Controller

General Job Brief:

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and working in close collaboration with the CFO, the Controller provides leadership, direction, and oversight of Arizona Christian University's accounting and financial reporting functions. The Controller is responsible for maintaining the integrity of financial records, ensuring compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), federal and state regulations, and higher education reporting requirements.

The Controller oversees the University's accounting operations, monthly and annual close processes, financial reporting, annual audits, restricted funds accounting, tax and regulatory filings, internal controls, and the leadership and development of Business Office staff. The Controller also oversees the preparation of cash flow forecasts, financial analyses, and management reports that support institutional planning and decision-making.

 Working closely with the CFO, the Controller supports the University's annual budgeting and forecasting processes and provides financial information and analysis to assist with long-range financial planning and strategic decision-making. The CFO retains primary responsibility for institutional financial strategy, final budget recommendations, long-range financial planning, capital and debt strategy, investment strategy, banking relationships, and financial reporting and recommendations to the President and the Board of Trustees.

The Controller supervises the Business Office team consisting of Financial and Accounting management, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Payroll processing.

This role also requires a comprehensive understanding of and commitment to the unique Christian mission and vision of Arizona Christian University (ACU) to Transform Culture with Truth, and the ability to advance that mission and vision through the performance of its duties, including person-to-person mentorship and discipleship.

Key Responsibilities:

Financial Management and Reporting

• Direct and manage all accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, fixed assets, investment accounting, and cash management.

• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and chart of accounts, including appropriate account structure, financial coding, and consistency of accounting classifications across the University.

• Review and approve journal entries and account reconciliations, ensuring that reconciling items and accounting discrepancies are identified, researched, and resolved on a timely basis.

• Lead and manage the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, including establishment and oversight of the close calendar, deadlines, procedures, and staff responsibilities.

• Prepare timely and accurate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and analyses.

• Monitor institutional liquidity and prepare a weekly and twelve-month rolling cash flow analysis.

• Ensure compliance with GAAP, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and applicable higher education accounting standards.

• Develop and maintain accounting policies and procedures.

Audit and Compliance

• Coordinate and manage the annual financial statement and compliance audit.

• Coordinate the preparation of year-end audit schedules, workpapers, account analyses, confirmations, and other supporting documentation for the annual financial statement and compliance audits.

• Serve as the primary liaison with external auditors.

• Lead preparation for Uniform Guidance (Single Audit) requirements, where applicable.

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, donor, and accreditation related to  financial reporting requirements.

• Oversee preparation and filing of federal and state tax forms, including Forms 990, 990-T, and other required regulatory filings.

Restricted Funds Management

• Oversee accounting and reporting for federal, state, and private grants and contracts and donor funds.

• Ensure compliance with grant terms, Uniform Guidance requirements, and donor restrictions.

• Monitor restricted, endowed, and designated funds and provide reporting to the CFO and university leadership.

Internal Controls

• Establish, monitor, and continuously improve internal controls to safeguard university assets.
• Ensure compliance with institutional policies and applicable regulations.
• Evaluate and mitigate financial and operational risks.
• Recommend process improvements, automation opportunities, and system integrations.

Budget Support and Financial Analysis

• Collaborate with the CFO and university leadership in the development of the University's annual operating and capital budgets.

• Coordinate the collection, review, and consolidation of departmental budget submissions and prepare supporting schedules and analyses for review by the CFO.

• Maintain current-year financial forecasts, including projected year-end operating results, balance sheet activity, and cash flow, and communicate significant variances and emerging trends to the CFO.

• Provide financial data, modeling, and analysis to support the CFO's long-range financial planning, capital planning, debt management, investment strategy, and other strategic financial initiatives.

• Monitor actual financial performance against budget and forecast and identify significant variances, risks, and opportunities for management attention.

• Prepare financial analyses, management reports, and key performance indicators to support the CFO and university leadership in evaluating financial performance and making informed decisions.

Leadership and Staff Management

• Supervise and mentor accounting and finance staff.

• Establish departmental goals and performance expectations.

• Foster a culture of customer service, accountability, continuous improvement, and professional development.

• Promote effective collaboration across campus departments.

Systems and Process Improvement

• Manage and optimize financial systems and reporting tools.

• Lead implementations and upgrades of accounting and enterprise systems as needed.

• Ensure data integrity and effective use of technology throughout financial operations.

Other Duties and Responsibilities

• Completing other duties and tasks with utmost integrity and professionalism, as directed, and not necessarily mentioned in this description, may be .

• Commitment to the University’s faith statement, mission, and purposes; and an active Christian faith. 

• Comfort and familiarity with the practice of praying with and for others, including students, faculty, and fellow University staff. 

• The ability to meaningfully support and encourage students, faculty, and staff from a biblical worldview perspective, using relevant and applicable references from the Old and New Testaments and orthodox Christian writings. 

• Demonstrated alignment with and enthusiastic support for the Christian Mission and Core Commitments of the University, including signing the University's Statement of Faith and Core Commitments annually.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field.

• Seven (7) or more years of progressively responsible accounting and financial management experience. 

• Minimum three (3) years of supervisory or leadership experience.

• Experience preparing audited financial statements and managing external audits.

• Experience with higher education accounting, not-for-profit, public sector, or governmental accounting.

Ability and Skills

• Strong knowledge of GAAP, FASB, and financial reporting standards.

• Knowledge of higher education finance, fund accounting, grants administration, and restricted funds management.

• Understanding federal regulations affecting colleges and universities.

• Advanced analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Proficiency with ERP and financial management systems and Microsoft Excel.

Working Conditions

• Primarily an office-based work environment.

• Ability to sit for extended periods and work extensively with computer systems.

Time Required

• Generally requiring 40 or more hours per week.

• Regular business hours are Monday through Friday; however, additional hours may be to meet critical deadlines and institutional needs.

• Occasional evening or weekend work may be during audit, budget, and year-end closing periods.

• Limited travel may be for professional development, conferences, banking relationships, or meetings with auditors, regulatory agencies, and other external stakeholders.

Fair Labor Standards Act: 

This position is full-time, exempt from overtime pay provisions as provided by the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and any applicable state laws.