Location: Spokane Falls Main Campus

Department: District Budget/Finance Office

Salary Range: $77,249 - $87,325

Starting salary for this position is: $77,249 (Annually)

The salary range represents the earning potential for this position, through training, evaluations and years spent working in this position with CCS.

About Us 

We are a community college district comprised of two accredited colleges, Spokane Community College (SCC) and Spokane Falls Community College (SFCC). In addition to serving a large urban and suburban population in greater Spokane, the district provides educational services to rural communities throughout a 12,302 square-mile region in Eastern Washington. This region includes all of Spokane, Stevens, Whitman, Ferry, and Pend Oreille Counties, as well as portions of Lincoln County.

Both colleges of CCS are accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities and governed by the Washington State Board of Community and Technical Colleges.

Applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. PST on 10/14/2024. The application process will not be available after this time. To ensure consideration make sure your application is completed and submitted as soon as possible. Applications will only be accepted prior to 4:00 p.m. on the closing date.

About the Budget & Accounting Senior

Under the general direction of the Chief Financial Officer and the District Director of Budget and Planning, the Budget and Accounting Senior position is a member of the Community Colleges of Spokane (CCS) Budget and Planning team. The role serves as a senior accountant and budget manager responsible for accounting, budgeting, control and planning of an assigned college or central administration departmental financial operations.

This position assists administrators and managers with financial accounting related to resources, including expenses, budgets, revenue, and staff positions. The Budget and Accounting Senior ensures compliance on all fiscal matters with state, federal, district and college policies, procedures, laws, regulations and Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB).

This position assists in preparing organizational and district budgets, creating revenue and expenditure projections, posting accounting transactions, developing business and accounting processes, preparing regular and ad hoc reports, conducting research and analysis to correct problems or provide information, and providing budget and expenditure advice and assistance to appropriate managers and staff.

CHARACTERISTIC DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist administrators and appropriate staff in managing the accounting and budgeting aspects of department fiscal operations and budget planning processes. Ensure consistency with district planning and budget allocation processes and ensure proper utilization of resources and funds. *
• Collaborate as a member of the CCS Budget and Planning team, to support the annual budget processes for  Spokane Community College,  Spokane Falls Community Colleges and district operations.*
• Responsible for internal management reporting, reconciliation and analysis to meet internal and external financial statement reporting requirements; ensure proper accounting techniques and controls are used. Prepare year-end procedures and guidelines including schedules as required for annual financial statement audit preparation. *
• Interpret fiscal policies and procedures; assist in the monitoring and review of computer input/output; recommend improvements for development and maintenance of computerized financial management and reporting. *
• Prepare and enter fiscal transactions. Review, reconcile and verify fiscal reports for accuracy; investigate and correct errors to ensure compliance with established state, federal and GAAP and GASB standards. *
• Provide leadership and direction in accordance with district procedures in the design, implementation and ongoing management of fiscal budgeting, accounting, and fiscal reporting for the department. *
• Monitor and report on the status of budgets, revenues and expenditures. Independently reconcile budgets and appropriate expense and revenue accounts. Approve expenditures and perform appropriate reclassifications and transfers as necessary. Initiate accounting entries as appropriate. Promptly notify administrators of developing concerns or potentially problematic trends. *
• Communicate with and provide specialized financial accounting and reporting as required to district, state, and federal entities in accordance with their specific requirements related to assigned grants, contracts and project and related activities. *
• Maintain staff position control, ensuring staff positions are properly managed and funded. *
• Oversee the accounting operations and reporting processes used in department activities involving interdepartmental charges; ensure consistency with district accounting policy, student account processes, or unique requirements of projects or special activities. *
• Maintain communication with other organizational or functional budget and fiscal analysts and the District Director of Budget and Planning to ensure alignment of organizational activities with institutional goals and districtwide policies, administrative procedures, or business processes. Identify potential efficiencies or economies of scale or potential or actual problems to the appropriate manager, with suggestions for resolving issues or implementing improved processes or controls to enhance organizational effectiveness. *
• Establish internal processing procedures, standards, and set priorities to ensure accurate, efficient and on-time delivery of quality fiscal services. Communicate effectively, orally and in writing; accurately perform complex calculations. *
• Maintain required electronic and manual filing systems. *
• Represent District Office and/or organization on committees within CCS as requested. *
• Provide interface between district fiscal systems, and business processes and procedures and unit activities. *
• Model professional decorum and mutual respect in all personal interactions. *
• Comply with district policies, procedures and directives, state and federal regulations, orders and statutes and collective bargaining agreements. *
• Support and advance the CCS strategic plan, and perform other duties as assigned. *
• Assist in other areas within the business office as requested.

* Indicates this is an essential duty.

