(Remote) Senior Corporate Accountant - Tax Services

The Tax Services Department at West Virginia University is currently accepting applications for a Senior Corporate Accountant.

About the Opportunity

The Senior Corporate Accountant performs advanced accounting assignments to support specialized areas of tax and payroll accounting at the institution level such as financial analysis, internal and external reporting, and tax research. The recommendations and calculations made by this position have a broad impact throughout the institution, regional campuses, and WVU Research Corporation.

This is a professional level position that is responsible for the tax reporting of IRS Forms 990-T, 1098-T, 1099-K, 1099-NEC, and 1099-MISC for West Virginia University main campus and the regional campuses; for assisting with Forms 990, 990-T, 1099-NEC, and 1099-MISC for West Virginia University Research Corporation; for reporting and taxation of fringe benefits; for assisting in the reporting and taxation of foreign national students and employees; for monitoring of payroll process for Student FICA taxation; and other miscellaneous tax forms as required. This position is responsible for ensuring that these tax forms are completed in compliance with federal and state laws and regulations on a timely basis.

This responsibility requires extensive knowledge of Oracle, Banner, wvOASIS, International Tax Navigator, Lawlogix and Chrome River applications. The incumbent must also possess a thorough knowledge of existing policies and practices at the University, State and Federal levels and sound knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) & Governmental Accounting Standards. This technical and professional expertise must be maintained to assist in policy and procedure development as it relates to tax accounting.

We strongly believe in work-life balance and keeping time for things we love outside our work. WVU offers generous benefits, including:

• 37.5-hour work week
  
• 13 paid holidays (staff holiday calendar)
  
• 24 annual leave (vacation) days per year (employee leave)
  
• 18 sick days per year (for when you're ill, for when you need time to care for sick family, for your own, or your family's, regularly scheduled medical appointments. Who is family for the purpose of this leave? A lot of people in your life including immediate relatives and in-laws as well as others considered to be members of your household living under the same roof)
  
• WVU offers a range of health insurance and other benefits
  
• 401(a) retirement savings with 6% employee contribution match, eligibility to continue health insurance, and other retiree perks. Looking for more retirement benefits information? Check out retirement health insurance benefits, retirement income, and FAQ's.
  
• Wellness programs
  

What You'll Do

• Assists Director in the development and applications of systems, policy, and procedures to ensure the University is in compliance with Federal, State, and Local tax regulations. Analyzes tax related issues of the University. This includes preparing in-depth analysis, trend analysis, and forecasts; and developing, preparing, and coordinating implementation of recommendations for new policies, practices, and procedures. This also involves preparing, submitting, and presenting executive briefings to the Director for Tax Services, Director of Payroll, Associate Vice President for Finance, Senior Associate Vice President for Administration and Finance, Deans, Chairs, etc. (Senior Administration) on tax issues affecting the University.
  
• Assists Director for Tax Services in the accumulation and analysis of activities carried on by the University that may require reporting on the University and subsidiary tax returns. Responsible for ensuring that practices and procedures are developed to properly identify these activities in accordance with Federal and State laws.
  
• Assists Director for Tax Services in implementing and monitoring proper tax withholding and exemptions for employees.
  
• Develops, schedules, and conducts training sessions for individual groups of investigators, office managers, and others to explain information required for financial management of tax related issues.
  
• Serves as lead position for the preparation of the Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return for West Virginia University. This involves extensive work with all departments and regional campus' in gathering information related to unrelated business income (UBI). This also involves the periodic review of e-commerce stores to ensure proper reporting of unrelated business income.
  
• Assists the Director for Tax Services with the preparation of Form 990, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return for West Virginia University Research Corporation. This involves information requests and preparation of various schedules.
  
• Serves as lead position for management of the annual federal tax reporting requirement for colleges and universities on the IRS Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement. This process involves coordination of data from the WVU main campus student account Banner system and the WVU Parkersburg student account Banner system into one database for creation of approximately 35,000 Form 1098-T to be mailed to students and filed with the IRS. Also includes validation of data between the WVU main campus Banner system and the 1098-T database for accuracy. This process requires the incumbent to be the lead position for interaction with students and parents in responding to inquiries about the individual Form 1098-T issued.
  
• In preparation of Form 1098-T, this position also serves as the lead for student tax reporting data collection. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring the proper payer information is collected in order to issue the tax form. This position is responsible for the review of that data and the collection of any missing data via Form W-9S.
  
• Serves as lead position for the preparation of the Canadian Tax Form TL11A. The incumbent prepares the for upon request from the Canadian foreign national student.
  
• Serves as the lead position for management of the annual federal tax reporting requirements of reportable income on Forms 1099. This process involves issuance of Form 1099-MISC, 1099-NEC and 1099-K. The issuance of Forms 1099-MISC and 1099-NEC involves a close working relationship with the West Virginia State Auditor's office as the forms are reviewed and approved by the University and issued by the State Auditor's office.
  
