Controller

Position Title: Controller 

Reports To: VP, Student and Institutional Sustainability

College Unbound, an accredited college whose mission is to reinvent the higher  education experience for underrepresented returning adult learners, is rapidly expanding  and will be acquiring a new enterprise resources planning (ERP) system. The new  system is critical to the College’s efforts to implement best in class business processes,  improve financial controls and deliver excellent reporting and data analytics to support  stakeholders across the College, grantors, and accreditors. We are seeking a Controller  who will play a critical role overseeing system and process modernization, and  redeploying assets as College Unbound transforms its financial and business operations  with the implementation of a new ERP System. 

Position Summary: Reporting to the Vice President for Institutional and Student Sustainability,  the Controller will oversee business operations, such as, grant and contract  accounting, purchasing, and the college’s fiscal operations. The Controller is a critical member  of the College Unbound financial team and will be responsible for providing college-wide  leadership and broad strategic oversight of financial accounting, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, tax,  grant accounting, and compliance to assist the college’s academic leadership, administration  management, and board members in the efficient and effective monitoring, management, and  control of the fiscal resources. The Controller will work closely and collaboratively with both  executive leadership and managers across the institution to provide strong management  reporting and controls with excellent service throughout the College. 

Opportunities: 

Ensure the highest level of financial accountability, compliance, policy and procedures, business systems, and financial reporting - The Controller will be the College’s principal  accounting executive in charge of accounting records, policies, systems, procedures, and  enforcement and maintenance. This individual will prepare and approve all accounting and  financial reports and protect College assets by establishing and maintaining adequate internal  controls. Building strong relationships with colleagues within the business operations and across  the college will be a key to the long-term success of the Controller and their office. 

Lead a strategic, long-term effort to improve the College’s systems and financial  processes: The Controller will help envision a future for the Business Office that is more  technology-enabled, efficient, and automated. This vision must be balanced with the need to  manage change effectively, while maintaining existing service delivery and integration with other  administrative system initiatives. The Controller will be a key leader in the redesign of core  business processes and partner across campus in the implementation of a new enterprise  resource planning system.

Communicate effectively with internal and external partners: The Controller will have the  demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals and audiences,  both internal and external, in a clear, concise, and easy to understand manner. College  Unbound is a complex, decentralized, and matrixed organization. As such, the Controller needs  to be a nuanced, diplomatic relationship-builder who works easily with a variety of stakeholders. 

Duties and Responsibilities: 

• Oversee Accounting, Financial Reporting (including accounts receivable, financial statements, and cash reconciliation), Payroll, Sponsored & Cost Accounting, Grant and Contract Accounting, and the Sage Accounting System and  QuickBooks Advanced online. 
•  Design, implement, and maintain accounting and financial systems at all institutional  levels to systematically and properly record financial activities that provide reliable,  auditable financial data. Provide training on these systems. 
• Design, implement, and maintain a system of internal controls for business operations across the College to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations, accreditation  requirements, as well as College policies. Provide training on these controls. 
• Prepare financial reports to satisfy federal, state, accreditation and higher education  requirements. 
• Oversee general ledger, fixed-asset system, all treasury functions, and year-end audit. 
• Manage the College’s purchase card program and purchasing processes. 
• Negotiate the College's indirect cost reimbursement rate for sponsored research. 
• Maintain currency regarding changes in regulations as well as best practices from professional bodies of authority such as FASB, GASB, and federal agencies (e.g., OMB Uniform Guidance). 
• Maintain appropriate relationships with external auditors and institutional investor and financial public relations programs. 
• Manage staff.