Position: Controller

Department: Finance & Administration

Reports To: Chief Financial Officer

Status: Full-time, Exempt

Salary: $140,000 - $165,000/annual

General Description:

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller serves as a strategic finance leader responsible for ensuring the integrity of the University's financial operations while advancing operational excellence, systems modernization, process automation, and data-informed decision-making. As a member of the senior management team within the Finance Office, the Controller provides leadership and oversight of multiple professional staff and functional areas, ensuring timely and accurate accounting, compliance, financial reporting, internal controls, and stewardship of NDNU resources.

The Controller partners closely with executive leadership, operational departments, Information Technology, Human Resources, Payroll, auditors, banking partners, and external stakeholders to strengthen financial operations and support institutional goals. The scope of responsibility includes general accounting & compliance, accounts payable, purchasing, cashiering services, treasury services, financial reporting, student accounting, financial systems administration, internal controls, and process improvement initiatives. Additionally, this position provides expertise to executive leadership on regulatory compliance, financial strategy, risk management, and operational effectiveness.

Specific Responsibilities/Duties:

Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness

Lead, mentor, develop, evaluate multiple direct reports and finance staff professionals responsible for accounting, financial reporting, accounts payable, student accounting, treasury, and related finance functions.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer service, continuous improvement, and professional development throughout the Finance Office.
Champion a culture of data-informed decision-making, operational excellence, innovation, and service.
Provide staff leadership, coaching, training, and guidance on technical accounting issues, financial management practices, and professional development.
In the absence of the Chief Financial Officer, serve as the acting leader of the University Finance Office.

Financial Operations, Compliance & Internal Controls

Direct and oversee the University's accounting operations, ensuring accurate processing, recording, reconciliation, and reporting of financial transactions.
Develop, implement, monitor, and maintain fiscal policies and procedures in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Generally Accepted Auditing Standards (GAAS), federal OMB Uniform Guidance, tax regulations, and all applicable federal and state laws.
Design, document, implement, and monitor a comprehensive internal control framework that safeguards University assets, mitigates risk, and promotes regulatory compliance and operational effectiveness.
Ensure timely monthly and annual fiscal general ledger closes and provides the CFO with cash reconciliations, liquidity analyses, and fund balance projections.
Partner closely with Human Resources and Payroll to ensure the accurate accounting, reconciliation, reporting, and internal control oversight of payroll-related transactions and liabilities.
Coordinate with external auditors, tax preparers, consultants, regulatory agencies, and financial institutions to ensure timely and accurate reporting and compliance.
Coordinate and oversee the annual external financial statement audit, Single Audit, annual tax filings, and associated compliance activities.
Coordinate the annual close of the University's books and prepare and review annual financial statements, audit schedules, supporting documentation, and work papers.

Strategic Financial Leadership & Decision Support

Work closely with executive leadership, and campus stakeholders on financial planning, resource allocation, long-term sustainability and institutional priorities.
Develop and maintain executive financial reporting, dashboards, key performance indicators (KPIs), and financial analytics to support strategic and operational decision-making.
Serve as a strategic business partner to academic and administrative leadership by providing financial insights, operational analysis, and decision support.
Ensure the integrity, consistency, accessibility, and governance of financial data across institutional systems.
Participate in special projects, financial analyses, and strategic initiatives that advance institutional goals and improve organizational performance.

Systems, Technology & Process Improvement

Lead continuous improvement initiatives to modernize financial operations, automate manual processes, streamline workflows, and leverage technology to improve efficiency, accuracy, and service delivery.
Serve as the primary business owner and functional lead for financial systems, including system optimization, reporting enhancements, workflow automation, data governance, and future technology initiatives.
Partner with Information Technology and operational departments to optimize ERP utilization, system integrations, reporting capabilities, and business processes.
Ensure financial and supporting systems are monitored, integrated, secure, and optimized to support accounting, reporting, regulatory compliance, and operational effectiveness.

Governance & University Service

Support the Board of Trustees through the preparation of financial reports, presentations, and supporting materials.
Serve as Assistant Treasurer, if designated by the Board of Trustees.
Serve on the Retirement Plan Administrative Committee.
Collaborate with the University community to understand operational and financial information needs and improve service delivery.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Minimum qualifications: Ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in accounting and/or finance, preferably within higher education or a nonprofit organization.
Minimum five (5) years of progressively responsible leadership and supervisory experience managing professional staff and multiple functional areas.
Experience leading financial system implementations, upgrades, optimizations, or business improvement initiatives is highly desirable.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Excellent technical knowledge and working proficiency in accounting standards.
Proficiency in financial statement preparation, analysis, and presentation.
Experience with enterprise ERP systems, reporting tools, business intelligence platforms, and business process automation technologies; Jenzabar experience preferred.
Proficiency in budget preparation, cash management, and endowment accounting.
Proficiency in not-for-profit accounting, FASB standards, GAAP, and higher education financial reporting.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, AI tools, and financial reporting systems is required.
Demonstrated ability to lead organizational change, process improvement, and finance transformation initiatives.
Experience implementing, optimizing, or supporting ERP systems, workflow automation tools, reporting platforms, and related financial technologies.
Experience developing executive dashboards, management reporting, performance metrics, and financial analytics.
Strong project management, organizational leadership, and change management skills.
Excellent analytical skills, detail-oriented while maintaining focus on broader institutional and strategic objectives.
Excellent decision-making skills.
Outstanding judgment, including discretion in the management of confidential information.
Superb oral and written communication skills.
Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to work collaboratively and effectively with constituents at all organizational levels.
Ability to work effectively with executive leadership, faculty, staff, trustees, auditors, and external partners.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Proven problem-solving skills and proactive approach to identifying and resolving issues.
Ability to distill and act on feedback from multiple stakeholders.
Outstanding organizational, prioritization, and multitasking abilities.
Strong customer service orientation with an emphasis on understanding and supporting institutional needs.
Possess a high degree of initiative, attention to detail, follow-through, adaptability, and accountability.

Training/Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related business field required; Accounting preferred.
Certified Public Accountant (CPA), MBA, or other relevant professional designation strongly preferred.

Application Procedures:

NDNU is committed to providing an educational environment that supports a diverse student population. In your cover letter, please include information about your experiences in working in a diverse environment, and what qualities you would bring to supporting this commitment to inclusive excellence at NDNU.

EEOC Policy:

The University is an equal opportunity employer and is firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and other employment practices and in the application of its personnel policies. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists, employment decisions will be made irrespective of the staff member's race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except for minors), sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition (cancer-related or genetic condition), disability and/or any another status protected by law. When necessary, the University will reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities, if the individual is otherwise qualified to safely perform all essential functions of the position and if it will be done without undue hardship to the University.

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