Senior Governmental Accountant

Position Summary

TriMerge Consulting Group, P.A. is seeking a Senior Governmental Accountant to perform professional accounting work in support of the organization’s general ledger integrity, monthly and year-end close processes, fund accounting, reconciliations, and annual financial reporting.

This position is part of the Controller’s Office and reports to an Assistant Controller or Accounting Manager. The role is being recruited during a period of audit remediation and enterprise resource planning (ERP) transition. The candidate will be expected to independently own assigned reconciliations and close activities without external consultant support, maintain audit-ready documentation standards, and contribute to the implementation and stabilization of the organization’s next-generation ERP environment.

Reporting Relationships

• Reports to: Assistant Controller or Accounting Manager
• Works closely with: Controller; Budget Office; Treasury; Accounts Payable; Grants and Contracts Accounting; external auditors and consultants
• Supervisory responsibility: None at the Senior level; may provide functional guidance to Accountant I and II staff and student workers

Principal Responsibilities

Fund Accounting and General Ledger

Record and maintain transactions across assigned fund groups (e.g., unrestricted, restricted, auxiliary, loan, endowment, plant or equivalent classifications). Ensure accuracy and integrity of assigned balance sheet and revenue accounts in accordance with applicable governmental accounting standards and the organization’s chart of accounts.

Reconciliations

Perform monthly reconciliations of assigned bank accounts, investment accounts, clearing accounts, and subsidiary ledgers to the general ledger. Identify, investigate, and resolve reconciling items within established timelines. Prepare documentation in audit-ready format suitable for supervisory and external review.

Journal Entries

Prepare, document, and post recurring and non-recurring journal entries with complete supporting documentation. Ensure all entries are supported by verifiable source documentation and are reviewed and approved in accordance with internal control procedures prior to posting.

Month-End and Year-End Close

Execute assigned close tasks in accordance with the published close calendar. Support preparation of accruals, deferrals, and reclassifications. Assist in the preparation of the Annual Financial Report (AFR) and related financial statements and disclosures.

Audit Support

Respond to internal and external audit requests with complete, accurate, and timely documentation. Maintain workpapers at a standard that allows independent re-performance without additional clarification.

Compliance and Internal Controls

Adhere to organizational policies and applicable governmental regulations. Identify potential control weaknesses in daily work and escalate concerns to management. Support continuous improvement of internal control processes.

Capital Assets, Leases, and Subscription-Based IT Arrangements

As assigned, maintain subsidiary records supporting capital assets, leases, and subscription-based IT arrangements. Reconcile subsidiary systems to the general ledger.

Grants and Contracts Accounting Support

As assigned, support sponsored program activities including billing, drawdowns, indirect cost recovery postings, and cost share tracking.

ERP Transition Support

Participate in ERP implementation and transition activities including data validation, chart-of-accounts mapping, parallel testing, and user acceptance testing.

Financial Reporting and Analysis

Prepare assigned financial schedules, supporting documentation, and analytical reviews. Perform variance analysis against budget and prior year and provide clear explanations for significant fluctuations.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or closely related field from an accredited institution
• Minimum four (4) years of professional accounting experience in a governmental or public sector environment (e.g., public university, state/local government, public school district, federal agency, or governmental audit practice)
• Working knowledge of governmental fund accounting and fund classification structures
• Demonstrated experience performing balance sheet reconciliations to audit-ready standards
• Working knowledge of applicable GASB standards, including but not limited to:
• Financial reporting model standards
• Pension and OPEB accounting standards
• Lease accounting standards
• Subscription-based IT arrangement standards
• Experience with an enterprise ERP system (e.g., PeopleSoft, Workday, Banner, Oracle Cloud, SAP, or equivalent)
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, conditional logic, and analytical modeling)

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA license, CGFM certification, or active CPA candidate
• Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
• Prior experience in a public higher education or governmental system environment
• Experience with state treasury pooled investment systems or similar public investment structures
• Experience supporting Single Audit, State Audit, or federal audit engagements under Uniform Guidance
• Prior ERP implementation or conversion experience
• Experience with Workday Financials or similar modern ERP platforms

Core Competencies

• Documentation Discipline: Ensures all reconciliations, journal entries, and supporting workpapers are complete, dated, and fully traceable to source documentation
• Professional Skepticism: Independently validates account balances rather than relying on historical accuracy
• Timeliness: Works within structured close calendars and proactively communicates risks to deadlines
• Written Communication: Produces clear, audit-ready documentation that supports independent review and re-performance
• Collegial Independence: Confident in escalating issues and collaborating across teams while maintaining ownership of assigned responsibilities