Controller

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart Inc.; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart seeks a Controller to lead the Business Office accounting and financial operations. Reporting to the CFO, you will prepare and analyze financial reports, budgets, forecasts, and GAAP-compliant statements while maintaining strong internal controls to safeguard school assets.

You will supervise AP, student billing, payroll cross-training, audit coordination, and month-end close activities, ensuring timely, accurate reporting and adherence to school policies in

Qualifications

• CPA with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and 5–7 years of nonprofit accounting experience.
• Managerial experience in an independent school or higher education setting preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Working knowledge of business accounting policies, procedures, practices, and software.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to supervise multiple functions and deadlines.
• Confidentiality and high ethical standards.

Responsibilities

• Supervise accounts payable, student billing, and other accounting staff to ensure timely, accurate financial reporting.
• Prepare monthly financial statements, including variance analysis.
• Serve as staff support at Board committees, taking minutes.
• Cross-train in payroll, budgeting, AR, AP, and billing; perform AR follow-ups.
• Ensure proper coding and approval of revenue, expenditures, and journal entries.
• Prepare and reconcile investment activity and related entries.
• Review monthly and quarterly account reconciliations.
• Help hire, train, and review accounting staff.
• Prepare and monitor monthly budget reports and forecasts.
• Draft and recommend accounting policies and procedures.
• Stay current on GAAP and nonprofit accounting regulations.
• Plan and oversee internal and external audits.
• Prepare surveys and compliance reports for industry groups.
• Monitor private school industry trends.
• Assist in school-wide budget preparation and monthly allocation.

Skills

Leadership/Management

Communication

Confidentiality

Organizational skills

Accounting policies

GAAP knowledge

Education

CPA

Bachelor's degree in accounting

Tools

Microsoft 365

Veracross

Job description

Description

Summary:

The Controller is a key member of the Business Office and provides leadership for the school's accounting and financial operations. Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Controller is responsible for the preparation and analysis of financial reports, including statements of activities, financial position, cash flows, budgets, forecasts, and other special financial analyses.

The Controller oversees accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, student billing, audit coordination, and budgeting functions - ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of financial reporting, while maintaining strong internal controls and effective financial processes to safeguard school assets.

The Controller also develops, recommends, and administers accounting policies and procedures, ensuring compliance with applicable GAAP standards and supporting sound financial decision-making across the organization.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Supervise and assist accounts payable, student billing, and other accounting personnel in the Business Office, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting
• Prepare monthly financial statements, including variance analysis
• Act as staff support at Finance Committee and Technology, Building & Grounds Committee meetings of the Board, taking and preparing minutes
• Crosstrain on finance functions including payroll, accounts payable, budgeting, accounts receivable, and student billing. Make follow-up accounts receivable calls as necessary
• Ensure accurate and appropriate coding and/or approval of all revenue, expenditure, and journal transactions to their appropriate accounts, including funds with and without restrictions
• Prepare, post, and reconcile all investment activity and related accounting entries, and prepare all associated spreadsheets and analyses
• Review account reconciliations on a monthly and quarterly basis
• Provide support in the hiring, training, and review of accounting department staff
• Prepare and monitor monthly departmental budget reports and forecasts, working with administrators and department chairs regarding budget performance
• Draft, develop and recommend policies and procedures related to the accounting department and communicate accounting policies to employees to ensure compliance with such policies
• Actively stay current on new regulations in GAAP and relevant non-profit accounting issues including internal controls
• Plan, coordinate, and oversee internal and independent audits related to financial reporting
• Prepare all periodic surveys and compliance reports for various school industry organizations (e.g., DASL, NAIS, ISAS, NBOA, CSO etc.), as well as other internal and external information requests for financial data or grant preparation
• Remain aware of private school industry trends and activities
• Assist in preparing the school-wide budget and allocating it monthly

Requirements

Minimum Education/Prior Experience/Qualifications Required:

In the performance of his/her duties, Employee shall be guided by The Goals and Criteria of the Sacred Heart and the Catholic Faith. Candidates must also possess:

• A CPA with a bachelor’s degree in accounting with a minimum of 5-7 years’ experience in non-profit accounting
• Managerial experience with a record of mentoring and developing staff in an independent school or higher education setting is preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and able to communicate effectively with school representatives, parents, students, and representatives from the business community
• Possess working knowledge of business accounting policies, procedures, practices, and software programs
• Strong organization, and able to supervise and manage multiple functions, activities and deadlines
• Highest regard for confidentiality and ethical standards is necessary

Core Competencies:

• Ability to Learn and teach others established processes - Recognizes the importance of learning and motivates others by own enthusiasm and can learn and reproduce the current processes and recommend best practices to streamline them.
• Time Management Skills - Manages many tasks and projects simultaneously while adhering to deadlines and promises. Maintains work/life balance without compromising expectations of others. Respected for ability to "find" or "make" time to get things done.
• Organizational Skills - Creates action plans to meet divisional goals and objectives Conducts periodic reviews of progress and measures against goals. Establishes broad policies for the office to ensure success.
• Communications Skills - Effectively communicates broad and very complex issues.
• Problem Solving Skills - Considers a broad range of internal and external factors when solving problems. Grasps complexities and perceive relationships among different problems or issues.
• Computer/Software Skills - Must be proficient in Microsoft 365 (including Excel, Word, Power Point and OneNote). The Controller is required to learn and become proficient in the Veracross software database. Prior experience with Veracross or another similar database specific to private school accounting is a plus.

Upon Hiring

• Successful completion of criminal offenders’ records information and sexual offender registry checks.
• Successful completion of CMG Safe Environment Training.
• Current CPR certification.

Essential Expectations

• Overtly support and act in accordance with the Goals and Criteria of the Society of the Sacred Heart; this expectation includes attendance at and applicable participation in faith-based practices.
• Foster a safe, predictable, and supportive environment.
• Interact with colleagues in a respectful and collegial manner that contributes to a healthy school culture.
• Demonstrate appropriate planning and preparation and fulfill routine responsibilities in a thoughtful and timely manner.
• Uphold professional standards of personal presentation, professional courtesy, discretion, punctuality and attendance at all required meetings and events.
• Appropriately carry out specific duties as determined by the Head of School and/or supervisor.
• Maintain professional credentials and complete required training. Participate in and provide documentation for at least one professional development opportunity per year in addition to those required and provided by the school.
• Respect the confidentiality of the school, its employees, students, and families.
• Comply with the policies and procedures as articulated in the faculty and staff handbook.
• Authentically engage in the school’s self-reflection process that requires written goals and measured progress towards them.

Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart is committed to providing equal opportunity in all of its employment practices, including selection, hiring, promotion, transfer, and compensation, to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex (gender), age, national origin, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable law.