Controller

Journal of Accountancy; Florida; On-site; USD 87,000 - 106,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Culture

Education Benefits

Health and Wellness

Generous Time Off

Panther Perks

Professional Development

Retirement Investments

Job summary

Palm Beach State College seeks a Controller to lead accounting, financial reporting, and internal controls across the college. You will ensure integrity and timeliness of financial records and support strategic decision-making through analysis and forecasting.

The role involves developing policies, safeguarding assets, maintaining compliance with laws, and coordinating with executive leadership to ensure continuity of operations in emergencies.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or related field.
• Eight years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, financial reporting, or public-sector finance, including supervisory or management experience.
• GAAP reporting standards incl. federal/state/local laws.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Professional or similar.

Responsibilities

• Serves as the College's principal accounting officer and provides college-wide leadership, guidance, and oversight related to accounting practices, financial reporting, reconciliations, internal controls, and financial compliance.
• Develops, implements, and monitors college-wide accounting policies, procedures, and internal control standards to safeguard assets.
• Reviews internal controls and ensures compliance with policies and standards; performs examinations of functions and operations.
• Enhances accounting systems, processes, tools and controls to improve methods and procedures.
• Partners with executive leadership to ensure continuity of financial operations during emergencies.
• Prepares comprehensive financial reports ensuring compliance and delivers external reporting and internal forecasting.
• Manages cash planning, bank relationships, and investment of excess funds.
• Provides budget forecasting support and financial analysis for budgeting processes.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Detail orientation

Conflict resolution

Education

Master’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance

Eight years of accounting/financial experience

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

What We Offer

At Palm Beach State College, you will discover a place where ideas come to life and the heartbeat of a county begins. By joining us, you will be exposed to professionals from across the U.S. and abroad who are the strivers, reinventors, explorers, and influencers dedicated to developing talent that fills the most needed workforce roles. As the Panthers, we embrace a community of belonging, caring, and connection for our students and employees. We seek creative individuals to help PBSC fulfill its mission of inspiring hope, advancing skills, and transforming lives.

About this role

Responsible for providing leadership and oversight of the College's accounting, financial reporting, financial compliance, and related internal control functions on a college-wide basis. Ensures the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of the College's financial records and reporting, supports strategic decision-making through financial analysis, and promotes consistent financial practices across all campuses and operational units.

What a day of a Controller looks like:

• Serves as the College's principal accounting officer and provides college-wide leadership, guidance, and oversight related to accounting practices, financial reporting, reconciliations, internal controls, and financial compliance.

• Develops, recommends, implements, and monitors college-wide accounting policies, procedures, and internal control standards to safeguard assets, ensure compliance, and promote consistent financial practices.

• Reviews and ensures application of appropriate internal controls, compliance and financial procedures. Performs internal examinations of functions and operations of the College to determine compliance with policies, procedures and standards.

• Enhances accounting systems, processes, tools and control systems to improve methods and procedures.

• Partners with executive leadership to ensure continuity of critical accounting, payroll, treasury, financial reporting, and financial system operations during emergencies and disruptions.

• Prepares comprehensive financial reports and ensures reports maintain compliance with federal state, and local laws and regulations. Delivers accurate and timely external reporting and drives meaningful internal financial analysis, reporting and forecasting.

• Executes plans relating to cash management based upon the long-term needs of the College. Includes maintenance of appropriate bank balances.

• Forecasts short-term and long-range cash and budgetary needs. Determines specific ways and costs of obtaining funds and investing excess funds.

• Analyzes current or proposed investments in equipment, stocks, and bonds with respect to predicting future performance. Includes preparation of proformas.

• Provides financial analysis, historical financial information, forecasting support, and accounting guidance to support the budget development process.

• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

We’d love to hear from you if you have the following:

Education and Experience:

• Master’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or related field of study

• Eight years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, financial reporting, or public-sector finance, including supervisory or management experience

Knowledge of:

• Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) reporting standards including federal tax laws and financial reporting

• Microsoft Office Professional or similar application

Skilled in:

• Strategic thinking including effective planning, setting goals, monitoring progress, tracking results and making appropriate adjustments to plans based on circumstances and context

• Identifying details to assess cause and effect

• Managing and resolving conflict in a positive manner

Ability to:

• Plan and implement financial goals and strategies for the agency, and develop complex financial reports

• Effectively communicate verbally and in writing on a regular basis with internal and external customers, build relationships, manage customer expectations and take responsibility for a high level of service

• Organize and prioritize multiple, competing priorities to maximize personal and team effectiveness

• Make presentations and translate financial concepts to financial and non-financial managers

• Identify technology to support department goals and streamline processes

Licenses, Registration, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

• Regular physical attendance required

• This position has been designated as essential. May be required to remain at the work location or to report to work to protect, recover, and continue operations at the College

Preferred, but not a must

Education and Experience:

• Experience in higher education

• Experience in Florida College System

• Experience in government

• Workday experience

Knowledge of:

• Florida Statutes

Skilled in:

• Cloud based systems

• Advanced Excel

Ability to:

• Make presentations to Board of Trustees and the public

Licenses, Registration, Certifications, or Special Requirements:

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) membership

• Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants (FICPA) membership

• Certified Management Accountant (CMA) or Institute of Management Accountant (IMA) membership

• Certified Public Finance Officer (CPFO) or Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) membership

Work Environment and Physical Demand - Frequency

• Reach and grasp objects. - Daily

• Repetitive movement of wrists, hands, fingers. - Daily

• Use of video display terminal. - Daily

• Communicate information verbally. - Daily

• Communicate information in writing. - Daily

• Receive and understand information through oral and written communication. - Daily

• Proofread and check documents for accuracy. - Daily

This job description is intended to be generic in nature and describe the essential functions of the job. It is not an exhaustive list of all duties and responsibilities. The essential duties, functions and responsibilities, and overtime eligibility may vary based on the specific tasks assigned to the position.

The minimum base pay for this position starts at $96,548.00 annually; however, the offer may vary based on the candidate’s education and experience.

This position is open until filled with an initial review date of November 16, 2026.

Wait, there is more!

• Culture: Be part of an inclusive, Panther First environment where every role has a purpose, and employees have a sense of belonging.

• Education Benefits: Tuition fee waiver at PBSC, tuition reimbursement, degree recognition award, educational leave, and more. Public Service Loan Forgiveness institution.

• Health and Wellness: Medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, parental leave, and more.

• Generous Time Off: Vacation, sick leave, holidays, and spring and winter breaks offering additional paid time off.

• Panther Perks: Potential remote or hybrid opportunities, wellness programs, and apps related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.

• Professional Development: Leadership programs, professional learning workshops, and more.

• Retirement Investments: State retirement plan options and voluntary 403(b) and 457 plans.