• In addition to payments processed within the University, the incumbent serves as the lead to review and tax reporting of payments and benefits outside of the Procurement Pay process. Responsibilities include extensive review of external payments including prepaid card system, complimentary tickets, and other external accounts.
  
• Assists Director for Tax Services with tax research, utilizing tax reference resources, requested by Senior Administration and all departments across campus. This research requires comprehension and interpretation of complex tax laws and the ability to apply the law to the current situation.
  
• Serves as lead position for the processing of employee taxable fringe benefits in accordance with IRS Reg. *1.61-21. This process involves review of employee reimbursements and direct payments, moving reimbursements, complimentary gifts/tickets, and employer provided educational assistance. This process involves coordination with Procurement, Contracting and Payment Services and the WVU Foundation, along with various departments and regional campuses to gather information before determining the tax implications.
  
• Serves as lead position for interpretation of compliance with IRC *3121(b)(10) - Student FICA Exemption which currently affects approximately 5,500 student employees.
  
• Serves as lead position for miscellaneous external reporting including but not limited to Multiple Worksite Reports and assisting with OSHA wage reporting.
  
• Carries out special projects to achieve institutional mission and unit objectives as time and workload dictates. Participation may include coordinating and leading assigned project teams, recommending new or improved methods of operation, developing policy or procedure drafts. This also involves preparing and submitting, in concert with the Director for Tax Services, executive briefings to Senior Administration and other departments.
  
• Anticipates and analyzes operations and management information needs and responds by outlining, programming, and producing operational and managerial reports using the appropriate programming language and based on the financial and demographic information contained in the institutional accounting system. Produce information reports on an as needed or periodic basis as determined by operational needs.
  
• Serves as a backup to other positions within the unit and on occasion is required to perform others' duties which are mainly the payroll processing of foreign nationals, including review of foreign national VISA documentation, data entry into International Tax Navigator, assistance with the completion of tax withholding forms, review of treaty benefits, entry of Form I-9 into Lawlogix, and completion of new hire packets to Shared Services.
  
• Serves as back up for the taxation of foreign national students and employees. This includes monitoring of tax treaties and assessment of alien tax (ATAX).
  
• Serves as back up the preparation of the West Virginia University Research Corporation Forms 1099 filing. Duties would include assistance with review and issuance of the forms for accuracy.
  
• Participates in institutional processes such as the annual external audit and year-end tax reporting.
  
• Participates in job-related continuing education seminars and workshops (i.e., computing, fund accounting, tax regulations, UBIT, etc.). This may require in-state and out-of-state travel.
  
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Director for Tax Services.

• Bachelor's degree
• A minimum of five (5) years of experience in the following:
  
  
  
  • Demonstrated ability to perform the job duties and responsibilities indicated above typically acquired by five years of progressively responsible experience in financial operations of a complex organization
  
  
  
  
• Any equivalent combination of related education and/or experience will be considered.
• All qualifications must be met by the time of employment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• In depth knowledge of college and university tax and accounting issues
  
• Demonstrated expert knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as established by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB)
  
• Demonstrated expert knowledge of tax accounting procedures and policies
  
• Demonstrated ability to read and interpret tax law
  
• Strong mathematical skills are necessary to perform complex financial calculations
  
• Strong oral and written communication skills necessary to explain complex tax guidelines to university staff, to justify recommendations, and interact with regulatory agencies and internal/external auditors
  
• Demonstrated ability to organize information, perform financial calculations and prepare financial reports and presentations
  
• Demonstrated analytical ability to interpret and apply federal, state, and professional guidelines to unique university situations
  
• Demonstrated ability to independently manage numerous projects and prioritize for timely completion
  
• Demonstrated ability to lead projects and manage cross functionally
  
• Demonstrated ability to foster cooperation and harmony among diverse groups and exercise professional judgment in new and/or unusual situations
  
• Demonstrated ability to reason logically, analyze and solve complex issues or problems, and to follow complex written or oral instructions
  
• Demonstrated ability to operate a personal computer with a working knowledge of word processors, spreadsheets, and database application software

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in higher education or governmental accounting
• Previous experience with Oracle software
• A Master's degree
• Licensure as a Certified Public Accountant
• Accounting or Business Administration degree with an emphasis or minor in Accounting

West Virginia University is a place of purpose and community. We take pride in our profound impact on the state of West Virginia and are committed to the personal and professional growth of our employees.

From the groundbreaking R1 research at our flagship campus in Morgantown to the career-oriented programs at WVU Potomac State in Keyser, and the technology-intensive programs at WVU Tech in Beckley, the contributions of WVU employees resonate across the state, touching lives and shaping futures.

At WVU, you will discover a supportive community that champions work-life balance and fosters a collaborative atmosphere. Our core values - service, curiosity, respect, accountability and appreciation - unite us as Mountaineers.

Join us at West Virginia University, where your work will make a lasting impact. To learn more about WVU, visit wvu.edu.

West Virginia University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We invite all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or Veteran status.