Controller

Reformed Theological Seminary exists to serve the Church by preparing its leaders, through a program of graduate theological education, based upon the authority of the inerrant Word of God, and commitment to the Reformed Faith. Candidates interested in this position will need to align with and support Reformed Theological Seminary’s Mission, Vision, and Core Values. To review our Purpose Statement in detail, please visit our website at https://rts.edu/about/purpose

Every effort has been made to ensure a complete job description. However, this document in no way implies that these responsibilities are the only duties you may be required to perform. The omission of specific duties does not exclude them from the position, especially where work is similar, related, or a logical assignment for the role. Reformed Theological Seminary is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate. All employment decisions are based upon qualifications, merit, and business needs.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Controller is the Seminary’s senior accounting administrator and principal steward of institutional financial records, controls, and day-to-day financial operations. The Controller provides institution-wide operational leadership for budgeting administration, accounting, reporting, internal controls, cash management, audit coordination, gift accounting, and the accounting oversight of payroll, benefits, and insurance transactions. Human resources, payroll administration, employee-benefit administration, employee-related insurance, and workers’ compensation administration are led by the Director of Human Resources under the COO. The Controller equips institutional and campus leaders with timely, accurate information, disciplined analysis, and reliable processes that support sound operations, compliance, and faithful stewardship.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Operations and Stewardship

• Direct the Seminary’s day-to-day finance and accounting operations in accordance with approved budgets, policies, procedures, and delegated authority.
• Implement financial and administrative procedures established by the Chancellor, COO, and duly authorized governing bodies while ensuring compliance with GAAP standards
• Provide timely financial information, analysis, and operational support to the COO, Chancellor, campus leaders, and department leaders.
• Identify financial-process, control, compliance, and resource issues and bring them promptly to the COO and appropriate personnel for resolution.

Budget Administration, Forecasting, and Financial Performance

• Coordinate the annual consolidated operating and capital budget process in partnership with the COO, Chancellor, Provost, campus Presidents/Executive Directors, Academic Deans, and department leaders.
• Prepare current-year forecasts, operating projections, variance analyses, dashboards, and decision support for tuition, enrollment, gifts, compensation, operating expenses, capital projects, cash, and reserves.
• Partner with campus leaders in budget preparation and analysis; monitor expenses and performance against approved plans.
• Recommend and, when authorized, implement corrective actions when actual or projected results vary materially from approved plans.

Accounting, Financial Reporting, and Records

• Direct accounting operations, financial reporting, close processes, and financial records for the Seminary and the RTS Foundation.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and understandable internal and external financial statements consistent with applicable accounting standards and sound nonprofit and fund-accounting practices.
• Maintain reliable accounting for unrestricted, restricted, endowed, quasi-endowed, foundation, and other designated resources, including compliance with donor restrictions.
• Ensure financial records are retained, secured, and disposed of in accordance with applicable legal and regulatory requirements and the Seminary’s confidentiality policies.

Management Reporting and Financial Administration

• Prepare and present financial reports, analyses, forecasts, and supporting materials to the COO, Chancellor, and other authorized audiences.
• Administer the receipt, deposit, disbursement, custody, accounting, and reconciliation of Seminary and RTS Foundation funds and securities within delegated authority.
• Prepare materials and provide staff support for the Audit and Finance Committee, Investment Committee, and other authorized groups as directed; coordinate follow-up with advisors and personnel.
• Provide the COO and Chancellor with timely notice of significant accounting, control, cash, compliance, or operational financial matters.

Audit, Internal Control, and Regulatory Compliance

• Coordinate the annual financial-statement audit with the independent accounting firm selected by the Board and serve as management’s primary liaison to the auditors.
• Implement and monitor an adequate system of internal control over cash, investments, receivables, payables, payroll and benefit transactions, gifts, purchasing, fixed assets, information, and other Seminary resources.
• Report significant control deficiencies or material noncompliance to the appropriate personnel, the COO, and the Chancellor; prepare information for the Audit and Finance Committee as directed.
• Coordinate compliance with applicable federal, state, and local financial, tax, accounting, and reporting requirements; provide accounting records and support to Human Resources and qualified advisors for payroll, benefit, retirement-plan, and employment-related filings.

Cash Management, Investment Accounting, and Insurance Financial Administration

• Administer cash management, banking relationships, liquidity monitoring, reserves, debt-payment schedules, authorized signatories, and the safeguarding of funds and securities.
• Record, reconcile, and report investment activity; provide accurate schedules and supporting information to the Seminary’s investment consultant and authorized personnel.
• Process approved investment transactions, spending allocations, and committee decisions within delegated authority and maintain complete supporting documentation.
• Maintain insurance schedules, process premiums, reconcile insurance-related accounts, and provide claims and financial documentation to the COO, Human Resources, brokers, insurers, and auditors. The COO retains responsibility for institutional risk management and insurance decisions; Human Resources administers employee-related insurance and workers’ compensation.

