Accounting Specialist - Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science Department (UTIA)

University of Tennessee, Knoxville   Knoxville, TN   Full-time     Accounting
Posted on April 17, 2024
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Accounting Specialist
Biosystems Engineering



Market Range 05& Soil Science Department
Anticipated salary to be around $19- $23/hour

The Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science (BESS) Department is searching for an Accounting Specialist to provide financial assistance by overseeing standard accounting and clerical functions while ensuring policy and procedural compliance. This position reports directly to the Business Manager.

The ideal candidate will be an energetic, organized, and adaptive team member that can multi-task, maintain confidentiality, manage time effectively and communicate successfully. They should also be able to take initiative with assignments and work well in a team setting to help achieve common goals.


Qualifications :

Job duties include but are not limited to:

Accounting & Financial Support
  • Set up and process Purchase Orders, Contracts, Bids, New Vendor Requests, and non-competitive justifications in ESM or other appropriate systems
  • Prints, distributes and reconciles procurement cards transactions every month while verifying allowability on provided accounts and ensuring transactions are coded correctly
  • Verifies payroll for both exempt and non-exempt employees using check registers and payroll distribution reports
  • Enter internal/external department transfers
  • Process invoices
  • Creates assets and sub-assets for equipment and sensitive minor equipment as they are obtained
Funds Management
  • Create and distribute monthly reports to all the faculty on the status of their fundings
  • Create, manage and maintain over 200 internal orders for the department and ensures all financial
  • transactions post to the correct internal order through appropriate systems (includes a/p, travel, payroll, etc)
  • Collaborates with Business Manager & Faculty to forecast and project expenditures
  • Assist Department Management in department budgeting related inquires and forecasts
  • Maintain records and processes reimbursements relating to SARIF, SFRA, RIG, and other faculty related funding awards
  • Manages soft funding position funding sources
  • Mobile phone allowances
  • Manages and tracks graduate student payroll, insurance and tuition expenditures
Other Accounting/Financial Duties
  • Maintains a spreadsheet of other high risk technology purchases that fall below the sensitive minor equipment threshold (such as tablets or inexpensive laptops)
  • Processes miscellaneous reimbursements, petty cash, and cash/check deposits in appropriate systems
  • Serves as back up on processing travel, payroll entries/corrections, or other critical financial information
  • Access Banner 9 Administrative for reconciling purposes only
  • Assists in handling and processing information through the Student Scholarship Management Program (and other/related systems relating to scholarships payments)
Other Administrative duties
  • Directs faculty and staff when policy questions arise
  • Assist with all aspects of preparation for workshops/seminars, support committees/programs and/or banquets that are held throughout the year
  • Assist in records management and implementation of retention policies
  • Other duties as assigned
Required Qualifications/Education/Skills:
  • Associates Degree in Accounting, Finance, Business or other related degree with 1 - 3 years experience in book-keeping or accounting
  • Or
  • High School Diploma or GED with 5+ years experience in book-keeping or accounting at University/higher education/research institution or similar work environment
  • Basic understanding of IRIS, SAP, or other accounting related softwares
  • Basic to Moderate knowledge of Microsoft office and other programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Adobe)
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Bachelor's degree (any field) with 1 year experience in book-keeping or accounting
  • Moderate to advanced knowledge of IRIS/SAP software and understanding of UT fiscal policies and procedures
  • Post award accounting guidelines/principles in a higher education/research institution
  • Certification Administrative Professional (CAP) or other similar licensing
  • Advance Knowledge of Microsoft office programs (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)
Application Process: Please complete the on-line application for full consideration. Applicants should include a cover letter, resume, transcript (if applicable), and provide at least three professional references (with current e-mail address and phone numbers).

University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Knoxville , TN