Controller

Life University - Marietta, GA

Full-time - Mid Level

Marietta, GA

Educational Services

About the position

Life University, renowned for its chiropractic program—the world's largest—seeks a detail-oriented, hands-on, and effective accounting leader for the position of Comptroller. As the Comptroller, you will play a vital role in the university's financial accounting. Your commitment to wise stewardship, accurate accounting, and compliance will support our important mission. You will employ best practices and bring strategic insights and analyses to achieve these goals. Your expertise in fiscal management technology and collaborative nature will help you effectively represent Life University to internal and external constituencies. The mission of Life University is to empower each student with the education, skills, and values to maximize their potential based on a vitalistic philosophy. We are committed to a global vision of excellence in teaching, learning, and research, providing an exceptional student experience that leads to a life of integrity and lasting purpose. Lasting Purpose: Life University believes that a willingness and desire to serve your community and fellow humans are as important as academic pursuits. This principle is expressed in our guiding philosophy, Lasting Purpose: To live an inner-directed life, to give, to do, to love, and to serve out of your own abundance. As a Comptroller, you will manage and develop monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, ensuring achievement of operating objectives through effective accounting control, policies, and reporting. You will analyze variances and initiate corrective action while maintaining effective financial control over the University's assets, liabilities, income, and disbursements for monthly, quarterly, and annual requirements. Your role will also involve managing cash flow requirements, ensuring that financial books and reports are properly developed and maintained, and directing the preparation of financial, analytical, and interpretive reports. You will oversee audit activities and maintain professional relationships with financial institutions, independent accountants, and external auditors.

Responsibilities

• Manages and develops monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements.
• Ensures achievement of operating objectives through effective accounting control, policies, and reporting.
• Analyzes variances and initiates corrective action.
• Maintains effective financial control over the University's assets, liabilities, income, and disbursements for monthly, quarterly, and annual requirements.
• Manages cash flow requirements by maintaining and updating bank reporting and cash movement systems and executing bank wire transfers.
• Ensures that financial books and reports are properly developed and maintained for the University, regulatory agencies, independent auditors, and financial institutions and directs the preparation of financial, analytical, and interpretive reports.
• Directs staff job results by coaching, counseling, disciplining employees, and planning, monitoring, and appraising job results.
• Develops and maintains professional relationships with financial institutions, independent accountants, and external auditors and oversees and coordinates audit activities.
• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops, reviewing professional publications, and establishing personal networks.
• Ensures departmental staff have clear directions and information to perform their duties.
• Tracks project flow and assists with challenges and problems as needed.
• Maintains advocacy for department needs and resources.

Requirements

• CPA required.
• A B.S. Degree in Accounting or Finance with three (3) to five (5) years of accounting management experience, performing audits/financial statement preparation and review, and a minimum of two (2) to four (4) years of supervisory experience is required.
• Able to perform duties independently with limited supervision.
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of generally accepted accounting principles.
• High degree of integrity; highly ethical.
• Ability to develop financial statements.
• Knowledge of preparation of IRS 990 tax filing.
• Experience in the development and implementation of policies and procedures.
• Team building and supervisory skills; organizational and staff development skills.
• Able to prioritize and manage multiple projects, adhering to strict timelines.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Good communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated leadership and management ability.
• High degree of initiative and independent judgment.
• Well-developed analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Able to organize work, engage in various tasks simultaneously, and consistently meet deadlines.
• Able to write reports and business correspondence.
• Ability to develop and manage budgets.
• Computer skills: Microsoft Office applications, accounting software, and spreadsheet capabilities.

Nice-to-haves

• An M.S. Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) is preferred.
• Higher Education Financial Experience, including Federal Financial Aid.
• Familiarity with not-for-profit accounting.