NSCS expands financial oversight of its colleges

The Nebraska State College System has created a new position to oversee the accounting procedures of its three colleges and is seeking candidates to fill its newly-created post of “Director of System wide Accounting.”

The system office posted the vacancy the week of Jan. 30.

According to the vacancy announcement, the new director will be responsible for:

• Working closely with the college’s lead accountants related to annual financial statement preparation and the use of accounting systems
• Leading periodic meetings with college accounting staff
• Providing support and direction during  audit visits at the colleges
• Coordinating with college lead accountants to make recommendations to the NSCS Council of Business Officers related to internal controls
• Conducting reviews to assure compliance with internal control policies
• Preparing consolidated system wide financial statements and preparing and/or reviewing periodic financial reports provided to the board of trustees.

The vacancy announcement states that the System Office is seeking someone who holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field, and at least five years of experience in public sector accounting or auditing.

The NSCS will begin application reviews Feb. 27, the announcement states.

Before the 2003-04 academic year, each college in the NSCS was audited independently, said Dale Grant, vice president of administration and finance.

After that, “we went to a combined audit,” he said.

However, the move to a combined system had its problems.

“Ever since that time, the auditor’s office has brought up concerns that we [the three colleges] don’t measure things the same way,” Grant said.

A desire for a consistent and unified accounting approach among the three colleges is the reason for creating the new position, Grant said.

“It [the position] will provide consistency,” he said. “It will work similarly to an internal auditor in corporations.”

Grant said a starting-salary range of $60,000-$70,000 is “fairly accurate,” for a CPA holding the minimum qualifications.

Grant said that two representatives from each college, in addition to System Office personnel, would sit on the position’s search committee.

Grant and CSC Comptroller Julie Goodman will represent Chadron State on the committee.