Controller POST NUMBER: 158667

A higher education organization is seeking a Controller to lead accounting and business office operations. This role will oversee core accounting functions including financial reporting, accounts payable, payroll, student accounts, reconciliations, and federal funding activity. This is a hands-on leadership opportunity for someone who is comfortable operating independently, improving accounting processes, and working directly in the details when needed. Responsibilities: Lead day-to-day accounting and business office operations, ensuring accurate and timely completion of financial activities. Oversee the month-end and year-end close processes, including general ledger activity, journal entries, account reconciliations, and supporting schedules. Prepare and review financial statements, management reports, and other financial reporting for organizational leadership. Oversee accounts payable, payroll, student accounts, and accounts receivable activities. Ensure bank and balance sheet reconciliations are completed accurately and discrepancies are researched and resolved. Provide oversight of student billing, payment processing, refunds, and related account activity. Oversee federal fund drawdowns, reconciliations, and required financial reporting, partnering with financial aid and other internal stakeholders as needed. Maintain appropriate internal controls, accounting policies, and procedures to safeguard organizational assets and ensure financial accuracy. Identify and resolve outstanding accounting issues while improving the timeliness and consistency of recurring processes. Support annual audits and coordinate preparation of schedules, reconciliations, and other requested documentation. Lead and develop accounting and business office staff, establishing clear expectations and promoting accountability across the team. Partner with leadership and departments across the organization on financial questions, reporting needs, and process improvements. Identify opportunities to improve accounting systems, reporting, and workflows. Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field required. Previous accounting experience within higher education strongly preferred, with knowledge of the financial processes unique to a college or university environment. Progressive accounting experience with responsibility for financial reporting, general ledger accounting, reconciliations, and month-end close. Experience with Ellucian Colleague strongly preferred. Previous experience overseeing or supporting student accounts, federal funding activity, accounts payable, payroll, or other higher education business office functions preferred. Demonstrated ability to identify and resolve complex accounting issues and independently manage financial processes. Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco/Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to the individual’s skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, office location and other geographic considerations, as well as other business and organizational needs. With that said, as required by local law in geographies that require salary range disclosure, Vaco/Highspring notes the salary range for the role is noted in this job posting. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, and can participate in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company’s 401(k) retirement plan. Additional disclaimer: Unless otherwise noted in the job description, the position Vaco/Highspring is filing for is occupied. Please note, however, that Vaco/Highspring is regularly asked to provide talent to other organizations. By submitting to this position, you are agreeing to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. Submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase within Vaco/Highspring will be otherwise assessed by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco/Highspring does not have knowledge of the tools used by its clients in making final hiring decisions and cannot opine on their use of AI products.