Columbia University

Director, Pension Accounting and Reporting

Columbia University$140K — $150K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in accounting, business administration or finance preferred
  • 7+ years of relevant experience
  • CPA and/or advanced degree preferred
  • Pension accounting experience desirable
  • Excel super-user capable of data analysis and reporting

Responsibilities

  • Maintain pension/post-retirement plans' books and records; review and approve monthly journal entries
  • Lead updates and improvements to automated pension accounting processes
  • Ensure compliance with internal controls to protect pension assets
  • Prepare year-end financial statements and disclosures per GAAP and ERISA
  • Research new accounting rules, making recommendations for implementation
  • Manage year-end audits for seven pension plans, acting as liaison with the independent auditor
  • Direct preparation of Forms 5500 and compliance filings with IRS and DOL

Benefits

  • Full-time position, 35 hours per week
  • Opportunity to work with pension plans with assets over $8 billion
  • Collaboration with various departments, including HR and auditing teams
  • Role offers supervisory responsibilities over pension financial reporting
  • Emphasis on leadership and management skills in accounting team environment
Full Job Description
  • Job Type: Officer of Administration
  • Bargaining Unit:
  • Regular/Temporary: Regular
  • End Date if Temporary:
  • Hours Per Week: full-time, 35 hours
  • Standard Work Schedule:
  • Building:
  • Salary Range: $140,000-$150,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Executive Director, Benefits and Pension Accounting & Reporting, the Director, Pension Accounting & Reporting is primarily responsible for the on-going accounting for and reporting on the University's eight pension/post-retirement plans, a mix of defined contribution, deferred compensation, defined benefit plans, and retiree health plans with combined assets greater than $8 billion. This includes maintaining the plans' books and records and the related University expense and liability postings, managing the plans' audits, preparation of the plans' financial statements and footnote disclosures and the pension/post-retirement footnote disclosure for the University's Consolidated financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). . The Director works closely with others within Fringe Benefits Accounting, the Controller's Office, and the Human Resources Benefits teams, as well as both internal and external auditors, plan actuaries and plan custodians.

Responsibilities
  • Duties include, but are not limited to:
    • maintaining the pension/post retirement plans' books and records, reviewing and approving monthly journal entries and managing monthly closing and reconciliation procedures;
    • leading any updates and improvements to the current automated pension accounting processes;
    • complying with internal controls to ensure the protection of pension assets;
    • preparing the plans year-end financial statements and footnote disclosures in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and ERISA regulations;
    • researching new accounting rules and updates and making recommendations as to applicability and implementation;
    • independently handling the calendar year end and fiscal year audits for the seven pension plans coordinating with HR, actuaries, plan providers and other parties. Acts as liaison with the University's independent auditor;
    • directing preparation of the Forms 5500 and other Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor regulatory compliance filings;
    • preparing the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) pension/post retirement disclosure for the University's audited financial statements;
    • in consultation with the Executive Director, serving as the Controller's Office liaison to the Benefits Department on pension/post-retirement related audit and accounting matters, reconciliations and ad hoc reporting needs;
    • monitoring investment performance in accordance with the University's asset allocation for the pension assets;
    • collaborating closely with the plans' custodian and the plans' actuaries to ensure that valuation inputs are appropriate and that pension related disclosures are accurate;
    • supporting and participating in all pension plans, related HR, and fringe budget related activities;
    • supervising the Senior Accountant Pension Financial Reporting
    • performing other related duties and special projects as assigned

Minimum Qualifications
  • Bachelor's degree (preferably in accounting, business administration or finance)
  • Minimum of seven years' related experience required

Preferred Qualifications
  • CPA and/or advanced degree
  • Pension accounting experience
  • Excel super-user with the ability to collect and analyze data, evaluate information, prepare reports, and present findings and recommendations
  • Supervisory experience

Other Requirements
  • Must be detail-oriented, analytical, possess strong organizational and problem-solving skills, and can prioritize and manage multiple assignments simultaneously.
  • Must have leadership skills to own and manage the pension accounting team with minimal supervision.
  • Advanced Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access) is required.
  • Must possess excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills.
  • The ability to work closely and effectively with a diverse group of senior University administrators is essential.
  • Knowledge of current FASB and AICPA disclosure and presentation issues required.
  • Must have a passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality.

About Columbia University

Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King's College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhattan, Columbia is the oldest institution of higher education in New York and the fifth-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. It is one of nine colonial colleges founded prior to the Declaration of Independence, seven of which belong to the Ivy League. Columbia is ranked among the top universities in the world by major education publications. Columbia was established by royal charter under George II of Great Britain. It was renamed Columbia College in 1784 following the American Revolution, and in 1787 was placed under a private board of trustees headed by former students Alexander Hamilton and John Jay. In 1896, the campus was moved to its current location in Morningside Heights and renamed Columbia University. Columbia scientists and scholars have played a pivotal role in scientific breakthroughs including brain-computer interface; the laser and maser; nuclear magnetic resonance; the first nuclear pile; the first nuclear fission reaction in the Americas; the first evidence for plate tectonics and continental drift; and much of the initial research and planning for the Manhattan Project during World War II. Columbia is organized into twenty schools, including four undergraduate schools and 16 graduate schools. The university's research efforts include the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, the Goddard Institute for Space Studies, and accelerator laboratories with Big Tech firms such as Amazon and IBM. Columbia is a founding member of the Association of American Universities and was the first school in the United States to grant the MD degree. The university also annually administers the Pulitzer Prize. With over 14.5 million volumes, Columbia University Library is the third-largest private research library in the United States.
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