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Controller

Employer
Lehigh University
Location
Bethlehem, PA

Job Details

Position Number:S87270 - 20191010 Title:Controller Department:Controller's Office Category:Professional/Managerial Job Family:Finance/Accounting Website:https://financeadmin.lehigh.edu/controller Posting Date:10/10/2019 Summary:

The Controller directs, manages, coordinates and oversee the institution’s various financial accounting operations. The incumbent is responsible for all University financial systems, financial reporting, policies and standards, research accounting, capital asset accounting, investment accounting, tax, payroll and accounts payable.

Accountabilities:
  1. Directs the activities in the Controller’s Office, which entail several departments, including setting policy and procedures for internal operations to ensure consistency and compliance with good accounting practices and external regulations.
    • Establish goals and initiatives that develop efficiency and accuracy
    • Determine the appropriate organizational structure
    • Effectively communicate with staff in the controller’s office as well as university financial staff
    • Budget management
    • Ensure that critical Department goals and deadlines are met
    • Meet with staff from other departments to promote understanding of financial and tax issues and facilitate best financial management practices in all areas
  2. Review, analyze and communicate results of financial statements, tax returns and other financial reports to ensure integrity of final product, compliance with regulatory requirements and appropriate awareness of senior management
    • Review of University-wide financial balances and activity throughout the fiscal year and work with other Financial Managers to resolve problems
    • Review of more complex financial entries for accuracy and appropriateness
    • Coordinate and advise other administrative offices to ensure consistency and quality in financial approach and reporting
    • Determine proper University approach for new accounting issues; establish proper controls and meet accounting and regulatory standards
    • Review and analyze audited financial statements and single audit report for compliance with GAAP, government accounting standards and to identify significant financial or compliance issues for the University
    • Review tax compliance and federal, state, local and international income and employment tax returns for regulatory compliance and to minimize liability to University
    • Work with internal and external auditors in planning of audit, and preparation of the financial statements
    • Participate in the selection of external and internal auditors; present audited financial statements to Trustee Audit Committee
    • Present University IRS returns to Trustee Audit Committee; prepare minutes and support agenda development for Trustee Finance Committee
    • Responsible for the review and approval of new account indexes created to determine appropriate activity and for proper financial classification
    • Establish and enforce proper financial practices and controls both within the Department and across the University
    • Oversee preparation and analysis of quarterly financial statements and investment liquidity information to meet bank reporting requirements. Provide analysis and update to senior management as appropriate
    • Oversee preparation and negotiation of the University’s federal indirect cost rate; ensure timeliness and integrity of University grant accounting and reporting to internal and external constituents
    • Advise and coordinate with the General Counsel's Office and various University departments with respect to tax issues, tax exempt bond issues, financial transactions, and compliance, including specialized compensation and benefit arrangements for senior staff
    • Support Finance Committee and other Committees and Subcommittees of Board of Trustees as required, including prepare agendas, minutes and board talking points as needed
  3. Interpret and communicate laws, policies and procedures for the University community; recommend the establishment or change of University-wide policies and procedures affecting financial control and regulatory compliance
    • Maintain a solid understanding of accounting principles and practices, tax and immigration laws and regulations
    • Determine policy and procedural needs, participate in campus committees and consult with other offices to make recommendations
    • Determine operational, financial, tax considerations resulting from new campus initiatives; develop and implement campus-wide initiatives as appropriate to support improvements in compliance, control, service and efficiency
    • Research new issues, consult with outside experts as necessary
    • Review existing policies and practices for compliance with good financial management practices and control, system feasibility and control, and compliance with federal, state and local tax rules
    • Participate in the documentation and dissemination plans for policy and procedures
    • Use independent judgement to make exceptions to policy when circumstances and authority warrant it
    • Meet with all levels of University and participate in training programs to explain University policy and procedures
  4. Act as steward for making optimal use of Banner and supporting electronic data financial systems for internal department use and in support of Financial Managers across campus
    • Stay current on the substance and impact of Banner releases and capabilities; work with staff to assess impact on Departmental operations
    • Act as data steward for Finance and Payroll
    • Work with Library and Technology Services (LTS) and the Office of Institutional Research and Strategic Analytics (OIRSA) to determine future system needs and improvements to support finance, grant accounting, payroll and to support data integrity and management of enterprise-wide systems
    • Work with various partners to develop management reporting and auditing tools
    • Design, program and implement electronic reporting tools using database reporting software tools and other specialized financial/payroll systems
  5. Provide support to Lehigh University Properties and associated real-estate related entities
    • Create business processes and procedures for real estate-related activities; research and implement appropriate accounting treatment, reporting and controls
    • Participate in review of legal documents from a financial/business perspective
    • Participate in board and operations meetings, provide financial statements and feedback in the development of business and strategic direction
    • Review financial statements, tax returns and estimated tax deposits for Property Owner's Association
Qualifications:
  • Master's Degree in Accounting/Finance or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience
  • 8+ years of related work experience
  • Professional Designation - Certified Management Accountant or CPA Required
  • Excellent MS Excel skills
  • Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle multiple tasks with accuracy and attention to detail
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • Ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and through written communication
  • Strong work ethic and unquestionable ethical standard
  • Successful completion of standard background checks including but not limited to: social security verification, education verification, national criminal background checks, motor vehicle checks, PATCH, FBI fingerprinting, Child Abuse Clearance and credit history based upon the requirements of the position
Special Considerations:
  • Able to work occasional evenings, holidays or weekends as needed
  • This position has fiscal or financial responsibilities other than employee expense activity, such as processing or approving transactions; monitoring or preparing budgets; or generating income for University

FTE:100% Grade and Hiring Minimum:14-40 Salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Salary adjustments for internal candidates comply with University policy. For more information contact Human Resources. Required Documents Message:Cover Letter, Resume

Organization

Read our Diversity Profile Founded in 1865, Lehigh University is a premier coeducational, nondenominational, private residential research university that offers a distinctive academic environment for undergraduate and graduate students from across the globe. Lehigh University’s annual report from 2013 provides an overview of the intellectual activity across campus as well as a financial report. It is posted on our website at http://www.lehigh.edu/annualreport/ .

Lehigh offers more than 90 undergraduate programs and majors featuring more than 2,000 courses in four colleges: The College of Arts and Sciences, The College of Business and Economics, The College of Education and The P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. Lehigh confers a total of 12 degrees at the undergraduate and advanced degree level. We have 482 full-time tenured and tenure-track faculty and approximately 200 adjunct faculty and lecturers and 10 full-time visiting faculty. With approximately 4700 undergraduate and 2,000 graduate students, a small student-to-faculty ratio allows students to work closely with professors. About 69% of all full-time faculty are tenured, and 99% of full-time tenure-track faculty hold a doctorate degree or the highest degree in their field.  We have 1,215 staff members supporting the academic, research and administrative functions.

Located in Pennsylvania’s scenic Lehigh Valley, the campus is in close proximity to both New York City and Philadelphia. Lehigh is situated on over 2,300 acres on four campuses. The Asa Packer Campus, Mountaintop Campus, and Murray H. Goodman Campus are contiguous and feature more than 153 buildings with 4.3 million-plus square feet of classroom, laboratory, office and living space. The campus also has 180 acres of playing fields and half of the campus is preserved as open space.

Company info
Website
Telephone
610.758.3165
Location
27 Memorial Drive West
Bethlehem
PA
18015
US

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