Job Description

Posting number: 2027029S

Department: Winthrop University

Job classification: Associate Vice President

Posting type: Open

Categories: Accounting and Finance, Executive Management

Summary

Reporting to the Vice President for Finance and Business Affairs, the Associate Vice President/Controller (AVP/C) provides fiscal leadership and strategic oversight of financial accounting, university business and budgeting processes, and control compliance.

• Designs and implements systems and processes based on best practices to support the university’s mission and strategic plan;
• Ensures compliance with local, state, and federal regulations and the timely submission of internal and external reports;
• Fosters a commitment to continuous improvement and outstanding service and works to strengthen collaboration across campus and with external constituencies; and
• Provides supervisory leadership to accounting services, accounts payable, budget services, payroll services, post-award management and student financial services.

Financial Operations Leadership and Compliance

• Plans, directs and administers the university’s financial operations, including accounting, post award management, accounts payable, payroll, fixed-asset accounting, resource planning and allocation, budget management, purchasing, P-Card administration, risk management, cash management, cashiering, student billing and accounts receivable.
• Builds and maintains effective, high-functioning, cross-relational teams within the fiscal operations units.
• Anticipates and leads change with understanding; considers various perspectives and uses appropriate tools to make informed changes and implement them effectively and efficiently.
• Establishes and maintains policies, procedures, systems and internal controls that are based on best practices, support the university’s strategic plan and ensure compliance with state and federal laws.
• Anticipates changes in laws, rules, regulations and standards affecting higher education and ensures compliance accordingly.
• Works with Information Technology to ensure that applicable ERP modules are updated, tested and functioning as intended.

Financial Planning and Reporting

• Maintains accounting control over all of the university’s financial accounts and ensures the integrity of financial data.
• Prepares the university’s annual financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
• Meets external reporting requirements and deadlines, including but not limited to, those mandated by federal and state regulations, the IPEDS Survey and the Board of Trustees.
• Works with the Budget Office to develop annual budgets and calculate and negotiate the university’s F&A and fringe benefit rates.
• Oversees the annual audit and serves as the point of contact for any institutional audit.
• Provides ad hoc analysis and reporting.

Leadership and Strategic Vision

• Fosters a culture of customer service and high standards of care.
• Prepares long-range financial, organizational and capital project plans and advises on their impacts.
• May serve as delegated authority to liaise with trustees, government and other external entities to perform relationship management and enhance data flow and communication.

Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Building

• Understands the needs of key customers and provides them with the financial and procedural information that allows them to make informed decisions and achieve their financial, strategic and operational goals.
• Ensures a customer-service-oriented billing and collection system for student accounts and deposit system for all university cash.
• Develops training for internal customers related to accounting and budget systems.

Examples of duties

• Master’s degree in accounting or finance.
• Seven years of experience in finance, accounting, budget management or related field.
• At least three years of supervisory experience.
• Expert knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and government accounting standards and regulations.
• Working knowledge of the taxes normally associated with a public institution of higher education.
• Ability to interpret and apply complex guidelines, rules, and regulations.
• Strong financial skills and proven ability to plan and manage operating and capital budgets and support a data-driven decision model.
• Exceptional problem-solving skills and the ability to think strategically and develop a vision for long-range planning.
• Proven leader and manager who knows how to motivate a team, support their professional development and create a productive work environment.
• Exceptional communication skills and the ability to make effective oral and written presentations at the executive level.
• Must be detail-oriented, possess exceptional time-management and organizational skills, and be committed to delivering work on assigned schedules.
• Strong commitment to transparency, follow through, and customer service and the ability to monitor and evaluate service quality.
• Familiarity with higher education operations and proficiency with ERP systems common to higher education.
• Effective interpersonal skills and the demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with individuals at all levels of an organization.

Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) credential.
• At least five years of experience directing or managing fund accounting and working with GASB accounting and financial reporting standards and FASB reporting, preferably at an institution of higher education.

Supplemental information

To apply go to https://winthrop.peopleadmin.com/postings/22864.

Annual Salary/Hiring Range: $144,458; actual salary depends on qualifications.

Telecommuting: Employees are not eligible for telecommuting/remote work during their 12-month probationary period. After that time, certain positions may be eligible for telecommuting/remote work at the discretion of the supervisor and in accordance with Winthrop policies.