Position Summary
Kalamazoo College seeks a collaborative, detail-oriented, and experienced Senior Accounting Manager to join the Finance Office. This key leadership position oversees critical accounting operations, including payroll, accounts payable, purchasing cards, fixed assets, federal grant accounting, and general ledger activities.
The Senior Accounting Manager performs complex accounting functions, prepares financial analyses and reports, ensures compliance with institutional policies and regulatory requirements, and provides financial guidance to departments across campus. The successful candidate will combine strong technical accounting expertise with exceptional customer service, leadership, and problem-solving skills in support of the College's educational mission.
As an essential member of the Finance team, this position contributes to the College's commitment to providing an outstanding experience for students, faculty, and staff.
Key Responsibilities
Accounts Payable & Purchasing Card Administration
- Manage the College's accounts payable function, including invoice processing, employee reimbursements, and purchasing card reconciliations.
- Administer the Emburse Enterprise expense management system.
- Ensure all payments are accurate, properly documented, approved, and compliant with College policies and internal controls.
- Identify and resolve payment processing issues.
- Review and maintain vendor records, including IRS classification requirements.
- Process domestic and international wire transfers.
- Oversee annual IRS 1099 reporting and filing.
- Manage the College purchasing card program.
Payroll Management & Supervision
- Supervise payroll operations and related staff.
- Provide training, technical support, and backup support for payroll functions.
- Review payroll transactions and related account reconciliations.
- Resolve payroll discrepancies and ensure compliance with applicable regulations.
- Collaborate closely with Human Resources to ensure accurate payroll processing.
- Coordinate annual W-2 preparation and distribution.
General Accounting & Financial Reporting
- Prepare and review monthly journal entries.
- Perform and review balance sheet reconciliations.
- Complete monthly bank reconciliations.
- Prepare, analyze, and review monthly financial statements.
- Conduct financial analyses and prepare ad hoc reports for leadership.
- Assist with annual audits and prepare audit schedules.
- Support special projects and institutional initiatives.
Federal Grants & Compliance
- Administer financial aspects of federal grant programs.
- Ensure compliance with federal regulations and reporting requirements.
- Manage grant accounting, cash drawdowns, reconciliations, and reporting.
Fixed Assets & ERP Administration
- Oversee fixed asset accounting and reporting.
- Manage ERP system access and general ledger account maintenance.
- Maintain foreign tax reporting and international bank account reconciliations.
Campus Financial Partnership
- Serve as a trusted financial liaison and consultant to faculty, advancement staff, administrators, and departments across campus.
- Support process improvement initiatives, strengthen internal controls, and contribute to risk mitigation efforts.
- Promote a culture of collaboration, accountability, and excellent customer service.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field.
- Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible accounting experience.
- Minimum of five (5) years of experience working with automated general ledger systems and Microsoft Office applications.
- Prior supervisory experience.
- Experience preparing financial reports, reconciliations, and month-end accounting activities.
- Strong knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
- Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
- Exceptional verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to explain financial information to both financial and non-financial audiences.
- Strong commitment to customer service and teamwork.
- Ability to handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel.
- Experience with ERP systems and financial software platforms.
- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.
- Ability to access, create, retrieve, analyze, and communicate financial data effectively.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or other mission-driven organizations.
- Experience with federal grant administration and compliance.
- Familiarity with expense management systems and purchasing card administration.
- Experience supporting audits and internal control initiatives.
Why Join Kalamazoo College?
Kalamazoo College is a nationally recognized liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, experiential learning, and global engagement. Employees enjoy the opportunity to work in a collaborative campus environment where their contributions directly support student success and the College's mission.
We are seeking an individual who values integrity, inclusion, service, and continuous improvement while helping advance the College's financial stewardship and strategic goals.
Apply today to join a mission-driven institution where your accounting expertise will make a meaningful impact.
Application Instructions
Applicants are asked to upload a resume and cover letter. Completed applications received by August 28, 2026, will receive full consideration, with later applications reviewed as needed until the positions are filled. Compensation will be determined at the time of hire. Indeed-posted compensation is an estimate. The successful candidate will be start at a mutually agreeable time.
About Kalamazoo College
Kalamazoo College is a community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni who are committed to making an exceptional place to learn, live, and work. At Kalamazoo College, cultivating a profound sense of belonging and advancing meaningful inclusivity are foundational to who we are and what we do. Individuals who share similar commitments are invited to apply for employment.
Kalamazoo College is a nationally recognized liberal arts college known for rigorous academics and offering an integrated undergraduate experience that weaves a traditional liberal arts curriculum into educational experiences in both domestic and international settings with the majority of our graduates participating in study abroad. Kalamazoo College is committed to the liberal arts and sciences, experiential education, freedom of individual conscience and celebration of diversity and inclusion. It is one of the nation’s 100 oldest colleges and universities and a thought leader and innovator in higher education.
The campus of Kalamazoo College is located midway between Chicago and Detroit in Kalamazoo, Michigan, a metropolitan community of 261,000, which supports multiple college and university campuses along with numerous civic arts and cultural associations and sports teams. Thirty-five miles from Lake Michigan, the area offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation, a walkable downtown, outstanding restaurants, and plenty of family-friendly activities. The city is home to the Kalamazoo Promise, which covers up to 100% tuition and fees at Michigan colleges, universities, and trade schools for graduates of Kalamazoo Public Schools.
Kalamazoo College encourages candidates who will contribute to the cultural diversity of the College to apply and to identify themselves if they wish. An equal opportunity employer, Kalamazoo College is committed to equal rights, equal opportunities, and equal protection under the law. Please be invited to review our full EEO statement by visiting https://www.kzoo.edu/about/nondiscrimination-policy/. To provide a safe and secure educational environment, Kalamazoo College conducts criminal background reviews on all people who receive an offer of employment. Kalamazoo College is an E-Verify participating employer. Please select Notice and Rights for more information.
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Relocation assistance
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
