Assistant Controller

University of Central Florida; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Life Insurance

Paid time off & holidays

Retirement savings options

Education assistance

Job summary

The University of Central Florida seeks an Assistant Controller to safeguard financial integrity, lead accounting operations at scale, and drive reporting for university and Board audiences. You will shape systems and processes ensuring robust financial operations across a large public research institution.

Responsibilities include managing GL activities, preparing statements and disclosures, and mentoring accounting staff, with strong emphasis on internal controls and collaboration on special

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree and 4+ years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).
• Master's degree in Accounting and/or active CPA licensure preferred.
• Experience supervising, leading, or mentoring professional accounting staff for at least 1 year.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel functions and financial analysis tools; exposure to AI-enabled automation or reconciliation tools.
• Experience using an enterprise financial system (Workday Finance, PeopleSoft, Oracle, or SAP) for general ledger management, journal entries, account reconciliation, or financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Assist with financial statement preparation, disclosures, MD&A, internal reporting, BOT materials, and BOG submissions.
• Manage general ledger activities: journal entries, accruals, adjustments, reconciliations, and variance analysis.
• Prepare and review audit workpapers, schedules, reconciliations, and confirmations; support GASB/GASB guidance implementation.
• Supervise and develop University Accountant III staff; maintain internal controls and support ERP testing and process improvements.
• Support special projects, ad hoc analyses, process improvements, and system implementations.

Skills

Financial analysis

Leadership

Excel proficiency

Dashboards

GAAP/GASB knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

CPA licensure

Tools

Workday Finance

PeopleSoft

Oracle

SAP

Job description

Financial Affairs:

Financial Affairs partners with our UCF community to continuously improve and deliver outstanding administrative and financial services through innovative business and technological solutions and sound fiscal stewardship.

The Opportunity:

As a key member of UCF's Financial Affairs team, the Assistant Controller plays a central role in safeguarding the financial integrity of one of the nation's largest and most dynamic public research universities. This is an opportunity to lead meaningful accounting operations at scale - overseeing general ledger activities, driving financial reporting for University and Board-level audiences, and helping shape the systems and processes that keep UCF's financial operations running at their best. If you're ready to bring your expertise to an institution that values innovation, partnership, and impact - we'd love to hear from you.

Responsibilities:

Financial Reporting & Accounting Operations

• Assist with financial statement preparation, disclosures, MD&A, internal reporting, BOT materials, and BOG submissions.
• Manage assigned general ledger activities, including journal entries, accruals, adjustments, reconciliations, and variance analysis.
• Prepare and review audit workpapers, schedules, reconciliations, and confirmations while supporting compliance with applicable requirements.
• Research GASB/GAAP guidance and support implementation of new accounting standards, related templates, disclosures, and workpapers.

Team Leadership & Internal Controls

• Supervise and develop University Accountant III staff by assigning work, reviewing deliverables, setting goals, and providing technical guidance.
• Maintain internal controls, procedures, process documentation, and support Workday Finance ERP testing and process improvements.

Collaboration & Special Projects

• Provide backup coverage, participate in committees or workgroups, communicate outcomes, and complete assigned follow-up items.
• Support special projects, ad hoc analyses, process improvements, system implementations, and other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's or Master's degree and 4+ years of relevant experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Accounting and/or active CPA licensure.
• Experience preparing and/or reviewing a full set of audited financial statements, footnote disclosures, and MD&A in compliance with either GASB or FASB.
• At least 1 year of experience directly supervising, leading, or mentoring professional accounting staff, with a track record of supporting team development and providing technical guidance.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel functions and financial analysis tools, with working knowledge of or exposure to AI-enabled automation or reconciliation tools.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze financial data, identify trends and variances, and communicate findings clearly to leadership through dashboards, written summaries, and presentations.
• Experience working within a large, decentralized, or complex organizational environment, with a track record of effective stakeholder engagement and cross-functional collaboration.
• Experience using an enterprise financial system (e.g., Workday Finance, PeopleSoft, Oracle, or SAP) for general ledger management, journal entries, account reconciliation, or financial reporting.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

The anticipated salary for this position is $100,000. The final salary will be determined based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, and internal equity considerations.

All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

Are you ready to unleash YOUR potential?

As a next-generation public research university and Forbes-ranked top employer in Florida, we are a community of thinkers, doers, creators, innovators, healers, and leaders striving to create broader prosperity and help shape a better future. No matter what your role is, when you join Knight Nation, you'll play an integral role at one of the most impactful universities in the country. You'll be met with opportunities to connect and collaborate with talented faculty, staff, and students across 12 colleges and multiple campuses, engaging in impactful work that makes a positive difference. Your time at UCF will provide you with many meaningful opportunities to grow, you'll work alongside talented colleagues on complex projects that will challenge you and help you gain new skills, and you'll have countless rewarding experiences that go well beyond a paycheck.

Working at UCF has its perks!UCF offers:

• Benefit packages, including Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, Flexible Spending, and Employee Assistance Program
• Paid time off, including annual and sick time off and paid holidays
• Retirement savings options
• Employee discounts, including tickets to many Orlando attractions
• Education assistance
• And more...For more benefits information, view the UCF Employee Benefits Guide.

Dive into our Total Rewards Calculator to discover the diverse selection available to you, giving you a glimpse into the benefits that together shape your comprehensive rewards package at UCF.

Unless explicitly stated on the job posting, it is UCF's expectation that an employee of UCF will reside in Florida as of the date the employment begins.

Department

Financial Affairs - Financial Reporting and General Accounting

Work Schedule

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Type of Appointment

Regular

Expected Salary

$89,076.00 to Negotiable

The University of Central Florida is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment based on any characteristic protected by law. The University maintains programs for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities in accordance with all applicable federal and state laws.

As a Florida public university, the University of Central Florida makes all application materials and selection procedures available to the public upon request.

UCF is proud to be a smoke-free campus and an E-Verify employer.