Equipment Manager

USC’s Financial and Business Services Department is seeking to hire an Equipment Manager who will lead the accounting and financial operations of a department or major financial unit, oversee staff, establishing strategic goals, and ensure efficient and accountable financial management. The Equipment Manager will ensure the accuracy and integrity of accounting records and financial transactions by maintaining compliance with organizational policies, regulatory requirements, and generally accepted accounting principles.

Key Responsibilities

• Manages the accounting and financial staff and oversees the operations of a financial services department or a large financial unit within an administrative or auxiliary division. Establishes departmental goals, objectives, and priorities, while monitoring and evaluating performance against those goals to ensure operational effectiveness and accountability.

• Directly or indirectly supervises all assigned subordinate staff, typically through multiple levels of supervision. Oversees the recruitment, screening, hiring, orientation, and training of employees, while evaluating performance and providing ongoing guidance and feedback. Counsels, disciplines, and, when necessary, terminates employees in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.

• Monitors, reviews, and verifies accounting records and transactions to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and adequate supporting documentation. Ensures compliance with internal policies, agency rules and regulations, and generally accepted accounting principles while maintaining the integrity and reliability of financial operations. Oversees the monthly depreciation process for capitalized equipment and fixed assets, ensuring depreciation entries are calculated, posted, and recorded accurately each accounting period in accordance with the university’s capitalization and useful life policies.

• Examines and evaluates internal methods and procedures to assess the adequacy of operational and financial controls. Identifies weaknesses or deficiencies and implements corrective actions to improve efficiency, accuracy, and compliance. Ensures departmental adherence to all applicable policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements. Reviews and approves depreciation reclassifications arising from asset transfers, disposals, changes in useful life, or corrections to asset categorization, ensuring adjustments are properly documented, appropriately approved, and aligned with capitalization policies.

• Oversees account reconciliations and the preparation of regularly scheduled summary reports, income statements, and financial reports for assigned accounting operations. Reviews and analyzes reports for accuracy, completeness, and consistency prior to distribution to ensure reliable financial reporting and informed decision-making. Directs the monthly asset subledger to general ledger reconciliation, investigating and resolving variances between the fixed asset system and the general ledger.

• Coordinates the development and maintenance of electronic systems and operational procedures to support efficient financial management processes. Provides strategic direction and input for the design and enhancement of accounting applications, reports, forms, records, and documented procedures to improve accuracy, consistency, and workflow efficiency.

• Supervises the collection, analysis, and formatting of financial data for special management studies and ad hoc requests. Provides management with financial information, along with clear explanations and interpretive analysis, to support informed decision-making and strategic planning.

• Provides guidance and expertise on university financial policies and procedures, applicable agency laws and regulations, and generally accepted accounting principles to ensure compliance, consistency, and sound financial management practices. Serves as the subject matter expert on asset-related matters, advising schools, departments, and central units on capitalization thresholds, asset tagging, useful life assignments, transfers, disposals, retirements, and physical inventory procedures to ensure the proper accounting treatment of equipment and fixed assets.

• Establishes and maintains a strong network of professional contacts and remains current with industry trends, professional organizations, and relevant publications. Attends and participates in meetings, conferences, and professional events, and represents the university and/or department as assigned or appropriate to promote collaboration, knowledge sharing, and institutional interests.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree

• 5 years of experience

• Senior or lead bookkeeping/accounting experience with directly related college study.

• Thorough knowledge of established accounting principles, methods, practices and terminology used in financial/accounting and statistical recordkeeping work.

• Ability to train, evaluate and supervise the work of employees.

• Demonstrated analytical, problem solving and effective communications skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree

• 7 years of experience

• Knowledge of university financial policies, procedures and systems.

The annual base range for this position is $108,000 -  $111,625. When determining an offer, the University of Southern California considers factors such as the scope and responsibilities of the role, the candidate’s experience, education, training, key skills, internal peer alignment, applicable laws, contractual requirements, grant funding, and market conditions.

Job Profile Summary
Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree
Minimum Experience: 5 years
Minimum Field of Expertise: Senior or lead bookkeeping/accounting experience with directly related college study. Thorough knowledge of established accounting principles, methods, practices and terminology used in financial/accounting and statistical recordkeeping work. Ability to train, evaluate and supervise the work of employees. Demonstrated analytical, problem solving and effective communications skills.

USC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy. USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law. USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety. Please refer to theBackground Screening Policy Appendix Dfor specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying. 

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities. Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at (213) 821-8100, or by email at [email protected]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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