COMPETENCIES

• Manages Complexity
• Decision Quality
• Action Oriented
• Resourcefulness
• Plans & Aligns
• Ensures Accountability
• Drives Results
• Collaborates
• Builds Effective Teams
• Organizational Savvy
• Instills Trust
• Self-Development

Learn more about our competencies.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution, which includes 18 quarter or 12 semester hours in accounting, auditing, or financial analysis. Or an equivalent mix of education and experience that demonstrates the candidate meets all competency requirements for this position.
• Two or more years of increasingly responsible experience as a professional accountant or financial analyst, which includes budgeting and fiscal accounting and reporting experience.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP); auditing principles, procedures and practices; management of financial records and reports; recognized methods used in effecting internal control; and methods of accounting systems design.
• Ability to demonstrate high skill levels in automated spreadsheets and other tools for accounting, financial analysis and reporting, and to analyze complex financial and statistical data and determine their significance.
• Ability to extract data from complex accounting, reporting and other systems and use automated spreadsheets and other tools for financial analysis.
• Ability to analyze complex financial and statistical data and determine their significance. Experience in forecasting and analysis.
• Ability to monitor and evaluate fiscal and/or accounting activities and internal controls.
• Ability to prepare comprehensive reports and recommendations.
• Ability to work independently.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills with individuals and groups.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with district administrators, faculty and staff.

DESIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Certified Governmental Financial Manager (CGFM), or Certified Management Accountant (CMA).
• Knowledge of State of Washington’s budgeting and accounting policies and regulations; federal cost principles, principles and procedures of governmental accounting and budgeting. Experience in higher education, governmental or non-profit accounting.
• Experience with PeopleSoft Finance Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Work is performed in an office environment with frequent interruptions and background noise.
• Work is sedentary.
• Frequent use of computers.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

• Contract 12-month position.
• Position is exempt from Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).
• May require local or regional travel.
• Criminal background check is required.

Person hired must be able to provide acceptable documentation of U.S. Citizenship or lawful authorization to work in the United States. This is an absolute condition of employment. An offer of employment will not carry with it any responsibility or obligation on the part of the district to sponsor an H1-B visa. In addition, the Community Colleges of Spokane maintains a drug-free work environment and prohibits all smoking in the college buildings and state-owned vehicles. Must be able to successfully work in and promote a multicultural work and education environment.  

Prior to a new hire, a background check including criminal record history will be conducted. Information from the background check will not necessarily preclude employment but will be considered in determining the applicant’s suitability and competence to perform in the position. Once an applicant is chosen for a position, they are required to complete and submit a declaration regarding sexual misconduct and investigation per state law.

Benefits Information

This is a contracted, exempt management position. Medical, dental life and long term disability insurance benefits are provided as currently administered under the Public Employees Benefits Board; TIAA-Cref retirement plan or WA State Retirement Plan. Vacation leave accrues at the rate of 14.67 hours per month (22 days per year) and sick leave accrues at the rate of 8 hours per month, effective upon employment. (For positions that are less than full time, leave accruals will be prorated to the percentage of the position.)

Public Employees Benefits Board

Additional benefits information

Required Application Materials

To qualify for consideration, applicants must meet required competencies and submit a complete application packet, which includes the following:

• Cover letter - addressing your qualifications relevant to the responsibilities of this position.
  
• Resume.
  
• References – the names, addresses, and phone numbers of three professional references.
  
• College transcript(s) if applicable - unofficial/copies of transcripts are acceptable; official transcripts are required upon hire.

For questions regarding a job application or the hiring process, or if you require an accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact HR at CCS.Recruiter@ccs.spokane.edu.

Community Colleges of Spokane (CCS) Equity Statement

CCS believes that access to high-quality education in a safe and inclusive environment is the right of all individuals and imperative for the continued advancement of a strong democracy and workforce. We also believe higher education institutions have an obligation to work toward and demonstrate progress in ensuring equity amongst their students, faculty, and staff. Equity is grounded in the principle of fairness. In higher education, equity refers to ensuring that each student receives what they need to be successful through the intentional design of the college experience.

Native Land Acknowledgement

We are honored to acknowledge that the Community Colleges of Spokane, and our main campuses for Spokane Falls and Spokane Community College, are located on the traditional and sacred homelands of the Spokane Tribe. We also provide services in a region that includes the traditional and sacred homelands of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation, Kalispel Tribe and Nez Perce Tribe.
 
We pay our respect to tribal elders both past and present as well as to all Indigenous people today. This land holds their cultural DNA, and we are honored and grateful to be here on their traditional lands. We give thanks to the legacy of the original people and their descendants and pledge to honor their stewardship and values.

Equal Opportunity Institution

Community Colleges of Spokane does not discriminate in its programs, activities and employment on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, age, sex, marital status, pregnancy, pregnancy related conditions, parental status or families with children, status as a mother breastfeeding their child, AIDS/HIV or hepatitis C, honorably discharged veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, use of a trained guide dog or service animal by a person with a disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected category. 

Direct all inquiries or grievances regarding access, Title IX, ADA, equal opportunity compliance, and/or grievances to:
Fred Davis | Chief Human Resources Officer
Community Colleges of Spokane
P.O. Box 6000, MS1004
Spokane, WA. 99217-6000
509-434-5040