What are the responsibilities and job description for the Accounting Operations Strategic Automation Specialist position at Ohio Wesleyan University?
Strengthen financial operations. Modernize processes. Create measurable impact.
DEPARTMENT | REPORTS TO | APPOINTMENT |
Help shape the future of financial operations at Ohio Wesleyan
Ohio Wesleyan University is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking Accounting Operations & Strategic Automation Specialist to strengthen our financial operations while helping us modernize the way work gets done.
This is an opportunity for an accounting or financial operations professional who combines strong technical knowledge with curiosity, initiative, and a passion for continuous improvement. You will provide leadership for essential accounting functions - including accounts payable, purchasing, reconciliations, and financial close activities - while identifying ways to use automation, data analytics, and AI-enabled tools to reduce manual work, improve accuracy, and support better decision-making.
The successful candidate will be comfortable moving between day-to-day financial operations and broader strategic initiatives. You will collaborate with colleagues across the University, assess current processes, develop practical improvements, and help build a culture that embraces innovation, efficiency, and responsible financial stewardship.
What You'll Do
Strengthen accounting and financial operations
- Support accurate financial reconciliations and proactively identify and resolve variances.
- Establish, maintain, and continuously improve reconciliation procedures and timelines.
- Support timely monthly reporting and year-end close and audit activities.
- Oversee accounts payable and procurement processes, including invoice processing, vendor management, payment practices, and cash-flow considerations.
- Provide lead direction and guidance to assigned staff and student employees.
Advance strategic sourcing and cost optimization
- Analyze University spending to identify cost-saving opportunities, purchasing efficiencies, duplicate vendors, and opportunities to consolidate services.
- Support requests for proposals for major purchasing categories, evaluate vendor responses, and recommend sourcing strategies aligned with University priorities.
- Monitor contract renewals, vendor performance, cost increases, and related budget impacts.
- Strengthen vendor relationships while improving payment terms, processes, and financial visibility.
Lead automation and process modernization
- Identify, design, and implement automation opportunities across accounting and financial workflows.
- Develop automated accounts payable entry, approval, and payment processes, including ACH, wire, and check workflows with improved tracking.
- Use data analytics, exception reporting, intelligent matching, and standardized templates to improve reconciliation processes.
- Explore practical uses of AI-enabled accounting tools, robotic process automation, and other emerging technologies.
- Partner with Finance, Information Services, budget managers, and other campus colleagues to ensure that technology recommendations support institutional priorities and include appropriate training and resources.
- Help colleagues understand and adopt new processes by building engagement, providing guidance, and demonstrating the value of change.
What You'll Bring
Required qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
- Seven to ten years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, financial operations, procurement, strategic sourcing, or a closely related area.
- Strong proficiency with ERP systems, financial software, electronic procurement platforms, and advanced Microsoft Excel functions, including pivot tables and lookup functions.
- Demonstrated success designing and implementing process improvements, automation, or system enhancements.
- Experience using - or the ability to effectively evaluate and apply - AI-enabled accounting tools and emerging automation technologies.
- Strong financial and analytical skills, including the ability to assess costs and benefits, evaluate contracts, monitor performance measures, and translate data into recommendations.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Ability to manage multiple complex projects and priorities with limited direction.
- A collaborative, customer-service-focused, and solution-oriented approach.
Additional experience that will help you succeed
- Accounting, procurement, or financial operations experience in higher education or another complex organization.
- Experience with expense management systems such as Concur.
- Experience with accounts payable automation or electronic procurement platforms such as Jaggaer.
- Experience leading change initiatives, building organizational support, and encouraging innovation.
- Experience providing direction or guidance to staff or student employees.
Why This Role Matters
The work of this position will have an impact across the University. By strengthening core accounting practices, improving purchasing decisions, and thoughtfully applying technology, the Accounting Operations & Strategic Automation Specialist will help Ohio Wesleyan:
- Improve the accuracy and timeliness of financial information.
- Reduce repetitive and manual work.
- Strengthen vendor and purchasing practices.
- Identify meaningful cost-saving opportunities.
- Improve service to campus partners.
- Build more responsive, efficient, and sustainable financial operations.
If you are energized by the opportunity to combine accounting expertise, strategic thinking, and emerging technology to create measurable organizational improvements, we encourage you to apply.
To Apply
Completed application packets must include:
- A letter of interest
- A cover letter
- A current resume
- The names, titles, and contact information for three professional references who may be contacted later in the selection process. References will not be contacted without the candidate's prior awareness.
Candidates who experience difficulty uploading all required materials through our career page may submit supplemental materials to jobs@owu.edu.
Application review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Work authorization: Employment sponsorship is not available for this position. Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States. |
What We Offer
Ohio Wesleyan is a selective, residential liberal arts college enrolling approximately 1,600 students. The college's signature program, The OWU Connection, empowers students to complete research, community service, career experiences, and study abroad, teaching students to apply their knowledge in real-world settings.
Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book Colleges That Change Lives and was recently listed by U.S. News & World Report as the No. 1 liberal arts college in Ohio for social mobility. To discover why Ohio Wesleyan offers a rewarding place to work - and why it could be your next work home - visit our What Makes Working at OWU Great webpage.
OWU is located in Delaware, Ohio, a lively college town just 30 minutes north of Columbus - the 14th most populous city in the United States and part of one of the fastest-growing, most economically vibrant regions in the Midwest. Columbus, increasingly known as the "Silicon Midwest," was named by LinkedIn as one of the top 10 U.S. cities in which to launch a career.
Our Commitment
To achieve our mission, we continually strive to foster a campus community where every individual is respected, supported, and able to flourish. We affirm the worth of all persons and welcome people of all backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Ohio Wesleyan University is an equal opportunity institution and seeks applications from individuals who will contribute to and help strengthen our commitment to academic excellence, mutual respect, and the shared pursuit of knowledge.