positive role model for Business Office

* Work with senior management to provide insight and data on expansion in Louisiana

Oversee procurement and disbursement activities and ensure compliance with applicable state laws and regulations

* Oversee preparation of all bidding documents, including notice and instructions to bidders, specifications, and form of proposal

* Oversee purchase of materials and equipment for the district by competitive bids, competitive sealed proposals, requests for proposals, government catalog contract purchases, informal quotations, and negotiations following established district criteria and state purchasing rules

* Approve purchase orders and monitor purchase requisitions to determine correctness of information, calculations, coding, etc.

* Approve invoices for payment

Provide accurate and timely Monthly Financial Reports to management by the 10th and 16th Business Day.

* Prepare and review all journal entries.

* Prepare and review all cash receipts.

* Prepare and review Statement of Financial Position reconciliations on a monthly basis to ensure amounts are in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Louisiana Accounting & Uniform Governmental Handbook. As well as to ensure that proper supporting documentation is provided.

* Review Statement of Activity on a monthly basis to determine reasonableness of amounts, detect potential errors and analyze significant variances.

* Compile month end financial reports to be distributed to management by the 10th business day.

* Compile internal, external, bond compliance, finance committee and regional financial statements by the 16th business day.

* Present financial statements to the senior management on a monthly basis.

Obtain an unqualified audit opinion on annual financial statements and single audit each year

* Ensure trial balances are reasonably stated at June 30

* Financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for Not-for-Profit entities.

Provide Financial Information to external parties as well as those required by Federal and State Guidelines.

* Submit Annual Financial Report through East Baton Rouge Parish by November 18th following fiscal year end.

* Assist external accountants with the completion of the Form 990 by November 15th following the fiscal year end.

* Prepare financial information for donors, grantors and investors.

Serve as a business partner to managers within the organization to ensure proper business processes are followed.

* Provide guidance to managers regarding the allowability of activates according to IDEA's charter with East Baton Rouge Parish as well as federal and state regulations.

* Provide guidance related to internal controls and segregation of duties to managers implementing new business processes.

Ensure no reportable instances of material noncompliance in Financial Reporting and Compliance during the Annual Financial Audit.

* Keep current on new and upcoming standards related to Financial Reporting and Compliance.

* Attend trainings related to Financial Reporting and Compliance provided by AICPA, LSCPA, LASBO and BESE.

* Update local Financial Reporting Manual to document current processes and controls over financial reporting as well as Local and Federal Grant policies and procedures.

* Assist in the preparation of annual trainings over OMB A-133 compliance requirements to grant managers and other stakeholders within the organization.

* Assist in the performance of monthly audits to ensure federal and state grants are in compliance with the OMB A-133.

* Communicate results of those audits to management on a monthly basis using the Grant Compliance Dashboard.

Live values of IDEA

* Believes and is committed to our mission: that all students are capable of getting to and through college

* Is driven by outcomes and results, and wants to be held accountable for them

* Has a propensity for action, willing to make mistakes by doing in order to learn and improve quickly

* Thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-growth environment; is comfortable with ambiguity and change

* Seeks and responds well to feedback, which is shared often and freely across all levels of the organization

* Works through silos and forges strong cross-departmental relationships in order to achieve outcomes

* Embodies IDEA's core values

Supervisory Responsibilities (if applicable): None

Competencies (if applicable): Non-profit accounting and auditing principles established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) for Not-for-Profit Organizations

Qualifications:

* Education: Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance-related field. Preference to candidates with the following: Masters of Business Administration, Master of Science in Accounting, Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license

* Experience: Minimum 3 years' experience in public accounting conducting audits, preferably in not-for-profit entities or school systems

* Licenses or Certifications (if applicable): CPA or CMA preferred

Knowledge and Skills:

Knowledge of:

* Non-profit accounting and auditing principles established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) for Not-for-Profit Organizations

* Computerized accounting systems

Ability to:

* Analyze and interpret financial data

* Evaluate accounting problems, develop data, and recommend improvement procedures

* Use personal computer and software to develop complex accounting reports, spreadsheets, and databases

* Work with numbers in an accurate and rapid manner

* Effective communication and interpersonal skills

Selection Process: After submitting your online application, IDEA will review your materials. Candidates with a track record of success who pass the initial application screening will be invited to a phone or video interview. Candidates who are successful with this second interview will move into final consideration by the hiring manager.

Application Instructions: Please select "Apply Now" in the upper-left hand corner of this page. You will then be taking to the application portal entrance. After you create a new profile, you will be able to apply directly for this role. If you have already created a profile, you may simply login to begin your application.

IDEA Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability, in admission or access to, or treatment of employment in its programs and activities. Any person having inquiries concerning the organization's compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI of Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504), or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), may contact IDEA Human Resources at (956) 377-8000.