What are the responsibilities and job description for the Controller position at Bennett College?
GENERAL SUMMARY:
Reporting to the CFO, the Controller holds primary responsibility for the accounting activities of the College and the Business Office as a whole. This includes maintenance of the tables in the College’s General Ledger system as well as supervision of staff and review of work in the areas of accounts payable, payroll, student accounts, and accounting. Annually, this position manages the annual audit, including preparation of financial statements and supporting documentation, along with regulatory reporting including the IRS Form 990. From an internal reporting perspective, this position manages the annual budget creation process and the monthly accounting close, including departmental budget reporting. In collaboration with the Director of Sponsored Programs, this position is responsible for the reconciliation and drawdown of Federal Funds.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
- Management of the General Ledger
- Department liaison with IT and data warehousing
- Supervision of all disbursement transactions (accounts payable and payroll) and the related reporting and regulatory requirements
- Supervision of accounting staff including review of work
- Management of annual financial statement and regulatory return preparation
- Monthly system close and internal financial reporting
- Federal funds reconciliation and drawdown
- Banking relationship management
- Budget creation and analysis
- Cash forecasting
- High-level accounting (endowment, debt, net assets, investments)
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:
- Familiarity and competency with the Microsoft Office 365 suite is required
- Strong personal resonance with Bennett’s mission is preferred
- Familiarity with Jenzabar EX is desirable
- Prior federal grants accounting strongly preferred Must be a proven leader and working manager
- Must be a self-starter and problem solver with strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities
- Must possess a high level of professionalism and the ability to exercise sound judgement and discretion
- Must be able to communicate effectively with individuals both inside and outside the college and to deliver a high level of customer service
- Must be able to effectively administer the college’s policies and procedures and to make suggestions for improvement
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting required
- Prior supervision of accounts payable, payroll, and other staff preferred
- CPA and/or MBA preferred
- Prior higher education accounting experience preferred
