Accountant I
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About this role
Hiring Salary Range: $48,000.00-$50,000.00
The University Controller's Office is led by the Associate Vice President/Controller and has approximately 150 employees. The UCO consists of Accounting and Reporting Services General Accounting, Research Cash Management, Asset Management, and Construction Accounting; Student Financial Services (Cashier's Office, Student Accounting & Customer Service, and Accounts Receivable); Payroll and Tax Services and the Office of Supplier Diversity. The UCO's mission is to safeguard institutional resources and provide accounting and operational support to the USF System while ensuring compliance with all Federal, State and regulatory financial guidelines.
The Accountant supports both departmental and university-wide financial operations by processing and reviewing accounting transactions, ensuring adherence to university policies, and maintaining accurate financial records. Key responsibilities include preparing journal entries, performing account reconciliations, setting up new customer accounts, and assisting with treasury and compliance activities. The role also contributes to construction-related financial reporting and serves as a backup for wire transfers and for select investment functions.
Responsibilities
Journal Entry Processing - Review, and process journal entries in the FAST financial system. Review journal entry submissions to ensure valid chart field combinations. Provide guidance to departments on proper financial coding and accounting practices.
Wire Transfer Support & Sales Tax Compliance - Serve as backup for wire transfer initiation and approvals. Review transactions for accuracy, authorization, and policy compliance. Follow strict internal controls and fraud-prevention procedures. Serve as backup for sales tax preparation and filings. Assist with data collection, journal entry preparation, and documentation. Ensure compliance with applicable tax regulations and deadlines.
The Accountant supports university financial operations by preparing cash and investment reports, processing transactions, reconciling accounts, and ensuring compliance with institutional policies. The role also assists with construction accounting and serves as a backup for treasury functions, including investment activities and interest allocation.
Customer Setup and Maintenance - Create and maintain customer records for university departments in the FAST system. Ensure accuracy and completeness of customer information. Coordinate with departmental contacts to obtain required setup documentation.
Abandoned Property Administration - Research and identify potential abandoned or unclaimed property belonging to the university.
Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
This position requires a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and one year of related experience, or a Master’s degree in Accounting or Business Administration (with appropriate Accounting preparation and coursework.) The bachelor’s degree is a minimum educational requirement for this position, and cannot be waived.
Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
• Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
• SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
• A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
• (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
• (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
• (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
• (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
• (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
• Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
• Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.
Preferred Qualifications:
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
Experience:
- 1–3 years of professional accounting experience, preferably in higher education, government, or a similarly regulated environment
- Exposure to treasury operations, investment accounting, or construction/capital project accounting is beneficial
- Familiarity with ERP or financial management systems ( PeopleSoft, Banner, Oracle)
Company
Working at USF
With approximately 16,000 employees, the University of South Florida is one of the largest employers in the Tampa Bay area. We are dedicated to cultivating a talented, engaged and driven workforce that strives to be bold. Employees excel in USF‘s rich academic environment, which fosters their development and advancement. In 2025, Forbes recognized USF as one of Florida’s best large employers, ranked No. 1 among the state’s 12 public universities. Our first-class benefits package includes medical, dental and life insurance plans, retirement plan options, employee and dependent tuition programs, generous leave, and hundreds of employee perks and discounts.
About USF
The University of South Florida is a top-ranked research university serving approximately 50,000 students from across the globe at campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and USF Health. USF is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top 50 public university and the best value in Florida. U.S. News also ranks the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine as the No. 1 medical school in Florida and in the highest tier nationwide. USF is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), a group that includes only the top 3% of universities in the U.S. With an all-time high of $738 million in research funding in 2024 and as a top 20 public university for producing U.S. patents, USF uses innovation to transform lives and shape a better future. The university generates an annual economic impact of more than $6 billion. USF’s Division I athletics teams compete in the American Athletic Conference. Learn more at www.usf.edu.
Compliance and Federal Notices
This position may be subject to a Level 1 or Level 2 criminal background check.
Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws:
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Applicants for USF employment are entitled to request reasonable accommodation(s) in the application process. A request is to be made at least five (5) working days prior to the time the accommodation(s) is needed. Visit the Central Human Resources ADA Accommodations webpage for more information on requesting an accommodation during the application/interview process.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The University of South Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains affirmative action programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws. This job description does not constitute an employment contract.