Controller

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Role Focus:

The roll of the Controller is an integral part of the Finance Office responsible for coordinating and assisting in the preparation of financial reports, such as income statements, balance sheets, and analyses of historical and future income and expenses,  in addition to other special reports that may be needed. The Controller also oversees the functions of accounts payable, accounts receivable, accounting and audit.  The role is a supervisory role within the business office and reports to the Chief Financial Officer.

Typical Education and Experience:

The ideal candidate will be a CPA with a bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minimum of 3-5 years experience in non-profit accounting, including leadership experience. The candidate must have experience in a similar role.  Independent School experience is a plus.  A working knowledge of nonprofit accounting is essential.

OVERVIEW OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

GENERAL ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL REPORTING

1. Responsible for supervising and leading accounts payable and accounts receivable; ensuring accurate and timely financial information;

2. In consultation with the CFO, assisting with the selection and implementation of new software to streamline all processes of the finance processes while ensuring appropriate segregation of duties;

3. Preparing monthly financial statements, including variance analyses;

4. Reviewing account reconciliations on a monthly basis;

5. Providing support training of accounting department staff;

6. Ensuring timely, accurate payment, and recording, of debt service and covenant compliance;

7. Assisting the CFO in the preparation and monitoring of departmental budgets and forecasts working with other administrators and department heads concerning budget performance;

8. Communicating accounting policies to affected employees and ensure compliance with such policies.

AUDIT

1. Taking lead position on preparation of schedules and work papers for annual audit (school and 403b plan). 

2. Taking lead position on Form 990 preparation.

3. Maintaining permanent office files for all audit schedules prepared by school.

SURVEYS AND PEER REPORTING

1. Preparing all periodic surveys and reports for the school’s trade organizations (e.g. , NAIS, NBOA, AIMS, etc.)

2. Preparing other similar data as requested

OTHER

1. Other miscellaneous tasks as may be assigned in support of the Board of Trustees, Head of School, and CFO

Typical Level of Interaction:

Requires strong interaction with all School divisions and departments that are serviced by the Business Office.

Supervisory Impact:

This role is a supervisory role within the business office.

Competencies:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Ability to Learn and teach others established processes - Recognizes the importance of learning and motivates others by own enthusiasm. Is able to learn and reproduce the current processes and recommend best practices to streamline them.

• Time Management Skills - Manages many tasks and projects simultaneously while adhering to deadlines and promises. Maintains work/life balance without compromising expectations of others. Respected for ability to “find” or “make” time to get things done.

• Organizational Skills - Creates action plans to meet divisional goals and objectives. Conducts periodic reviews of progress and measures against goals. Establishes broad policies for the office to ensure success.

• Communications Skills - Effectively communicates accounting, financial and service issues that are complex in nature. Maintains open communications channels with peers, administrators, and customers at the School.

• Written Communication Skills - Effectively communicates broad and very complex business issues.

• Problem Solving Skills - Considers a broad range of internal and external factors when solving problems. Grasps complexities and perceives relationships among different problems or issues.

Other Skills and Abilities:

The Controller needs to have excellent client service skills, including excellent oral and written communication skills, high levels of empathy and patience, and an outstanding sense of humor.

Other Qualifications:

All prospective employees must be able to clear background checks, as required by the State of Maryland.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to listen, physically direct, and speak. The employee is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, compute, handle, or feel and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision and ability to adjust focus. The employee is also regularly required to climb one flight of stairs and must be able to carry 25 pounds.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is moderate; however, variations in noise level may occur when the employee attends school functions such as assemblies, school dances, and other events.

For More Information:

Please contact: Linda Dennison, CFO ldennison@glenelg.org.  No phone calls please.