Controller

Bowie State University; Bowie (MD); On-site; USD 180,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, prescription

Tuition remission

Employer-funded pension

Job summary

Bowie State University in Maryland seeks a Controller who reports to the Associate Vice President for Administration & Finance and leads accounting operations, financial reporting, and internal controls to ensure GASB compliance.

The Controller oversees General Ledger, Payroll, and Accounts Payable, coordinates audits, and mentors staff with a commitment to ethical financial stewardship and timely service.

Qualifications

• GASB standards knowledge and public higher education accounting experience.
• Strong financial data analysis, communication and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead cross-functional collaboration across offices.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the general ledger and university financials.
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes.
• Prepare BSU year-end statements and reporting packages.
• Establish accounting policies, controls, and GASB compliance.
• Coordinate external audits and respond to audit inquiries.
• Develop staff and provide financial guidance to leadership.

Skills

GASB standards

Public higher ed finance

Auditing coordination

Internal controls

Financial reporting

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance related field

CPA license

Tools

Workday Financial Management

Job description

Job Posting:

JR102285 Controller (Open)

Department:

Budget Office, PM

Position Type:

Regular

Open Date:

11-03-2026

Close Date:

$180,000 - $190,000

Job Description:

The Controller reports to the Associate Vice President for Administration & Finance and serves as the university's senior financial accounting officer, coordinates financial audits, and leads accounting operations, financial reporting, internal controls, and financial compliance within the position's assigned scope. The Controller ensures accurate, timely, and reliable financial information in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to public higher education, GASB standards, USM accounting and reporting requirements, and applicable laws, regulations, and university policies. The position requires strong technical judgment, effective staff leadership, timely resolution of accounting discrepancies, collaboration across the university, and a commitment to ethical financial stewardship and responsive service.

Scope and Authority:

The Controller provides leadership and supervision for General Accounting, Payroll, and Accounts Payable through assigned managers and staff. The Controller is accountable for institutional general-ledger accounting, receivables, cash receipts and application, capital assets, and restricted-fund accounting, including grant, sponsored-program, and student financial aid funds. The Controller coordinates with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and other responsible offices on institutional accounting accuracy, payment application, and reconciliations.

The Controller exercises approval authority within documented delegations, maintains appropriate segregation of duties, and escalates material concerns through established BSU and USM reporting channels, including to the AVP and Vice President as appropriate.

Essential Responsibilities:

• Maintain the general ledger and accurate recording ofuniversity revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and fundactivity.
• Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual financial closeprocesses; ensure timely correction or escalation of outstandingtransactions.
• Prepare BSU year-end statements, schedules, disclosures, andreporting packages supporting USM consolidated financial statementsand other required institutional, state, and federal financialreporting.
• Establish and maintain accounting policies, procedures,documentation, and financial controls. Evaluate complextransactions, document accounting conclusions, and implement newapplicable GASB standards and USM requirements.
• Serve as the campus financial audit liaison in coordinationwith USM. Coordinate requests, schedules, records, and financialresponses for external financial statement audits, Office ofLegislative Audits examinations, internal audits, and applicablefederal Single Audit work.
• Identify and assess accounting and financial control risks.Promptly elevate material errors, overdue reconciliations, control failures, and suspected fiscal irregularities through established reporting channels, preserving supporting records.
• Coordinate accounting for university receipts, transfers, andother foundation-related transactions with Advancement andfoundation finance personnel; obtain information needed for university and USM reporting.
• Monitor and report cash flows and liquidity in coordinationwith the AVP and VP.
• Supervise and develop assigned managers and accounting staff. Set expectations, evaluate performance, provide training and cross-training, and maintain continuity of critical accountingoperations.
• Provide clear financial analysis and guidance to leadership and campus partners. Promote confidentiality, accountability, transparency, ethical stewardship, and timely service to students,faculty, and external stakeholders.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated knowledge and application of governmental accounting and GASB standards, public higher education financial reporting, grants and sponsored-fund accounting, restricted-fund accounting, and relevant USM accounting and reporting requirements.
• Advanced financial data analysis skills, with the ability to investigate discrepancies and communicate accounting conclusions clearly.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, presentation, and problem-solving skills; sound judgment and the ability to collaborate across academic, administrative, and technical offices.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, business administration, or a closely related field with relevant accounting preparation.
• Active CPA license in good standing.
• At least seven years of progressively responsible accounting and financial reporting experience, including at least three years supervising an accounting team.
• Demonstrated experience with governmental accounting, GASB standards, financial reporting, audit coordination, internal controls, and accounting operations.
• Demonstrated experience managing and developing professional accounting staff, improving processes, and working collaboratively with organizational leaders and stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, integrity, and ethical financial stewardship.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in public higher education accounting and financial reporting.
• Experience with grants, sponsored funds and financial aid accounting, including institutional financial reporting and reconciliation requirements in higher education.
• Experience with Workday Financial Management and related reporting, workflows, and financial controls.
• Master's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
• Knowledge of FASB reporting relevant to affiliated foundation transactions and reporting coordination.

Additional Job Information:

Benefits include medical, dental, prescription, long-termdisability, accidental death and dismemberment insurance and lifeinsurance; paid time for paid sick leave, annual leave, andpersonal leave; 12 paid holidays per year, tuition remission;employer-funded pension and supplemental retirement accounts.

Bowie State University shall not discriminate against anyindividual on the basis of race, color, religion, age, ancestry or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, maritalstatus or veteran status. All policies, programs, and activities of Bowie State University are and shall be in conformity with allpertinent Federal and state laws of nondiscrimination including,but not limited to: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, asamended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Age Discrimination Act, Sections 503 and 504of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with DisabilitiesAct of 1990, Federal Executive Order No. 11375, and Article 49B of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This commitment applies in allareas and embraces faculty, staff, and students.

Equal opportunity of access to academic and related programs shallbe extended to all persons. Bowie State University shall have asits firm objective equal opportunity in recruitment and hiring,rate of pay, all other promotions, training, retention anddismissals, for all employees and applicants for employment.

The University will stress equal access for employees and applicantsfor employment to all programs and services provided by theUniversity both on and off campus. The University will also provideequal opportunity and an atmosphere of nondiscrimination withrespect to women and members of minority groups in all itsoperations. In addition, the University shall promote equalopportunity and equal treatment through a positive and continuingAffirmative Action Program.

The University makes, and will continue to make, reasonableaccommodations to promote the employment of qualified individualswith disabilities and disabled veterans, unless such accommodationswould impose an undue hardship on the University's business.

In addition, employees and applicantswill not be subjectedtoharassment, intimidation, threats, coercion, or discriminationbecause they have engaged in, or may have engaged in, activitiessuch as filing a complaint, assisting or participating in aninvestigation, compliance review or hearing, or opposing any act orpractice made unlawful, or exercising any other right protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended or theVietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, asamended.