Controller

At Holy Cross, we are focused on creating a world-class workforce by attracting and retaining employees dedicated to fostering a culture of professionalism, pride, mutual trust, and respect—one that values appreciation and recognition, empowering each of us to flourish both individually and collectively. We seek candidates who are inspired by our mission and values, and who are eager to make a meaningful difference on our campus. Learn more about Life at Holy Cross here.

Job Description

Major Areas of Responsibility

With the support of direct reports and staff:

1. Financial Reporting, Audit, & Tax Compliance

• Reporting & Closing: Provide oversight of financial, tax, and compliance reporting to ensure accuracy and on-time delivery. Coordinate the year-end closing process across all relevant departments.

• Audit Liaison: Prepare the College's financial reports and serve as the primary liaison for the financial statement audit, defined contribution/benefit plan audits, Uniform Guidance audit, NCAA agreed-upon procedures, and other required reviews.

• Taxation: Prepare the College's annual tax returns, including Form 990, 990-T, state unrelated business income (UBI) tax returns, and other regulatory filings.

• Technical Expertise: Remain apprised of changes in GAAP, tax guidance, Department of Labor pay guidance, and Uniform Guidance. Understand and interpret complex accounting and compliance regulations for the enterprise.

2. Systems Governance & Policy Leadership

• Systems & Data: Serve a critical role in IT systems governance. Recommend and implement system changes in Workday to promote accuracy, efficiency, and sophisticated data analysis.

• Internal Controls: Establish and maintain systems and internal controls to verify the integrity of all processes and data. Ensure proper accounting standards and procedures are implemented and maintained.

• Policy Development: Evaluate and update financial policies and procedures to support College requirements. Identify software needs to support departmental programs and lead the policy update process.

3. Strategic Liaison & Community Engagement

• Resource & Consultant: Serve as a resource to the College community on financial and compliance questions. Build collaborative relationships across the enterprise to optimize decision-making and inspire high standards of financial performance.

• Feedback-Driven Improvement: Work as a liaison between departments to balance service, quality, and costs. Solicit frequent feedback from campus constituencies to drive change and evolve the College's financial culture.

• Creative Problem Solving: Conceive and implement innovative solutions leading to continuously improved services. Prepare and maintain operational budgets, upholding accountability for operating within approved limits.

4. People Leadership & Service Excellence

• Supervision & Culture: Manage financial functions with an emphasis on strong customer service by every person in every job every day. Monitor workflow and adjust duties to meet deadlines.

• Talent Management: Recruit, hire, train, and manage direct reports. Complete performance management programs to ensure goals are communicated in alignment with the College mission.

• Professional Development: Support staff by setting clear goals, providing timely feedback, and encouraging continuous learning. Maximize the use of technology as an aid to job performance and encourage an environment where staff assume authority and accountability.

• Service Improvements: Develop goals for program implementation and service improvements to prevent corrective actions. Institute administrative procedures that facilitate the work of the staff while providing a service-oriented structure for the campus.

5. Other Duties

• Perform other duties as assigned to support the Office of Finance and the broader mission of the College.

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA certification is required.

• Experience: 10+ years of progressive financial leadership, specifically in Higher Education or complex Non-Profit sectors.

• Technical Skills: Advanced proficiency in Workday Financial Management.

• Soft Skills: Exceptional emotional intelligence and the ability to build "bridge-building" relationships with faculty and administration.

Core Competencies

• Integrity & Reliability: Highest standards of honesty and integrity. Consistently dependable and accountable for the accuracy of institutional data.

• Strategic Action: A strategic, yet policy-minded focus; proactive and innovative thinker. Possesses a bias towards action, with a sense of urgency to implement timely decisions that balance risks and opportunities.

• Communication Excellence: Excellent analytical, verbal, and written communication skills. Ability to express complex concepts in a clear, practical, and accessible manner.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Demonstrated ability to engage stakeholders in planning and decision-making. Excellent problem-solver with diplomacy and conflict-resolution skills.

• Advocacy & Relationships: Strong advocacy and interpersonal skills; able to maintain effective working relationships with the College community, external vendors, and third parties.

• Project Management: Strong organizational skills, including the ability to handle multiple projects and competing demands in a fast-paced environment.

• Innovation: Excellent capacity for innovation and creativity to improve departmental functions.

• Teamwork & Inclusion: Strong teamwork and team facilitation. Understands, values, and respects diversity in individuals and groups while fostering an inclusive and supportive environment.

The salary range for this full time, exempt level opportunity is $161,500 - $174,800.

Disclaimer: The description above represents the most significant duties of this position but does not exclude other occasional work assignments not mentioned, the inclusion of which would be in conformity with the factor degrees assigned.

Weekly Hours:

Annual Work Schedule:

Application Instructions

An updated resume and cover letter are required as a part of your internal application. In your cover letter, please reflect on how your professional and personal values align with the Mission of the College of the Holy Cross to form individuals of integrity and purpose who are committed to the flourishing of all.

Additional Information
To review our generous benefits options, please review our detailed information here or check out our Benefits at a Glance. 

The College also provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities during the hiring process in compliance with law. Please contact Human Resources for questions or to request an accommodation via email at hr@holycross.edu, or by calling 508-793-3391. 

The College is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and complies with all Federal and Massachusetts laws concerning Equal Opportunity in the workplace.