Senior Accountant

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Senior Accountant provides financial and administrative oversight for key operational areas of the College including Financial Affairs, Auxiliary Services and Facilities Services. This role goes well beyond accounting transactions and requires independent judgment in managing complex financial and operational matters that directly affect institutional risk, compliance and financial integrity.

The Senior Accountant is an experienced accounting professional who performs complex accounting and operational work with a high degree of independence, accuracy and judgment. This role is responsible for overseeing and reconciling general ledger activity, managing complex billing and contractual arrangements, and ensuring compliance with institutional, state, and federal policies. The Senior Accountant is responsible for understanding the balance sheet details and ensuring that journal entries are accurate, timely and properly coded within the College’s chart of accounts and mapped properly in the College’s financial statements. The Senior Accountant also provides guidance to departments on accounting procedures and resolves discrepancies without routine escalation.

Reporting to the Assistant Controller and serving as a key partner with the Facilities team, the Senior Accountant brings financial discipline, operational judgment, and process rigor to areas where financial and operational considerations intersect. This is an in-person/on-campus position based in Needham, MA, with possible flexible work options. Any approved remote work arrangement must be performed in the state of Massachusetts where Olin is registered to do business.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Maintain and reconcile general ledger activity using the Jenzabar J1 ERP system, including cash, accounts receivable, fixed assets and investments.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly journal entries within the J1 system and corresponding analyses (e.g., investments, contributions, claims account activity and releases).
• Manage accounts receivable processes, including billing, invoicing, contract documentation, collections follow-up, and aging review.
• Oversee accounting for auxiliary, facility, rental, and capital activities, including revenue and expense tracking and reporting.
• Support month-end, quarter-end and year-end close activities, including accruals and reconciliations.
• Support the Assistant Controller in preparing schedules for the Form 990 tax return.
• Prepare schedules and provide requested documentation for the year-end financial statement audit.
• Provide financial guidance and support to departments regarding coding, policies and procedures.
• Assist in creating J1 reports necessary for the financial statement audit and internal reporting.
• Collaborate with Finance leadership and perform other related duties as assigned.

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of accounting experience, preferably in higher education or nonprofit organizations.
• Strong knowledge of accounting principles, including accrual accounting, revenue and expense recognition, fixed assets, fund accounting, and AR.
• High proficiency in Excel and experience with accounting systems and databases.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, and resolve complex reconciliation issues.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information to non-financial stakeholders.

Company Description

Olin College of Engineering seeks employees who are passionate about working collaboratively within and outside of the Olin community to support the College’s mission and vision for the future. At Olin, we are educating the next generation of engineering innovators and shifting the definition of engineering. Not only do our students ask, “Who are we designing this for, and what are their values?” They also ask questions about the impact of their work on society.

As Olin evolves under new leadership, we seek to become a more representative and aware community, a place where everyone is a learner and where everyone is an educator. Olin will become a place where experimentation—including making and learning from mistakes—will be embraced across the institution, not just in the classroom. Collaboration is key to Olin’s curriculum and culture, and we will work intentionally to reinforce the values and culture to which we aspire. We are a community that thrives on being together; we value trust. The College supports teams to collaboratively decide how they can best do their work, and display a commitment to the community, all while providing individuals with overall work-life flexibility.

Olin College is situated on 75 acres in Needham, Massachusetts. We are approximately ten miles from Boston, one mile from the MBTA Commuter Rail train station, and approximately four miles from the Woodland Station from the MBTA Green Line. We have plenty of free parking on campus. You can find more details on our Visiting Campus page.

• Take a Virtual Campus Tour: From the moment you step on campus at Olin, you feel a buzz of energy and activity—and once you experience it, you want to be a part of it.

Olin College is committed to supporting an innovative, integrated learning and working environment. As a small campus, the in-person experience and cross-team collaboration is what helps build a strong, dynamic community for our students, faculty and staff. Typically, most roles at Olin College are intended to be in-person and on-campus. Certain paid positions may be eligible for flexible working arrangements, at the College’s sole discretion. Any approved remote work arrangement for pay must be performed in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts where Olin is registered to do business. Individual flexible and remote work options can be discussed during the interview process.

Benefits

Olin College prides itself on offering to faculty and staff comprehensive benefits that provide both choice and value. These benefits are an important part of total compensation.

Full-time employees scheduled to work at least 30 hours per week may be eligible for the following benefits:

Core Benefits

• Medical (three different options)
• Dental
• Vision
• Basic Life and AD&D Insurance (company paid)
• Paid Family Medical Leave
• Long Term Disability (company paid)
• 403(b) Retirement Plan with company match
• Liberal sick and vacation time and paid holidays
• Free parking

Additional Benefits

• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Voluntary Life Insurance
• Business Travel Insurance
• Supplemental 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Travel Assistance Services (company paid)
• Pet Insurance

Please note that benefits are subject to change at any time.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

At Olin College we seek to become a more representative and aware community. If you’re excited about a role and have relevant experience, but your work history doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we'd nevertheless encourage you to apply.

Olin College is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We welcome applications from candidates belonging to groups that have historically been underrepresented in higher education, including racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQIA people, and people with disabilities. Employees of the College who have a disability are welcome to request reasonable accommodations by contacting Human Resources at HR@olin.edu.