Staff Accountant

About San Francisco Bay University:

San Francisco Bay University (SFBU), a nonprofit, WASC-accredited, university situated in the heart of Silicon Valley in Fremont, California, seeks an innovative and experienced Temporary Staff Accountant. SFBU’s mission is to offer inclusive, innovative, and inspirational education for lifelong careers and our vision is to set the standard as a national model of higher education in service of the common good.

At SFBU, students come first. We prioritize students’ needs by fostering personal engagement among students, faculty, and staff. We are committed to providing affordable quality education with a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. 

We encourage you to learn more about SFBU by reviewing our strategic plan at https://www.sfbu.edu/strategic-plan.

Position Summary: 

The Staff Accountant is a key member of the Finance team at San Francisco Bay University (SFBU), responsible for supporting the day-to-day accounting operations and ensuring accurate financial reporting. This role handles full-cycle accounts payable, reconciliations, budgeting support, and general ledger maintenance, while assisting with audits and compliance filings. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, highly organized, and capable of working independently in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. This position is a fully onsite, exempt/ salaried, fixed term position, at our Fremont, CA campus and plays an integral role in maintaining financial integrity in support of SFBU’s academic and operational goals.

This position is designed for an early-career accounting professional seeking hands-on experience in financial reporting, month-end close, budgeting, audit support, and higher education finance operations.

Essential Responsibilities:

General Accounting

• Process and record journal entries in accordance with GAAP and university policies
• Reconcile general ledger accounts, bank statements, and subsidiary ledgers on a monthly basis
• Assist with month-end and year-end close procedures, ensuring timely and accurate completion
• Maintain and update fixed asset schedules, including depreciation calculations
• Support the preparation of financial statements and management reports
• Prepare audit schedules and supporting documentation for annual financial audits and compliance reviews.

Accounts Payable & Receivable

• Reconcile Brex corporate card transactions, review employee submissions, and ensure proper coding in Sage Intacct
• Process vendor invoices, employee expense reimbursements, and check requests in a timely manner
•  Assist with student billing, tuition revenue recognition, and accounts receivable collections
• Monitor aging reports and follow up on outstanding balances

Budget & Analysis

• Assist in the annual budget preparation process, including data gathering and variance analysis
• Prepare ad hoc financial analyses and reports as requested by the Controller or senior leadership
•  Identify and communicate discrepancies or unusual trends in financial data

Other Duties

• Participate in process improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency and internal controls
• Perform other duties as assigned by the Controller
• Support compliance with internal controls, accounting policies, and university financial procedures.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 0–2 years of accounting, finance, bookkeeping, or related experience, including internships.
• Foundational understanding of GAAP and core accounting principles
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUPs, and complex formulas
• Experience utilizing accounting software such as QuickBooks, Sage Intacct, NetSuite, Workday, Banner, or comparable ERP systems
• Familiarity with corporate card management and reconciliation platforms like Brex
• Exceptional attention to detail paired with strong analytical and organizational skills
• Capacity to manage sensitive information with the highest level of discretion and professionalism
• Strong written and oral communication capabilities

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience within higher education, nonprofit, or governmental accounting sectors
• Knowledge of fund accounting or grant-related financial principles
• Direct experience with Sage Intacct features such as dimensions, SmartRules, or integrations
• Proven success in reconciling corporate card transactions via Brex or similar systems
• CPA candidate or intent to work toward licensure
• Familiarity with Title IV federal financial aid regulations is highly desirable
• Experience with Brex, Ramp, Concur, Expensify, or similar expense management platforms.

Salary Range: $78,000-$90,000 annually, depending on qualifications and experience.

Work Environment & Physical Demands 

• Job duties typically performed in an office environment.
• Physical demands may include lifting up to 20 lbs, bending, sitting, and driving.
• The employee is occasionally required to sit or stand for long periods.

This job description is not a contract between SFBU and the employee. SFBU has the right to change the employee’s job duties at its discretion. 

Anticipated Start Date: 06/22/2026

Application Process:

NOTE: The supervisor/appointing authority will decide what makes the most sense in this section.

1. For full consideration, please submit your completed application, a letter of interest which describes your experiences based on the stated responsibilities, and your demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice. Current CV/ resume. Names and contact information of 3 references. 

This position description is not intended to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time, with or without notice.

SFBU is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer: SFBU is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment. SFBU does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices based on race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation or any other characteristic protected by law.

In accordance with federal and state disability laws, San Francisco Bay University provides reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance during the application or interview process, please contact SFBU Human Resources at hrmgr@sfbu.edu.