Managing Director - Corporate Controller

The Managing Director - Corporate Controller (“Controller”) is the leader responsible for all external and internal financial reporting. The Controller serves as the subject matter expert in areas such as the application of U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), internal controls over financial reporting, federal corporate income tax, and accounting operations. The Controller is the primary point of contact with the company’s independent accountants.

The People You Will Work With

The Controller reports directly to the Vice President - Chief Accounting Officer and leads the day-to-day functions of the Accounting Department.

Where and When You Will Work

The position will be based in Farmer Mac headquarters, located at 2100 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC. Core business hours are Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 5:30 p.m. eastern time. Work outside of these times may be required for planned and unplanned activities to complete time sensitive projects or to attend off-site meetings or events. Periodic travel is expected of this position.

Primary Responsibilities and Duties

• Leads the development of the company’s accounting policies ensuring that they comply with GAAP, including disclosure requirements of the SEC.
• Monitors the development of accounting and disclosure standards by the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the SEC. Advocate on behalf of Farmer Mac in the standard setting process, as necessary through comment letters and participation in the process. Ensure that changes to accounting standards are appropriately incorporated into the company’s accounting policies and financial reporting.
• Provides consultative advice in the development of new products and services regarding the application of GAAP and accounting operations.
• Leads the Accounting Department in the monthly and quarterly financial close ensuring compliance with accounting policies and internal controls resulting in reliable and timely financial information.
• Leads the continuous improvement of the company’s accounting processes and systems.
• Leads the interactions with the company’s independent accountants about their quarterly review of the company’s financial information, audit of the company’s internal controls over financial reporting, and audit of the company’s annual financial statements.
• Leads the interactions with the company’s safety and soundness regulator, the Office of Secondary Market Oversight of the Farm Credit Administration, in matters involving accounting and financial reporting.
• Leads responses to any inquiries or comments from the SEC on the company’s financial information filings.
• Leads the preparation of the company’s periodic filings with the SEC including drafting of the document, review by the management Disclosure Committee and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.
• Leads the enterprise-wide effort to document and certify the adequacy and effectiveness of the company’s internal controls over financial reporting (i.e., Sarbanes-Oxley) in conjunction with the Enterprise Risk Management team.
• Leads the preparation and filing of the company’s annual federal income tax return and the quarterly estimated federal income tax payments.
• Provides strategic financial vision and leadership as one of the company’s senior Finance leaders.

Required Capabilities and Traits

• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
• Organizational savvy: Maneuvering comfortably through complex policy, process, and people-related organizational dynamics.
• Ability to drive vision and purpose: Painting a compelling picture of the vision and strategy that motivates others to action.
• Capability to manage ambiguity: Operating effectively, even when things are not certain, or the way forward is not clear.
• Proficiency to plan and align: Planning and prioritizing work to meet commitments aligned with organization goals.
• Stakeholder focus: Builds strong stakeholder relationships and delivers stakeholder-centric solutions.
• Ability to cultivate talent: Develops people to meet both their career goals and the organization’s goals.
• Need for outcomes: Works intensely to achieve and exceed high standards.
• Optimism: Comfortable with self and positive about life.
• Persistence: Passionate and steadfast in pursuit of long-term goals, in spite of unexpected obstacles, discouragement, or distraction.
• Credibility: Demonstrates consistency between words and actions.

Education and Experience

• Industry. Experience in leading accounting and financial reporting within a regulated, publicly-owned financial institution, preferably a government-sponsored enterprise. Expert level of knowledge in financial instruments and expected credit losses (CECL), derivatives and hedge accounting, guarantees and transfers and servicing of financial assets, including securitization. More specifically, experience within the secondary mortgage market is beneficial.
• Certification. License as a certified public accountant is required. Other licenses, such as certified global management accountant are beneficial.
• Education. A bachelor’s degree with a focus on accounting is required. An advanced, post-graduate degree in accounting or in business administration, finance or economics is beneficial. A track record of continuing professional education in accounting is necessary.
• Experience. The successful candidate will have a minimum of 20 years of experience and progressive leadership, allowing the necessary technical acumen that this position requires.

Our compensation philosophy is targeted pay positioning relative to peers, our industry, and external markets. Farmer Mac is committed to a compensation program that will enable the organization to attract, motivate, reward, and retain highly skilled and creative talent to maintain sustained long-term performance and achieve the organization’s strategic business objectives. The typical base pay range for this role in Washington, D.C. area is $250,000 to $300,000 per year. Compensation will vary based on experience.