Controller

Description

LIFELONG LEARNING ADMINISTRATION CORPORATION (LLAC)

Full Time, Monday – Friday; 

The Lifelong Learning Advantage

At Lifelong Learning, our mission is to support our client schools so they can concentrate on improving educational outcomes and student success. We continue to be a strong, positive force, pioneering the way education is delivered to all students. Learn more about us at https://llac.org/

How You Will Make an Impact 

The Controller manages the accounting operations of the schools including budgets, analysis, auditing, production of periodic financial reports including statutory reporting to state and federal agencies, maintenance of an adequate system of accounting records, and a comprehensive set of controls and budgets designed to mitigate risk, enhance the accuracy of the schools reported financial results. Controller will supervise and manage staff responsible for overall school budgeting, accounting, accounts payable, and accounts receivable. The Controller will work closely with school leadership and staff to ensure sound fiscal and accounting compliance procedures and to provide input with regard to organizational operational effectiveness.  Reports to Vice President, Finance or designee.  

RESPONSIBILITIES/DUTIES: This list is illustrative only and is not intended to be a comprehensive list of tasks performed by this classification. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

• Plan, direct and coordinate accounting operational functions, accounts payables and reporting for multiple entities. 
• Manage the accumulation and consolidation of financial data necessary for an accurate accounting of consolidated business results.  
• Execute plans in collaboration with the VP of Finance to meet the department’s mission and vision.  
• Oversee all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems ensuring accuracy and full compliance with appropriate GAAP standards, industry best practices, and regulatory requirements and California School Accounting Manual.  
• Maintain internal controls and safeguards of revenue, costs, school budgets, and actual expenditures to produce accurate and timely information.  
• Advise schools administrators of budget account balances; resolves problems and discrepancies; and makes revisions as necessary, in compliance with established policies and procedures.  
• Participate in the budget development process and initiates and recommends budget adjustments revise the budget for all funds and programs.  
• Manage the budget process and projections of multiple entities.  
• Forecast financial situation in accordance with projected budgets and cash flows.  
• Oversee preparation of 990 forms for all entities.  
• Support the process of required budgetary approval and revisions as required for charter schools.  
• Support the growth and development of all members of the department team.  
• Sustain the department through a high level of support.  
• Review reports and analyzes projections of Average Daily Attendance (ADA) and expenses against actual figures and proposes recommendations for changes.  
• Prepare statutory reports for state and federal agencies.  
• Coordinate and prepare internal and external financial statements. 
• Coordinate activities and procedures with the Auditing Firm and provide them with all financial information for end of period financial statements.  
• Ensure that accounting activities are in accordance with established legal, regulatory, and educational procedures for multiple funding sources.  
• Implement and update systems including accounts payable, accounting, fixed asset management, expense management, cash management etc.  
• Serve as a liaison between the client schools, back-office provider and external auditors.
• Coordinate auditing activities, and regulatory authorities. 
• Create and maintain client school's vendors and customer records.  
• Create and maintain general ledger accounts on appropriate software programs.  
• Compile reports to show cash receipts and expenditures, accounts payable and receivable, profit and loss, and other items pertinent to the operation of the client school.  
• Assess current accounting operations, provide recommendations for improvement and implementing new processes.  
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to build a department that operates within legal boundaries and supports student achievement.  
• Keep current on State Department of Education financial regulation, trends and changes in legislation applicable to charter school finance and budgeting; makes recommendations for changes. 
• Perform administrative duties, responsibilities, and activities as assigned. These may be changed or modified from time to time.     

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead, manage, coordinate, supervise, coach, and direct the hiring, training, or performance evaluations of assistant controller, staff accountants and accounting technicians and oversee their daily activities.  

Qualifications

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES:

• Knowledge and understanding of the Organization’s culture, business units, services, and products.  
• Knowledge of all aspects of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). 
• Knowledge of principles and practices of budgeting, accounting and proper auditing techniques.  
• Knowledge of SEC regulations and provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  
• Knowledge of public-school finance, including school district accounting, budgeting, and revenue calculation. 
• Working knowledge of the California School Accounting Manual highly desired.  
• Working knowledge of the Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) Charter School Accounting and Best Practices Manual highly desired.  
• Understanding of California Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS) software and/or alternative forms.  
• Understanding California Department of Education Fiscal Crisis & Management Assistance Team (FCMAT)/Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) calculator.  
• Understanding and Intermediate skill in accounting cycle, budgeting, and financial analysis.  
• Understand, analyze, and explain complex mathematical models used for financing schools.  
• Ability to learn and manage new school finance regulation, accounting charts of accounts and reporting requirements.  
• Ability to exercise critical thinking, use logic and reason to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.   
• Ability to analyze business data or information: identify the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data.   
• Ability to make decisions and solve systems and process problems, analyze information and evaluate results to choose the best solution. 
• Ability to undertake frequent multi-tasking, changing of task priorities, repetitious exacting work.  Ability to work with various professionals, leadership, and stakeholders.  
• Ability to work under tight deadlines and handle multiple requests or interruptions while still completing projects or work assignments in a timely manner.  
• Detail oriented, self-sufficient, resourceful, and committed to providing excellent customer service.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field is required.   
• 3 years of experience in Accounting and Finance is required. 
• 3 years of analysis and reporting experience, use of analytical software is a plus (ex. PowerBI). 
• 2 years’ experience in a Management or Leadership role. 
• Knowledge and/or experience in project management, program development, organizing, prioritizing, coordinating, implementing, and managing multiple programs, projects, tasks and building teams preferred. 
• Experience with accounting software applications (i.e. MIP Fund Accounting, California Standardized Account Code Structure (SACS’s ). 
• Strong autonomy, reliable, responsible, dependable and willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.    
• Intermediate level of skills in MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and other technology applications.  
• Ability to travel in performance of job duties is required.  
• Ability to lift, carry, push, pull objects weighing up to 10 lbs.     

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Mental Demands: high workflow management, high project coordination, and high people engagement. 
• Finger Dexterity: primarily using the fingers to make small movements such as typing, picking up small objects, or pinching fingers together. 
• Talking: especially where one must convey detailed or important instructions or ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly. 
• Average Hearing: hearing average or typical conversations and receiving ordinary information. 
• Average Visual Abilities: normal acuity necessary to prepare or inspect documents and operate office equipment. 
• Frequent multi-tasking, changing of task priorities, repetitious exacting work required. 
• Prolonged period sitting at a desk and working on a computer. 
• Working in a moderate  to high noise environment with frequent deadline pressures. 

Salary : $123,769 - $145,294