Assistant Controller

Manhattanville University; Purchase (NY); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Tuition remission

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Manhattanville University seeks an experienced Assistant Controller to lead fiscal and budget operations within a higher-education setting. You will oversee general ledger close, reporting, and endowment activity, while coordinating with the Controller and senior finance staff.

The role requires advanced Excel skills, strong financial analysis, and ERP proficiency (Colleague/WorkDay). A CPA is highly desired along with 5–7 years’ related experience.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or higher degree in accounting or finance with CPA preferred.
• Five to seven years in professional accounting, preferably in higher education or nonprofit.
• Experience supervising staff and interfacing with senior offices.

Responsibilities

• Lead General Ledger month-end close with Controller.
• Maintain ledgers, monthly closings, journal entries, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Prepare monthly/annual financial statements and variance analyses.

Skills

Excel advanced

Financial analysis

Budgeting

Leadership

Communication

ERP systems navigation

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance

Master's degree preferred

CPA highly desired

Tools

Colleague ERP

WorkDay

Job description

Job Title: Assistant Controller

Department: Finance

Reports to: Controller

Effective Date: 10/13/26

# of Direct Reports 0 (maybe 1)

# of People Supported: 4 plus Finance Committee

Job Description:

Results-driven accounting leader with extensive experience directing fiscal and budget operations within the higher education or not for profit sectors.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Reports to the University Controller.
  • Dotted line relationships with the SR VP for Finance;
  • Supports creation of the Finance Committee materials
• Ability to step in and supervise Finance staff in the Controller’s absence.

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Highly skilled in managing FASB net asset classifications (with and without donor restrictions), overseeing endowment portfolios.
• Able to create institutional reporting with budget and finance, often using Excel.
• Adept at leveraging advanced ERP systems (i.e., Colleague or WorkDay).
• Ability to effectively learn the University’s Colleague ERP System.

Accounting Activities may include but are not limited to:

• Lead in conjunction with the Controller the General Ledger Month-End Close processes
• Maintain the general ledger, perform such processes that are needed in conjunction with other accounting staff to complete monthly closing processes, prepare monthly/quarterly journal entries, and reconcile complex balance sheet accounts.
• Reporting and Analysis: assist in creating monthly and annual financial statements, conduct variance analyses, and provide analytical support on actual financial performance.

Budget Support, includes but is not limited to:

• Create and maintain the 5 year budget forecast and assist in the multi-year cash flow projections in concert with the Controller.
• Match tuition, fees, room and board and institutional aid charges between Excel workbooks and Colleague with information received from Student Accounts.
• Working with Financial Aid and Student Accounts, track and report out financial aid values (discount rate), as well as projecting financial aid expenses to year end.
• Track restricted/unrestricted endowment and investment activities, notably track and report out current, projected and forecasted endowment draw values.
• Monitor and coordinate spending reporting for federal, state, and private grants with relevant staff.
• Provide support to all budget managers across the University (including training where necessary).
• Interact with the Provost’s Office and Admissions to provide the necessary access and support; have a positive working relationship with all offices.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.
• Ability to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment.
• Advanced user in Microsoft Excel, pivot tables, vlookup, workbook models.
• Knowledge of Ellucian Colleague, very beneficial.

Qualifications:

Education: Bachelors Degree in Accounting or Finance, Masters degree preferred, CPA highly desired.

Experience: Five to seven years of professional related experience. Within a higher education or nonprofit environment preferred.

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times.

Salary:

The annual salary for this position is $110,000 to 120,000

Hours Expectation:

Full-time, 35 hours per week; with occasional needs for after hours or weekends, especially during periods of Board of Trustees and Committee materials preparation.

Work Location:

Hybrid (Up to 2 days of work from home/remote time)

Housing:

Housing is not provided.

Benefits:

Manhattanville University also offers a highly competitive and comprehensive benefits package, including tuition remission. For more information regarding benefits, please visit our benefits page: Manhattanville Benefits

Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States for the duration of their employment.

Manhattanville University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and other applicable federal and state statutes, all recruiting, hiring, training, and promoting for all job classifications will be administered without regard to race, color, ancestry, age, sex, national origin, pregnancy or childbirth, disability, military veteran status or other applicable status protected by law, including state of employment protected classes.