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Lead Accountant in Villanova, Pennsylvania at Villanova University

NewSalary: $97000 - $107800Job Function: Accounting/Finance
Villanova University
Villanova, Pennsylvania, 19085, United States
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Job Description

Villanova University
Lead Accountant

Posting Details

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Posting Details (Default Section)
Posting Number:20260310S
Position Title:Lead Accountant
Position Type:Staff
Location:Villanova, PA
Recruitment Type:Internal/External Applicants
Work Schedule:full-time/12-months
Avg Hours Week
Department:431-Controller's Office
Position Summary:
Why work at Villanova?
  • Join a mission-driven organization. Since Villanova University’s founding in 1842, we have been inspired by the values of truth, unity, and love, and are a community dedicated to service to others.
  • Villanova has been included among the nation’s best colleges and universities. VU’s inclusion again in U.S. News & World Report’s 2023 “Best Colleges” rankings is another indication of the University’s continued prominence and forward momentum.
  • We believe that an inclusive community fosters an understanding and appreciation for diversity among our students, faculty, staff and administrators. The UNITAS Office of Community Enrichment works to address issues of equity and justice in a variety of ways including workshops, events and employee resource groups.
  • Villanova’s most precious asset is our people. Even as a part-time employee, you will receive access to certain benefits, including tuition assistance and more.

Reporting to the Assistant Controller, the Lead Accountant is responsible for the accounting of the University’s investments and investment activity, gifts, and a variety of general accounting and financial functions, ensuring accurate and timely recording and reporting of financial data in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and donor and other restrictions. The Lead Accountant is also responsible for supervising the Cash Accountant and providing daily visibility into University operating fund flows for leadership.

The Lead Accountant works with appropriate functional areas to review, and develop, policies and procedures, to ensure compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, as well as University business processes and internal controls. The Lead Accountant will assist with preparation of various tax forms and ensure payments and filings are completed in a timely and accurate manner. The individual in this position will also assist in developing financial reports to use in reviewing financial performance, as well as assist departments by providing financial system data as needed. The Lead Accountant will maintain strong functional knowledge of the University’s financial information system, assist in testing new system functionality and upgrades, and provides support and training to the University community.

Villanova is a Catholic university sponsored by the Augustinian Order. The University is an equal opportunity employer and seeks candidates who understand, respect and can contribute to the University’s mission and values.
Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Endowment: Oversee and maintain the accounting related to the University’s investments and investment activity in accordance with GAAP. On a monthly basis, reconcile the G/L to the third-party custodian statements, making required journal entries as necessary, and book entries related to investment activity, accurately classifying income, gains, expenses, etc. Provide required and requested information to third-party service providers for inclusion in monthly reports for upper management and the Board. Throughout the year, ensure that endowment net assets are properly accounted for in the accounting system, based on donor and other restrictions. Work in conjunction with the Investments Office for proper maintenance of all investment accounts.

Specific tasks include but are not limited to:
  • Maintain fund records.
  • Reconciliation of General Ledger with records of outside funds custodians.
  • Provide required and requested information to third party service providers.
  • Provide accounting support to the Investments Office as needed.
  • Oversight of receipts and disbursements in and out of the funds, including managing reimbursement of Investment Office management expenses.
  • Prepare management reports on endowment fund activity for senior financial management and for departments within the University.
  • Coordinate the preparation and monthly distribution of reports on activity in individual endowment funds to the Advancement Office.
  • Work with third party service providers to ensure liquidity information on custodians and funds are updated and maintained accurately.
  • Assist Investment Office with surveys relating to investments, endowments, etc.
  • Continued review of accounting entries and account structure, to determine best practices for reporting and consolidation.
  • Preparation of the Endowment Spending Budgets and activation of fully funded endowments in our ERP in partnership with Stewardship.

  • Gifts/Pledges: Oversee and maintain the accounting related to the University’s gifts and pledges in accordance with GAAP. On a monthly basis, review and reconcile the Development Office’s FASB reports, making required journal entries on a quarterly basis to reconcile to the G/L, and maintain external work-papers relating to pledges by fiscal year and restriction. Calculate the pledge allowance and discount percentages on an annual basis, determining an appropriate discount factor. Maintain and provide upper management requested information on pledge status of donor restricted capital projects for use in projections and analyses. Throughout the year, ensure that gift net assets are properly accounted for in the accounting system, based on donor and other restrictions.

Specific tasks include but are not limited to:
  • Prepare and reconcile the daily feed to the general ledger from the Advancement Office.
  • Prepare journal entries and perform financial analysis related to gifts to the University, including pledges.
  • Calculate pledge allowance and discount percentages.
  • Prepare aging of pledges reports.
  • Monthly pledge receivable entries.
  • Provide Assistant Controller and Controller monthly pledge detail on donor funded capital projects.
  • Accounting for stock donation payments and reconciliation to stock bank account statements.
  • Annual Capital Campaign Reconciliation.

