Accounting Specialist

Salary: $54,000 - $58,000

NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

 

WHITMAN COLLEGE

Located in the historic community of Walla Walla, Whitman’s vibrant and beautiful tree-lined campus is home to an intellectually diverse, dynamic, welcoming and supportive community of some 500 staff and faculty serving approximately 1,500 students from the local region and across the globe.  With exceptional students, accomplished faculty and staff, and a fiercely loyal and growing number of engaged alumni, Whitman College continues to build on its national reputation for academic excellence as one of the top liberal arts colleges in the country.  

 

Whitman College is cultivating a community built on inclusion and belonging. We recognize the value of those who can offer historically underrepresented perspectives and encourage applications from those whose background, knowledge, and insights from lived experience can add to the college’s working and learning environment. Whitman College is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer (EEO) .

POSITION PURPOSE

The Accounting Specialist primarily assists the Trust Accounting Manager for all aspects of the off-campus rental program and various accounting responsibilities within the trust office, including processing gifts, college investments transactions, and processing of trust payables. The Accounting Specialist is also responsible for tax work related to international students and contractors, including assisting the International Student and Scholar Support Services Office with the maintenance of tax treaty information for international students, calculating taxes to withhold and remit based on payments made to or on behalf of international students and contractors, and preparation of all the tax forms related to international students and contractors.

HIRING SALARY RANGE

Salary within the range will be determined based on qualifications and experience. 

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES

Approximately 75% of the Accounting Specialist’s time and effort is associated with various functions related to the College’s trust funds, i.e. the investments (15%), farm properties (8%), and rental properties (52%) held in the College’s endowment, including the following:

• Prepare journal entries to record purchases, sales and market value adjustment for investments. 
• Prepare quarterly endowment investment performance distribution to the endowment units.  
• Process payments for the Trust and Endowment area including College farm and rental property.

• Update purchases and sales of security information for external reporting service, reconciling to internal balances monthly.
• Complete monthly reconciliation of various accounts of the college, including but not limited to investments and gift activities.

• Complete other related duties as assigned when bandwidth is available.  

Approximately 25% of the Accounting Specialist’s time and effort is associated with work for international students and contractors related to the College’s current (i.e. operating) fund, including the following:

• Assist the International Student and Scholar Support Services Office with training provided to international students in regards to the maintenance of their tax treaty profile information in the college’s tax determination system, Sprintax Calculus.
• Assist the Accounts Payable Manager by calculating the amount of taxes to be withheld for payments made to or on behalf of international students and contractors.
• Assist in identifying treaty benefits and monitoring treaty limits for international students and contractors.
• Remit taxes withheld for international students and contractors to the IRS.
• Prepare Forms 8233 and 1042-S and ensure timely filing with the IRS.
• Research, understand and explain regulations and policies, including nonresident alien tax issues for contractors.
• Participate in cross-training to support the student accounts area.
• Complete other related duties as assigned when bandwidth is available.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

Individuals must be able to explain and/or demonstrate that they possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities to safely perform the essential functions of the job, with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Establish and maintain exemplary customer service and fiscal accountability as it relates to all functions within the department.
• Demonstrate a strong knowledge of procedures with attention to detail and processing cycles.
• Perform office procedures necessary to the position with a high level of accuracy and reasonable efficiency.
• Interpret and apply regulations and policies, including international taxation issues.
• Ability to effectively prioritize workflow and effectively manage interruptions.
• Positively and actively contribute to the College’s core values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and antiracism.
• Demonstrated proficiency in the use of software applications, spreadsheets and word processing.
• Ability to understand complex processes.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Associate’s degree in accounting OR two year’s accounting experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in business or accounting or at least 4 years of accounting experience. 
• Rental property experience and/or experience with international tax regulations. 

Please note that while the description details both required and preferred qualifications, we want applicants to be aware that they do not need to have all of the preferred qualifications to be considered for this position. If you meet the minimum qualifications and have passion for the work, you are encouraged to apply.

BENEFITS 

Whitman College offers a competitive benefits program that is designed to attract qualified candidates and retain talented employees. Full-time employees enjoy the following benefits:

Medical/Dental/Vision Insurances.

Basic life, accidental death and dismemberment and long term disability insurances with the capability to elect additional voluntary coverage.

403(b) Defined Contribution Retirement Plan with a 10% matching contribution after eligibility requirements are met.

Paid Time Off: 10 accrued vacation days, 12 accrued sick days, 13 paid holidays.

Tuition Remission – Dependent Children

Employee tuition waiver for one Whitman course per semester.

Employee Assistance Program

Learn more about benefits eligibility here. 

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION FOR JOB CANDIDATES

Contact Human Resources regarding requests for disability accommodation in the employment application process.

APPLICATION REVIEW

Application review will begin on January 16, 2024 and continue until the position is filled. 

START DATE

March 2024