Penn State Job Catalog

Additional levels that exist for this job profile can be seen below.

The defined natural career progression within or between job profiles.

Accounting

The Accounting Manager provides leadership and oversight of assigned accounting functions, ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and compliance of financial operations across the University; is responsible for maintaining strong internal controls, safeguarding University assets, and ensuring adherence to relevant accounting standards, regulations, and institutional policies; plays a key role in strategic planning, process improvement, and policy development to support efficient, timely, and accurate financial operations; conducts complex financial analyses; manages risk; serves as a liaison to internal and external stakeholders, including auditors and regulatory agencies.

• Oversee and manage day-to-day operations in assigned accounting areas to ensure accurate and efficient financial processing and reporting
• Direct the analysis of accounting and financial records; interpret results and provide data-driven recommendations to leadership
• Develop, recommend, and implement strategic action plans based on financial and operational analysis
• Assess operational risk and ensure compliance with relevant laws, regulations, University policies, and accounting standards
• Lead the preparation and implementation of University-wide accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls; communicate changes effectively across departments to ensure understanding and compliance
• Evaluate the University's financial exposure in preparation for internal or external audits; coordinate audit responses and provide required documentation
• Negotiate and manage indirect cost rates with federal government representatives; analyze cost structures and compliance requirements
• Provide documentation and support for internal and external audits; sign and submit audit-related documents as authorized
• Manage the integrity and maintenance of all accounting records, ensuring proper documentation, reconciliation, and reporting
• Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate accounting staff; foster a culture of accountability, professional development, and continuous learning
• Lead the development and implementation of improved processes and systems to enhance efficiency and service delivery
• Identify, prioritize, and execute continuous improvement initiatives to streamline operations and optimize resource utilization
• Stay abreast of changes in accounting standards, tax laws, financial regulations, and best practices; assess implications and integrate necessary updates into University policies and procedures

Level:

– Senior Manager

Base Description:

– Manages direct reports where primary duty is the management of a working unit.

Level Summary:

– Demonstrates advanced skills in critical functions related to unit's success. Demonstrates advanced knowledge of emerging technologies and processes. Monitors completed work of others to ensure effectiveness and adherence to requirements. Sets clear expectations and holds team accountable. Establishes a shared team/unit vision. Demonstrates ability to evaluate and enhance team/unit practices that promote a strong commitment to inclusionary practices. Coaches others using appropriate strategies. Demonstrates diplomacy. Demonstrates ability to serve as liaison between senior-level management and staff. Resolves complex, controversial, or unprecedented issues and problems.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

– Oversees large team or teams of individual contributors and/or supervisors/managers
– Leads a department or functional area

Fiscal Responsibilities:

– Monitors and tracks large budgets
– Plans, forecasts, and/or develops budgets
– May approve budgets for specific area
– Typically has final signature authority for specific area

Problem Solving:

– Encounters highly varied and complex problems that impacts the team and possibly the unit
– Develops creative and/or novel approaches to resolve problems that are difficult in nature
– Independently resolves complex and/or unprecedented issues and problems

Independence of Action:

– Work results are not clearly defined
– Generally sets own goals and determines how to accomplish results with few or no guidelines to follow
– Monitors completed work of others to ensure soundness of approach, effectiveness of meeting requirements, the feasibility of recommendations and adherences to requirements
– Delegates more advanced tasks to others

Communication and Collaboration:

– Communicates with both internal and external audiences
– Collaborates closely with team members and various areas across the University
– Fosters collaboration between units and engages others' coordinated efforts to reach desired outcomes with broad scope

• Comp Grade – 14
• Minimum – $97,100.00
• MidPoint – $121,400.00
• Maximum – $145,700.00

• Accounting information systems
• Asset management
• Attention To Detail
• Financial analysis
• Negotiation
• Policy analysis
• Regulatory compliance
• Resource management
• Risk Management
• Stakeholder management
• Strategic Planning