Associate Vice President And University Controller

Widener University is currently seeking a talented individual to join our team as Associate Vice President and University Controller. This position will join a department committed to inclusive practices and welcomes candidates who bring a broad spectrum of thoughts and approaches.

Reporting to the Vice President of Administration & Finance, the AVP will be responsible for oversight of all accounting and financial reporting activities. A critical member of the VP A&F’s leadership team, the AVP will be involved in supporting presentations to the board of trustee finance and audit committees and will collaborate with leaders across the university.

The AVP will lead all day-to-day accounting operations for the university’s $150 million budget, ensuring that the systems and procedures in place to support effective financial reporting and management, as well as flawless audits. Supervising a team of nine staff members including functional responsibility over accounting, accounts payable, and strategic procurement, the AVP will demonstrate effective leadership as a strong and motivational manager.

The AVP will work closely with university leaders and their staffs, not only to educate regarding finance and accounting procedures but also to explore how the finance function can support program operations.

The role of AVP and University Controller requires a change agent with demonstrated ability to conceptualize and implement new policies, processes, systems, and procedures. The successful candidate will possess the vision to assess potential opportunities to create agility within the accounting operations of the university and then demonstrate the courage to implement that vision. The AVP will identify and implement best practices for the department and to evaluate and manage performance, as well as bring innovation and focus on emerging trends to the University. We seek a leader who will work collaboratively throughout the University to deliver exceptional customer service.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES (including, but not limited to):

Team Leadership

• Lead, develop and supervise day-to-day functions for the Office of the Controller’s 10 staff, consisting of Assistant Controller and professional Accountants, Accounts Payable and Purchasing teams.
• Leverage strengths of the current team members, clarify roles and define position responsibilities.
• Develop and implement training programs in order to maximize and reach optimal individual and organizational goals.
• Prepare staffing plans, ensure quality hires, training of personnel to departmental standards, assign work and evaluate employees’ performance.
• Provide leadership in strengthening internal communications with staff at all levels throughout the organization.
• Create and promote a positive, inclusive and supportive work environment.
• Demonstrate leadership and expertise through training, service delivery and excellence. Identify opportunities for improving accounting operational policies and procedures; implement improvements.
• Collaborate with and work in an advisory capacity to senior leadership of University to determine long-term goals, resource planning, operational expectations and best practices.
• Provide support to the VP in developing presentation materials, reports, and financial analysis for various meetings, including meetings with the Board of Trustees, Presidential Leadership Team, Provost’s Council, and various University Committees.

Technical

• Provide strategic direction regarding all aspects of the Accounting function.
• Develop accounting policies/procedures that will ensure compliance with University accounting policies and procedures, including appropriate higher education industry accounting practices and FASB accounting guidance and standards (GAAP).
• Direct monthly closing and reporting processes and completion of appropriate financial reports including variance analyses. Identify and address potential issues that affect financial statements.
• Prepare the annual Financial Statements.
• Collaborate with external auditors, oversee preparation and review of audit requests, and sample selections. Review and approve entries prepared by the Accounting staff.
• Manage organizational cash flow forecast.
• Review endowment activity, including market values and reconciliations and spend rate calculations. Oversee the process to release net assets from restriction and draw based on annual spend budgets.
• Initiate, review and/or approve bank services and transactions including merchant services, wire and ACH transfers.
• Partner with University Advancement to ensure accurate recording of gift agreements; review, reconcile and report all gifts, contributions and pledges.
• Oversee annual preparation of IPEDS Finance report, Schedule of Expenditures and Federal Awards, Data Collection Form for the Single Audit, AICUP Financial Analysis and Trends survey, among other surveys and reports.
• Develop and implement procedures and internal controls for other University offices who perform finance related tasks (e.g., Advancement and Student Accounts Receivable).
• Collaborate with budget team on annual operations, capital and cash budget development and ongoing budget forecast processes and variance analyses.
• Collaborate with Budget Director and Sr. Financial Analyst to prepare pro-forma financial plans for new programs, new construction, etc. that are under consideration, including projected impact on financial statements and financial ratios.
• Work closely with University Management to identify and analyze various financial and budgetary issues, evaluate budget requests, strategic and financial planning efforts.

Secondary Responsibilities

• Participate in various university committees.
• Participate in accounting or auditing projects as assigned.
• Assist in research, interpretation and application of new and existing accounting pronouncements.
• Identify opportunities to generate efficiencies and increase the effectiveness of the Accounting Operations.
• All other duties as assigned by the Vice President for Administration & Finance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS (education/training and experience required):

Required:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or related field.
• Master’s Degree, CPA designation or any combination of ten (10) + years’ experience in senior leadership roles overseeing professional team in a high level fiscal affairs department in a complex environment.
• Ten (10)+ plus progressive years’ experience in accounting, auditing, consulting or related field (or appropriate combination of experience and education), with deep knowledge of accounting regulations, procedures, and best practices.
• Proven ability to create and foster an inclusive environment that demonstrates the university’s commitment to diversity.
• Demonstrated understanding of the importance of diversity of staff and ability to work collaboratively with a diverse faculty, staff and student body.
• Demonstrated experience with complex financial accounting systems and auditing processes, including experience designing and implementing new processes or procedures to enhance accuracy, efficiency or customer service.
• Experience managing teams and coordinating large projects while successfully championing an integrated approach to message and design.
• A strategic thinker with sound technical skills, analytical ability, and a strong operations and systems focus. Creative in ability to think differently in processes and assumptions. Open to new ways of performing accounting operational functions and departmental alignment, arrangement, responsibilities.
• Demonstrated ability to utilize data and identify risks to analyze strategic issues and inform decisions.
• Established record of accomplishment as collaborator in the workplace, within the immediate department and within the larger institution.
• Outstanding communication skills; a team player who can relate to a variety of constituencies. Able to explain complex financial information in understandable terms to financial and non-financial audiences.
• Demonstrated people management with commitment to professional development, technical training and enhancing team climate. Foresight and ability to delegate accordingly.

Preferred:

• Master's degree
• Certified Public Accountant or Certified Management Accountant
• Senior level experience in higher education management or non-profit highly preferred

Physical Requirements and/or Unusual Work Hours:

• Occasionally standing, walking, or climbing stairs. Ability to be mobile between workstations, various campus buildings, and all locations in the buildings.
• Some night and weekend work is occasionally required.

Qualified candidates must submit resume and cover letter for consideration. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Only those selected to interview will be contacted.

Widener has a strategic commitment to building an inclusive university community whose diversity enriches the lives of all members and where our students are prepared for living in a pluralistic and ever-changing world. As a leading metropolitan university, Widener strives to embody the values that are inherent in our mission: civic engagement, access, inclusion, academic excellence, innovation and leadership.

Widener University, an independent, metropolitan, doctoral-intensive university, connects curricula to social issues through civic engagement. Dynamic teaching, active scholarship, personal attention and experiential learning are key components of the Widener Experience. Located in Chester, PA, Widener's main campus is nestled between Philadelphia, PA and Wilmington, DE, with Law Schools located in both Harrisburg and Wilmington. For more information about the university, please visit our website at www.widener.edu.

Advertised: 22 Nov 2020 Eastern Standard Time
Applications close: