Lead Accounting Analyst

Position Overview

Join the Follett Team, where employees are valued, respected, and offered career paths throughout its many campus locations.

Follett Higher Education is a leading educational service provider and omnichannel retailer providing students, faculty and staff, parents, and fans the course materials, learning tools and retail services needed to successfully support the collegiate journey. Follett Higher Education supports over 6 million students through its 1,100 physical and 1,750 eCommerce campus stores across North America.

The Lead Accounting Analyst is a Detailed and hands-on role within Follett Higher Education Group (FHEG) Commissions and Lease Accounting, responsible for preparation of month-end journal entries and reconciliations, execution of departmental processes and collaboration with Commissions Associate Accountants and outsourced team members. Commission system coordinator overseeing processes, documentation, system reporting and ad hoc analyses/reports/projects.

Responsibilities

• Review, prepare, and record journal entries related to balance sheet and income statement activity, utilizing and applying knowledge of Accounting to assigned tasks (e.g., Generally Accepted Accounting Principles and company policies).
• Review and provide analysis of monthly results vs budget/forecast/last year, prepare/review related commission reconciliations, and provide resolution to short/long term variances.
• Participate in various/independent campus audits and the Follett year-end audit.
• Primary owner of the Commissions processes, including daily customer payment file, contractual donation and one-time contractual payments, and store opening set-up and store closure procedures.
• Learn FHEG's systems as related to the Commissions processes to confirm accurate set-up and ongoing calculation of commissions payable.
• Collaborate with other team members to provide guidance and analysis on various commissions/contract-related requests.
• Communicate cross-departmentally within Follett and with Accounting management when required.
• Utilization of strong critical thinking skills to evaluate processes and calculations to identify errors and demonstrate initiative to resolve errors.
• Management of commission system, including reporting, maintenance, FASB lease accounting, Real Estate leases, and Equipment leases.
• Continuously evaluate processes for inefficiencies or errors and implement process improvements.
• Exhibit advanced critical thinking, organization, communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills to effectively present results to various audiences, including customers, Operations and management within FHEG, and direct reports.
• Performing other duties and ad-hoc reporting/projects for the Finance Department as requested.

• Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance required.
• 7-10 years of accounting experience; Public or Private industry experience.
• Prior ASC 842 Lease accounting experience is preferable.
• Retail industry experience is a plus.
• Technical accounting background and strong command of accounting principles (US GAAP) required.
• Advanced Computer Skills: MS Office, MS Excel, and financial reporting systems.
• During periods of peak activity (e.g., monthly or year-end financial close, etc.), additional hours may be required.