Development, Gift Accounting, and Donor Stewardship

• Consult with the Development Office on proper accounting procedures for gifts and participate in the Gift Acceptance Committee process when requested under policy.
• Ensure gifts are recorded, valued, receipted, restricted, released, invested, and reported in accordance with donor intent, Seminary policy, and applicable accounting requirements.
• Provide accounting review for noncash gifts, planned gifts, real property, tangible personal property, bequests, annuities, donor-advised funds, endowments, and restricted agreements as required by policy.
• Protect the confidentiality of donor information and ensure that financial representations to donors are accurate, authorized, and appropriately documented.

Payroll, Benefits, and Insurance Accounting Controls

• Partner with the Director of Human Resources, who reports to the COO and is responsible for human resources, payroll administration, employee-benefit plans, employee-related insurance, and workers’ compensation administration.
• Provide independent accounting oversight of payroll, including review of authorized employee and compensation changes, payroll registers, funding, general-ledger entries, bank and liability reconciliations, payroll-tax filings, retirement-plan remittances, and audit support.
• Reconcile employee deductions, employer contributions, benefit and insurance invoices, retirement-plan funding, and related expense and liability accounts; promptly investigate discrepancies with Human Resources and service providers.
• Maintain documented segregation of duties so that no individual can create or modify an employee, authorize compensation, process payroll, release funds, and reconcile the related accounts without independent review.

Purchasing, Expenditures, and Financial Commitments

• Be informed of and approve, within delegated authority, any one-time purchase or service with a total project cost of $5,000 or more before the item or service is acquired.
• Ensure accountable administration of purchasing, expense reimbursement, travel reimbursement, purchase cards, accounts payable, and other disbursement processes.
• Review and communicate the accounting, cash-flow, and budget implications of contracts, leases, operational memoranda, real-estate transactions, and campus enhancement proposals in coordination with the COO and other authorized officers.
• Prevent commitments of Seminary funds outside approved budgets, delegated authority, or governing policy.

Multi-Campus Finance and Team Leadership

• Lead and develop the institutional finance and accounting functions; establish clear procedures, service levels, controls, and accountability, including shared control protocols with Human Resources for payroll, benefits, and employee-related insurance.
• Maintain an effective indirect/dotted-line relationship with local-campus business managers, recognizing their direct reporting relationship to campus Presidents or Executive Directors.
• Foster mutual service between institutional and campus personnel; authoritative directives to campus business managers require approval of the Chancellor, Provost, or COO.
• Improve financial systems, data quality, reporting tools, workflows, documentation, cross-training, backup coverage, and business continuity. 

AUTHORITY AND OPERATING BOUNDARIES

• The Controller has institution-wide access to financial records and may establish accounting, reporting, internal-control, and financial-administration procedures consistent with governing policy and delegated authority. Accounting controls affecting payroll, benefits, or insurance shall be developed in coordination with the COO and Director of Human Resources.
• The Controller may approve or withhold approval of one-time purchases or services of $5,000 or more within delegated authority and shall escalate unresolved financial-control or compliance concerns to the COO and Chancellor.
• The Controller may issue authoritative direction to local-campus business managers only with approval of the Chancellor, Provost, or COO.
• The Controller may not independently amend Board or Executive Committee policy, alter donor restrictions, enter transactions reserved to governing bodies, assume corporate-officer authority, bypass required approvals, or direct human resources, payroll administration, benefit-plan administration, or institutional insurance decisions beyond assigned accounting and control responsibilities.

Required Qualifications

• Demonstrated Christian character and ability to affirm and support the Seminary’s Statement of Belief and Covenant, mission, and institutional commitments.
• Master of Accountancy (MAcc) or an equivalent graduate degree in accounting from an accredited institution.
• Current Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license or certificate in good standing.
• At least ten years of progressively responsible accounting or financial-operations experience, including at least five years managing professional staff in an organization of meaningful complexity.
• Strong command of generally accepted accounting principles, nonprofit and fund accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, audit coordination, internal control, cash management, restricted resources, and regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated ability to administer consistent processes across a decentralized or multi-site organization and to collaborate through service, analysis, credibility, and sound judgment.
• Experience supervising professional accounting staff and providing independent accounting oversight of payroll, benefits, insurance, or other high-volume confidential transactions; high proficiency with financial systems, spreadsheets, data analysis, and management reporting.
• Exceptional integrity, discretion, communication, collaboration, technical accuracy, and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Public-accounting, external-audit, or comparable assurance experience involving nonprofit, higher-education, or multi-entity organizations.
• Experience in higher education, a seminary, church-related organization, foundation, or other nonprofit institution.
• Experience with endowments, restricted gifts, investment accounting, audit-committee support, planned giving, foundations, payroll and benefit accounting, property and casualty insurance accounting, and multi-campus operations.
• Track record of modernizing financial systems, strengthening controls, accelerating close cycles, improving reporting, and developing high-performing teams.