Controller (52153)

Controller

Salary Range $78,790.40 Salary Position Type Full Time -Reg Education Level Bachelor's Degree Travel Percentage Up to 25% Category Staff

Description

The primary purpose of this position is to lead and manage the accounting, payroll, and student accounts departments. This position is responsible for the integrity of the University's financial assets, providing accurate and timely financial information (e.g., audits, tax filings, grants, accounts payable, student accounts, etc.) to internal and external constituents, billing and collecting tuition, and leading and developing staff.

Duties and responsibilities include overseeing the business office; training, supervising, mentoring, and evaluating staff; directing and supervising the functions of general accounting, accounts payable, payroll, university receivables, student accounts receivable, and supporting grants and contracts accounting activities; collaborating with all university departments on all financial related matters; supervising the maintenance of all accounting records, bank accounts, receipting and disbursing of all university funds; coordinating with the office of research and sponsored projects on programs supported by restricted funds to ensure proper management of such funds; reviewing and approving transactions in Emburse as required; assisting in the external audits of the University's financial statements and other audits; monitoring and maintaining cash balances; performing wire transfers, debt payments, and other wire and ACH transactions; designing, establishing, and maintaining an organizational structure and staffing plan to effectively achieve department goals and objectives; directing the recruitment, development, performance management, and evaluation of divisional staff; overseeing the Banner Finance module; reviewing unrestricted general ledger each month for possible over-expenditure, anomalies, and errors; serving as primary liaison with representatives of external funding agencies and organizations, as appropriate; providing special data and analysis; recommending and participating in the development of university policies and procedures; serving on university planning and policy-making committees; establishing open lines of communication with other NM regional universities; providing leadership and oversight of the organization's accounting, financial reporting, and compliance functions, ensuring adherence to GASB, GAAP, federal and state regulations, OMB Uniform Guidance, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), grant compliance requirements, and other applicable accounting standards and regulatory requirements; maintaining bank account administration and user access controls in coordination with the Vice President for Finance and Administration (VPFA); managing relationships and communications with the university's financial institutions and external banking partners; maintaining regular attendance; and performing other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum requirements include a bachelor's degree in accounting or related fields, and five years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified. Preference is given to active certified public accountant (CPA) license, work experience in higher education, and experience with Banner. Employment requirements include willingness to work evenings, weekends, holidays, odd hours, and emergency calls. Knowledge, skills, and abilities include knowledge of software to quantify and illustrate complex financial reports, comparisons, impacts, and/or projections; knowledge of and experience in business management, with emphasis in general ledger, budgeting, accounts payable, information systems, GAAP, FASB, and GASB; demonstrated success in providing leadership and supervision of staff and projects; effective written and oral communication skills; ability to make timely decisions on accounting matters; ability to work with governmental agencies and regulatory bodies; skill in examining and re-engineering operations and procedures, formulating policy, and developing and implementing new strategies and procedures; knowledge of organizational structure, workflow, and operating procedures; strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community; knowledge of internal control frameworks, risk assessment practices, and audit processes, including financial statement audits, single audits, and compliance audits; ability to foster a cooperative work environment; ability to gather data and analyze information, and prepare reports, including financial statements; ability to review and evaluate fiscal and other impacts of legislative initiatives; ability to train employees in areas related to duties; ability to communicate technical information to nontechnical audiences, both orally and in writing; ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in handling sensitive information; ability to work effectively with all levels of management, staff, and employees; and strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Intermediate to advanced proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, particularly Excel, including financial modeling, reporting, and data analysis is also required.