Accounting Manager, Fringe Benefits Operations and Forecasting

• Job Type: Officer of Administration
• Bargaining Unit:
• Regular/Temporary: Regular
• End Date if Temporary:
• Hours Per Week: Full Time
• Standard Work Schedule:
• Building:
• Salary Range: $95,000-$105,000

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Pension and Benefits Accounting and Reporting, the Accounting Manager Fringe Benefits Operations and Forecasting is responsible for the financial and administrative activities associated with the annual budget and the 5-year forecast of the University Fringe pool (approximately $1 billion) which covers fringe benefits including health and welfare, retirement, taxes, tuition and union. The Accounting Manager is a critical member of the team, working closely with the Fringe Benefits Accounting team, the Fringe Benefits Pension team, the Human Resources Benefits team, the Controller's Office, and Office of Management and Budget, to ensure the timely and accurate completion of deliverables. The Accounting Manager, in conjunction with the Director, develops and manages the overall fringe benefit annual operating budget and the complex Excel based 5-year forecast model and maintains and updates the financial systems budget module. The Accounting Manager conducts necessary analyses and reconciliations to ensure effective budget control and the integrity of various financial reports related to the budget and compiles and analyzes financial reports and materials for quarterly and annual budget submissions, as well as period end-closings. The Accounting Manager performs key reconciliations such as recoveries (revenue), health and welfare, retirement, inter-departmental, and inter-school reconciliations to confirm and validate fringe pool revenues and expenses and provide insight into fringe pool activities. The Accounting Manager will be a key player in implementing a financial planning & forecasting software tool to manage the fringe pool.

Responsibilities

Specific duties include, but are not limited to:

• Developing and maintaining the annual budget for a $1B fringe pool that covers expenses for health and welfare, retirement, union, and all other employee benefits;
• Calculating recoveries (revenue), and taxes, union, and other related fringe expenses in accordance with budget assumptions and, where applicable, government regulations and collective bargaining agreements;
• Analyzing health and welfare and retirement expense projections provided by actuaries and incorporating the projections into the forecast model;
• Maintaining the 5-year fringe pool forecasts in Excel model;
• Maintaining and updating the fringe pool budget within the University financial systems budget module
• Ensuring that the Excel-based 5-year fringe pool forecast model aligns with the University financial systems budget module;
• Liaising with various departments and external vendors and collecting information to prepare the fringe pool budget and 5-year forecast;
• Reviewing the fringe pool recoveries process to ensure compliance with all recovery policies and procedures;
• Performing monthly and quarterly fringe recoveries revenue reconciliations and analytics, and accounting for all recoveries adjustments to ensure complete and accurate financial close and recoveries projections;
• Performing monthly and quarterly fringe benefits expense reconciliations and analytics to ensure complete and accurate fringe expense projections and budget control;
• Annual reconciliation of interdepartmental and inter-school fringe pool charges and funding;
• Responsible for quarterly management reporting of the fringe pool performance including variance explanations between budget to actual, year-over-year, as well as quarter-over quarter variances, and performing other analysis and projections as required;
• Tracking and analyzing significant fringe pool expenses on a bi-weekly frequency;
• Building strategic relationships with other departments and external parties such as actuaries, etc.;
• Performing other related duties and special projects as assigned including supporting Fringe Benefits Accounting and Fringe Pension Reporting teams.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance related field required.
• A minimum of four years' related experience, required.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree strongly preferred.
• CPA and/or other professional qualification is strongly preferred.
• Experience in a higher education strongly preferred.
• PeopleSoft financial experience a plus.
• Budgeting/forecasting experience is strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of benefits (retirement and health and welfare programs) and budgeting/forecasting experience strongly preferred.

Other Requirements

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  Exceptional analytical and accounting skills to manage a detailed and complex monthly/quarterly/annual forecast process and prepare detailed reconciliations and analyses required.

  
  
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  Strong data management skills, reporting, and mathematical skills are required.

  
  
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  Proficiency with financial systems and other office suite applications including advanced Excel skills is required.

  
  
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  Must be a self-starter, hands-on, detail-oriented individual possessing an ability to manage multiple activities with competing deadlines.

  
  
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  Excellent oral, written, interpersonal, organizational, and problem-solving skills required.

  
  
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  Ability to work closely and effectively with a diverse group of senior University administrators is essential.

  
  
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  Must be able to negotiate issues and resolve problems.

  
  
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  In addition, the successful candidate must be able to work well with all levels of management, both internally and externally, and be flexible in nature.

  
  
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  The successful candidate must be a strategic thinker, with an open and collaborative style that encourages teamwork and cooperation, and a strong role model, and coach, with the ability to provide a positive working and learning environment for staff.

  
  
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  Must have a demonstrated passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality.

  
  

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.