  • Various Month-End tasks and entries are to be performed timely and accurately related to areas of responsibility and other assigned balance sheet accounts. This involves the preparation and processing of monthly general ledger close transactions and preparation and distribution of monthly management reports. All entries need to be completed and reconciliations provided for review and approval, by stated deadlines.

*Specific tasks include but are not limited to:
  • Endowment market value adjustments and investment activity.
  • Endowment Investments Cost Reconciliation.
  • Endowment unitization process.
  • Student Managed Funds entries and reconciliations.
  • Planned Giving Reconciliations.
  • Maintain and perform account analyses and reconciliations of assigned balance sheet accounts.

  • Manage Cash Accountant in daily activities of general and cash and accounting and manage internal reporting related to operating cash and other items. Identify tasks to be performed, establish performance standards including timeliness and accuracy, and monitor quality of output and performance. Review the journal entries and reports prepared by the Cash Accountant on a daily basis. Review the bank reconciliations and other deliverables created by the Cash Accountant on a monthly basis.

  • Various Year-End tasks and entries related to areas of responsibility, and reconciliation and analysis of assigned accounts. Provides requested information to external auditors as assigned per the annual financial statement, Uniform Guidance, and NCAA audits.

  • Preparation of Federal tax forms (Form 990-T and Form 990) and local tax forms (Radnor Township BPT) for the University, with assistance from the Assistant Controller. Acquire the appropriate data to prepare the calculation for Federal tax form 4720, Return of Certain Excise Taxes. Provide data to PwC for review of accuracy and tax form preparation. Ensure that tax payments are made accurately and in a timely manner. Work directly with PwC Tax on all related tax issues and be responsible for any additional taxes/forms that are required due to new legislation.

  • Enhances design of, and maintain Chart of Accounts to meet changing institutional needs, including creation of new indexes, restricted funds, accounts, etc.
  • Assists with training University-wide staff to understand available financial system functions, basic budget reporting, and transaction review.
  • Other accounting tasks as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications:
Formal Education:
  • Bachelor’s Degree required, with a major in accounting.
  • 5 years of accounting experience, preferably in a university or similar environment; including in-depth knowledge of enterprise-wide accounting/administrative applications.

Specific Job Knowledge
  • Knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, especially in a not-for-profit higher education environment.
  • Specific knowledge of accounting for investments and investment activity, particularly in a not-for-profit organization.
  • Working knowledge of managerial accounting, reporting, and control. Knowledge of fund accounting concepts preferred.
  • Experience with enterprise financial software (experience using Ellucian Banner is desirable). Experience with customized report writing.
  • As relating to job responsibilities, keep up with new technology and new accounting pronouncements.
  • Strong knowledge of current Microsoft Office suite, particularly Excel, and perform complex analysis using advanced spreadsheet functions and/or other analysis tools.

Work Skills:
  • Strong oral and written communication skills, demonstrated aptitude in accounting, accuracy, and ability to work independently under general supervision.
  • Ability to problem solve, multi-task, and effectively prioritize work in a deadline-driven environment is critical.
  • Ability to clearly and effectively communicate (verbally and in writing) financial and technical information to diverse audiences with varying levels of financial understanding.
  • Ability to establish and develop effective working relationships within a large, complex organization.
  • Ability to adapt to new software and policy/procedure changes implemented to better manage job duties and time allocation.

Equipment Knowledge:
  • Standard office equipment, including PC and common software packages.
Preferred Qualifications:
Formal Education:
  • CPA preferred but not required.
Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours:
N/A
Special Message to Applicants:
Posting Date:06/22/2026
Closing Date (11:59pm ET):
Salary Posting Information:
This position falls within salaried grade 17 and the range is $97,000-107,800. The final salary will be determined with consideration of several factors including the selected candidate’s qualifications, department budget availability, market data, and internal equity.
Salary Grade:17
Job Classification:exempt
References Needed
References Needed
Minimum Number of References Needed3
Maximum Number of References Needed3
Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

  1. * How did you first hear of this employment opportunity?
    • Indeed.com
    • Higheredjobs.com
    • LinkedIn
    • Glassdoor
    • Chronicle Vitae
    • Academic Keys
    • PA CareerLink/JobGateway
    • Professional Affiliation/Trade Website
    • Diversity Association/Publication Website
    • Advertisement in Academic or Professional Publication
    • Referred by a current employee
    • Referred by a friend, family member, or former employee
    • Heard about it at a conference or career fair
    • Browsing the Villanova website
    • Cabrini University employee
    • Other
  2. * If your answer to the above question is "Other", please specify the source below. If this question does not apply to you, enter N/A.

    (Open Ended Question)

Documents needed to complete your application:
Required Documents
  1. Cover Letter / Letter of Interest
  2. Resume / Curriculum Vitae
Optional Documents

    Job Location

    Villanova, Pennsylvania, 19085, United States

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