Job Description

Overview
Term: 18 months
The Accounting Analyst is accountable to the Manager, Accounting and Financial Analysis for processing financial transactions, analyzing and executing month-end procedures, preparing account reconciliations, conducting various financial analyses to help with business development, assist/lead accounting related projects, and other financial related tasks as assigned.
This position is contingent on funding.
Responsibilities
Financial Analysis

• Prepare weekly, month-end as well as year-end journal entries accurately and in a timely manner, applying GAAP principles and following the universitys finance policies for all units in P+RS.
• Extract and examine data sets to create custom financial reports, including but not limited to internal financial statements designed for individual business units using retail-specific software, as well as the universitys financial reporting system
• Analyze and apply historical trends to forecast and predict monthly budgeting amounts for year-to-date budgeting
• Process accounting transactions, providing timely reporting on and reconciling monthly balances, and working with customers/suppliers and P+RS staff to resolve any discrepancies
• Administer University of Waterloo staff and faculty purchase payroll deduction program, calculating monthly interest and communicating appropriate deductions to Payroll Department
• Month-end analysis on inventory adjustments, vendor price changes, margins, and inventory year-over-year variances

Account Reconciliations

• Reconcile various balance sheets and clearing accounts on a monthly basis following appropriate accounting principles
• Provide oversight on the P+RS gift card and deposit credit programs through monthly balancing against university general ledger accounts
• Balance retail general ledger sales and cost of goods sold amounts against the universitys financial statements

Daily Deposit and Reconciliations

• Reconcile daily sales transactions, ensuring any overages and shortages are investigated and resolved in a timely manner
• Ensure cash controls are followed in all areas of P+RS
• Gain understanding and efficiency in fully integrated Point-of-Sales (POS) and inventory tracking systems to investigate and recommend solutions on any variances
• Independently resolve any interdepartmental queries regarding charges made to accounts
• Manages the petty cash fund for the department, including reimbursement and safe keeping
• Ensures adequate cash floats are maintained including oversight and periodic audits of total safe counts

Assistant to the Manager, Accounting and Financial Analysis

• Acts as assistant for the Manager, Accounting and Financial Analysis with all aspects within the accounting office including Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, monthly and yearly inventory procedures, financial and any other ad hoc reporting
• Provides guidance and advice to all P+RS staff on appropriate revenue / expense recording procedures, following the universitys financial policies
• Supports yearly internal and external audits, providing source documentation as required
• Supports HST activities, in accordance with the universitys HST procedures as they relate to interdepartmental charges, rebates on varying purchases made for P+RS, and general sales
• Assists with accounting related projects and works as a lead when needed

Collaboration

• Interacts regularly with all P+RS staff and supports cross-promotion of products and services wherever possible
• Establishes and maintains strong partnerships and relationships with units throughout the university and the affiliated and federated institutions of Waterloo that help P+RS achieve its goals, while ensuring that P+RS is represented professionally

Customer Service

• Commits to positive interactions with all customers and provides appropriate level of assistance regardless of situation or location
• Ensures that all accounting inquiries are handled in a professional, timely manner; and in cases the inquiries need to be redirected to other staff, the incumbent will ensure that the redirection is complete, and that the customer is not left without service

Qualifications

• Post-secondary diploma or degree in accounting
• Progression toward or completion of an accounting designation is preferred
• At least three years of relevant financial experience
• Experience in a retail environment will be an asset
• Business acumen and analytical skills
• Critical thinking
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Interpersonal skills and relationship-building
• Analytical mindset, ability to explain and apply accounting principles, and advanced technical skill
• MS Word: Intermediate
• MS Excel: Advanced
• Proficiency with computerized retail and database systems

Equity Statement
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching, and community building, and is co-ordinated within the .
The University values the diverse and intersectional identities of its students, faculty, and staff. The University regards equity and diversity as an integral part of academic excellence and is committed to accessibility for all employees. The University of Waterloo seeks applicants who embrace our values of equity, anti-racism and inclusion. As such, we encourage applications from candidates who have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including applicants who identify as First Nations, M\xc3\xa9tis and/or Inuk (Inuit), Black, racialized, a person with a disability, women and/or 2SLGBTQ+.
Positions are open to qualified candidates who are legally entitled to work in Canada.
The University of Waterloo is committed to accessibility for persons with disabilities. If you have any application, interview, or workplace accommodation requests, please contact Human Resources at or 519-888-4567, ext. 45935.