Comptroller

Department: Business Office

General Statement of Job

The Comptroller is responsible to oversee the college's financial operations and directs all activities to carry out the functions of the Business Office and Cashier Office which include financial accounting and reporting, accounts receivable, accounts payable, cashiering/business services, payroll services, grants and contracts accounting, budget development and cash management. Analyzes financial information and prepares financial reports. Supervises and coordinates Business Office and Cashier Office functions to ensure compliance and accurate recording of transactions.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

• Provides financial information that is recorded in compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), applicable accounting standards (GASB), Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board reporting requirements, National Association of College and University Business Officers requirements as well as various industry guidelines.

• Provide strategic leadership and direction to Business Office and Cashier Office functions.

• Maintains a financial reporting system that is in accordance with Texas State Statutes as prescribed by the Texas Education Coordinating Board.

• Provides financial reporting that will assist customers in assessing accountability in the use of financial resources, facilitates the evaluation of the college's financial position, and helps measure the effectiveness of the college's services in accordance with the college-approved budget.

• Ensures that the internal control structure of the college provides management with reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded against loss from unauthorized use or disposition; transactions are executed in accordance with management's authorization and recorded properly.

• Ensures that the accounting for Federal Financial Assistance programs and other grants and contracts is in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

• Ensures that existing policies and procedures for financial operations are enforced and comply with federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

• Ensures payroll transactions are recorded in accordance with approved budget, are processed accurately and timely, and reviews and approves payroll reports submitted to federal and state agencies.

• Supervises the Cashier/Business Office department and reviews financial transactions and entries that are posted to general ledger; reviews accounts receivable sub-ledgers with accountants and cashiers to ensure accuracy; ensures financial transactions are processed with proper internal controls and resolves other issues/problems related to the department.

• Develops the College's proposed annual operating budget with input from appropriate personnel; monitors said budget throughout the fiscal year.

• Manages the cash for the college to achieve the highest return for invested funds and acts as liaison with the bank depository and investment advisor.

• Prepares monthly financial reports for the Board of Trustees, College management.

• Responsible for financial-related portions of the Board agenda, Board policies, and College procedures; prepares board meeting agendas as necessary.

• Implements and maintains a chart of accounts coding system that is consistent with fund accounting principles.

• Maintains general ledger, including accounting for debt service, taxes, investments, investments in plant assets, accounts receivable, accounts payable, revenue, and expenses.

• Ensures that unrestricted, restricted, auxiliary, endowment, loan, agency, and plant funds are accurately accounted for in accordance with guidelines and regulations.

• Coordinates month and year end closing of accounting cycles.

• Provides proactive leadership for assigned functions.

• Prepares numerous external reports to federal and state agencies.

• Functions as the primary contact with external auditors during the annual College audit of financial records; prepares audit lead schedules; reconciles audit worksheets to financial statements, prepares financial statements and schedules in the required format.

• Functions as the primary contact with the internal auditors and other external auditors during the College's audits of financial records.

• Coordinates the designs and implementation of systems.

• Researches, evaluates, and implements emerging technologies (such as artificial intelligence) relevant to higher education operations.

• Responsible for maintaining accountability and sound fiscal management.

• Develops, implements, and evaluates the department's procedures, programs, functions, and activities.

• Provides input on revisions/updates of pertinent existing policies and formulation of new policies.

• Oversees the departmental Institutional Effectiveness (IE) plan.

• Maintains knowledge of the College's policies, procedures, and applicable federal, state, and local laws and regulations.

• Travels throughout the college district, as needed.

• Leads, mentors, and supervises Business Office and Cashiers Office staff by selecting, training, motivating, evaluating personnel, while developing a high-performing team.

• Performs other duties as assigned

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting required; Master's degree preferred.

• At least ten (10) years of related professional work experience in strategic leadership within finance, budgeting, or a closely related field; preferably in a Texas higher education institution.

• A minimum of four (4) years of experience overseeing accounting and reporting functions.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Excellent oral, written, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Strong computer skills with knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook) and internet research skills.

• Ability to implement policy and procedures.

• Supervisory experience, including hiring, establishing and enforcing appropriate accountability standards, and developing personnel into an effective team.

• Experience in preparation of financial statements in accordance with governmental accounting standards and generally accepted accounting principles and experience in preparation and coordination of supporting schedules for the year-end audit requirements.

• Proficient use of personal computer software and complex financial administrative information systems; preferably Workday applications.

• Extensive knowledge of higher educational institutions, financial regulations and guidelines.

• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects that require demonstrated leadership ability.

• Ability to analyze situations quickly and objectively and to determine proper course of action.

• Team player with the ability to collaborate with all college departments, functions, and other support services.

• Ability to adapt to constant change and periods of fast-paced, high-intensity work situations.

• Ability to work evenings and/or weekends as needed; willing to travel throughout the college district using own means of reliable transportation.

• Ability to work on-site.

• Demonstrated commitment to achieving the vision and mission of South Texas College.

• Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, and governmental regulations.

• Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals.

• Ability to effectively present information and respond to inquiries from executive management, faculty, staff, students, public groups, regulatory agencies, and/or Boards of Trustees.

• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.

• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference.

• Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

• Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Checks, Certificates, Licenses, and Registrations

• Security Sensitive position: all applicants are subject to a criminal background check under South Texas College policy.

• In addition, subject to a federal background check.

• Must have or qualify for a valid Texas driver's license and proof of liability insurance.

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA), preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force to move objects.

• Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction.

• Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discrimination in sound.

• Ability to make rational decisions through sound logic and deductive processes.

• Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.

• Picking, pinching, typing, or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling.

• Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word including the ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately and concisely.

• Sitting particularly for sustained periods of time.

• Close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, and/or extensive reading, including color, depth perception, and field vision.

• Mobility to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.

The above job description is not intended as, nor should it be construed as, exhaustive of all responsibilities, skills, efforts, or working conditions associated with this job.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.