Accounting Analyst & Office Support

Position Overview
Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D) seeks a collaboratively minded individual to serve as the Accounting Analyst & Business Office Support, joining our group of committed faculty and staff passionate about art, education, and community.  The Accounting Analyst & Office Support will provide support by maintaining financial records and assisting with the general operations of the Business Office. The position will work closely with all Business Office roles, handle special projects supporting those roles, and provide administrative support to the department. Maine College of Art and Design recognizes that diversity is integral to the academic experience and strives to foster an inclusive culture of belonging defined by respect, equity, and social responsibility. All employees are expected to support these values actively.

Position Details
To achieve success in this role, it will require:

General bookkeeping and administrative duties;
Support Student Accounts, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, and Accounting with special projects;
Account analysis – organize and compare data in Excel;
Support team during the annual audit with reporting requirements;
External reporting to Higher Education Arts Data Services  and other entities;
Purchase Orders, order supplies, paper, and keys for studios;
Managing the college merchandise store and pop-up shops;
Fulfilling Online Merchandise orders, including mailing and tracking of orders and maintaining inventory;
Receipting and processing of deposits for Square Sales and Sales Taxes;
Creating  and making bank deposits;
Manage Federal Work Study students for the department filing and document management;
Interacting with Students, Staff, and Faculty for various general questions;
Data entry for quarterly actuals and budget reporting;
Reconciling Investment reports;
Ad-hoc requests from the Business Services Office.

Qualifications, Experience, Skills & Abilities
Qualifications:

A minimum of an Associate’s Degree or equivalent experience is required;
Bachelor’s degree preferred.

Experience:

3 to 5 years of General Bookkeeping  and/or Accounting related experience preferred;
Proficiency with MS Office Products (Word, Excel, etc.) required;
Proficiency with Google Products (Sheets, Docs, Gmail, etc.) preferred;
Prior experience in higher education is preferred.

Skills and Abilities:

Customer service as well as detail-oriented;
Strong organizational abilities;
High level of both written and verbal communication skills;
Ability to work as part of a team in addition to working independently;
Problem-solving abilities with analytical and critical thinking skills;
Working knowledge of general accounting rules, accounts receivable and accounts payable procedures and best practices;
Ability to work with diverse groups.

The Institution
Maine College of Art & Design is an independent college of art and design located in the center of the thriving arts district of Portland, Maine. Established in 1882, the College currently enrolls approximately 550 students, the majority of whom are in the undergraduate program. About 1,000 students take classes through MECA&Dʼs Continuing Studies Program annually. MECA&Dʼs Joanne Waxman Library is an important resource of art and design-oriented books and periodicals for the region. The Institute of Contemporary Art at MECA&D is a vibrant site for the exhibition of contemporary art. MECA&D is characterized by its intimate learning community, its interdisciplinary nature, and the breadth of its programs. It confers the degrees of Bachelor of Fine Arts in eleven majors, Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art, Master of Arts in Teaching, and the Salt Graduate Certificate in Documentary Studies. Our goal at MECA&D is to teach each student how to transform aspirations and values into a creative practice that serves as the foundation for a lifelong pursuit of personal and professional goals. Maine College of Art & Design is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) and the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (NASAD). The Collegeʼs accreditation status with both agencies was renewed in 2016. Our goal at MECA&D is to teach each student how to transform aspirations and values into a creative practice that serves as the foundation for a lifelong pursuit of personal and professional goals.

Strategic Direction
MECA&D’s seven-year strategic (2020-2027) plan builds on our historical positioning in Portland’s arts district, a shared strategic vision, and a proven ability to embrace change.

Strategic Plan Priorities

1. Broaden Our Reach: Online and Distance Learning

Charge: MECA&D will develop a strategy to effectively enter the online and distance learning marketplace in order to expand our audience of learners and generate additional revenue streams.

2. Develop a Culture of Social Change, Racial Justice, and Equity

Charge: MECA&D’s commitment to Social Change, Racial Justice, and Inclusion will inform all aspects of the College. We believe placing these values at the forefront of our work cultivates artists who are true agents of change and connects our community to the world in meaningful ways.

3. Academic Excellence

Charge: MECA&D will cultivate the highest standards in teaching and learning in art, design, and media and will be recognized for its students’ cultural contributions. The College will be known as an educational leader in the programs it offers, creating and continually improving a relevant, culturally inclusive, and distinctive curriculum that enables students to reach their potential in an ever-changing world.

Recognizing a rapidly evolving and increasingly challenging higher education landscape, the College will create additional programs and educational pathways to attract learners beyond its traditional region and age group: this includes professional, mid-career, and continuing learners.

4. Create a Living and Learning Center

Charge: MECA&D will develop a new Living and Learning Center that reflects the College’s mission to provide students with the resources and support necessary to pursue their education successfully. Building on MECA&D’s historic role as the creative anchor of Portland, the new Center will expand MECA&D’s footprint and identity within Portland and will provide a destination and hub for community activity and engagement.

5. Financial Sustainability

Charge: An essential principle of our Strategic Plan is to ensure MECA&D’s long-term financial sustainability. As informed by data and other qualitative metrics, we will identify a financial framework and a series of revenue-focused strategic priorities in support of sustainable results and MECA&D’s overall fiscal plan.

Compensation & Benefits
This is a year-round, full-time, exempt position.

Compensation ranges from $45,000 to $50,000, based on experience.

A comprehensive benefits package includes health, dental, STD, LTD, retirement benefits, and more.

Annual paid time off includes 4 weeks of vacation, 12 sick days, 5 days of Maine Earned Paid Leave, 12 holidays, and more.

To Apply
Applications will be reviewed immediately and accepted until a hire is made. Application materials must be sent digitally in a single PDF, not to exceed a 25MB file size. Please email the document to employment@meca.edu. Place “Accounting Analyst & Office Support” [Last Name, First Name]” in the subject line.

The PDF must include the following:

An application/cover letter that describes how the candidate’s experience, accomplishments, and qualifications intersect with the listed position description;
A resumé/curriculum vitae;
A diversity statement;
A list of four references with contact information, one of which should be a prior supervisor and/or professor.

Maine College of Art & Design recognizes that diversity is integral to the academic experience and strives to foster an inclusive culture defined by respect, equity, and social responsibility. The successful candidate will have demonstrated experience working with diverse populations and supporting an inclusive and equitable community. Maine College of Art & Design does not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, disability, genetic information, HIV status, race, age, religion, national or ethnic origin, or military/veteran status in its educational programs, admissions policies, employment policies, financial aid, or other College administered programs. Candidates from historically underrepresented backgrounds are encouraged to apply.