Purchasing Accounting Assistant II

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Special Instructions to Applicants: All interested applicants should attach a resume and cover letter in the Supporting Documents section of the application, preferably in a PDF format to avoid any formatting issues.

Position Summary

BioSciences at Rice is home to undergraduate and doctoral degree programs in Biochemistry & Cell Biology and Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. We also participate in multidisciplinary degree programs in Biological Science, Environmental Science, and Neuroscience, as well as professional science master's programs in Bioscience & Health Policy and Environmental Analysis.

The purchasing accounting assistant II is responsible for assisting the BioSciences at Rice Department with budgeting and financial record keeping. They will serve as the purchasing agent for the department and will be responsible for processing purchase orders and overseeing equipment inventory. They will maintain the equipment service contracts under the direction of the post-award research administrator. The ideal candidate has experience working in a college or university accounting support role.

This position offers a hybrid work schedule after a probationary period.

Hiring Salary : This position is hiring at a starting hourly rate of $18.90/hr.

Requirements

• HS Diploma or equivalent
• 2+ years of related administrative and/or accounting experience
  • In lieu of the experience requirement, additional related education, above and beyond what is required, on an equivalent year-for-year basis may be substituted
• Skills
  • Advanced knowledge of word processing, spreadsheet, email, and database software programs to complete work assignments
  • Advanced attention to detail and accuracy
  • Good listening, verbal, and written communication skills
  • Ability to work and participate in a team environment
  • Ability to plan and schedule effectively

Essential Functions

• Prepares, reviews, processes, and reconciles invoices and expenses
• Prepares detailed expenditure and budgetary reports
• Analyzes information and maintains a database of designated revenue transaction and tax information
• Serves as the purchase agent for the department
• Reviews and interprets legal documents for financial terms and conditions
• Performs all other duties as assigned

Additional Functions

• Maintains proper records related to purchasing card purchases in accordance with University purchasing card policies and procedures
• Assists faculty, students, and staff by responding to inquiries about purchase orders and obtaining quotations
• Enters and processes capital purchase orders
• Prepares and submits accounting forms that may be needed when reconciling (e.g., budget transfers, expense and revenue corrections, internal department transactions)
• Researches and resolves problems associated with invoice discrepancies
• Reconciles monthly credit card statements by gathering supporting documents
• Trains faculty, student, and staff on use of Oracle
• Assists accountant(s) as necessary with report distribution, fund/grant reconciliation, special requests and projects by pulling reports, payments, and other documents as needed
• Assists department chair, accounting manager, and executive administrator as requested with projects and/or reports

Preferences

• Bachelor's degree
• Bookkeeping and/or accounting coursework
• Three years of experience working at a university
• Experience at Rice University
• Experience using Oracle
• Experience working in a college or university accounting role

Rice University HR | Benefits:

Rice Mission and Values: Mission and Values | Rice University

Rice University is an Equal Opportunity Employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability or protected veteran status.

Faculty and staff are expected (but not required) to have completed a full vaccination series for COVID-19 (currently defined as full course COVID-19 Vaccine (typically two shots of a WHO-approved COVID-19 Vaccine or one J&J) and a COVID-19 booster. Rice does not require documentation for COVID 19 vaccination at this time for faculty and staff. More information can be found here:

Boasting a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Rice University is ranked among the nation's top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has a 6-to-1 undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio, and a residential college system, which supports students intellectually, emotionally and culturally through social events, intramural sports, student plays, lectures series, courses and student government. Developing close-knit, diverse college communities is a strong campus tradition, which is why Rice is highly ranked for best quality of life and best value among private universities.