Controller

The Chronicle Of Higher Education, Inc.; North Whitehall Township (PA); On-site; USD 95,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Luzerne County Community College is seeking a Controller to manage the college's financial operations, ensure general ledger accuracy, and coordinate audits. The role partners with leadership to allocate resources and support financial reporting.

The position requires strong accounting knowledge, experience with internal controls, and proficiency in Banner software. It also involves payroll, grants accounting, and external audit coordination.

Qualifications

• Master's degree in accounting or related field, or bachelor's with five years accounting/finance experience or CPA license.
• Act 153 Clearances (Act 34, Act 151, Act 114) required.
• Seven years of progressive accounting and business management experience.

Responsibilities

• Maintain the college's financial system and ensure general ledger accuracy.
• Lead Banner finance modules and coordinate annual audits.
• Prepare internal and external financial reports for leadership and Board committees.
• Develop internal controls and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Supervise staff and oversee payroll, grants accounting, and purchasing.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Detail oriented

Independent work

Problem solving

Education

Master's degree in accounting

CPA or 5 years experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Ellucian Banner

Job description

Job Title

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, proper accountingfor all financial activity of the college in an effective andefficient manner to ensure compliance with all accounting practicesand financial reporting requirements and guidelines, and allfederal and state reporting requirements. Responsible for thecoordination and compliance for the various audits of the College.Provides information to assist the administration indecision-making process and the effective allocation and use ofcollege resources, and assist faculty and staff in understandingthe financial operation of the college. Additional areas ofresponsibility may include, accounts payable, payroll, accountsreceivable, grants accounting, purchasing, and coordination ofexternal audits. The Controller will participate as a member of thecollege leadership team. The Controller is directly responsible tothe Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services.

Work Schedule

FT, 40 hours per week. The standard work weekis Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Exempt professionals,are expected to maintain a flexible schedule to ensure allresponsibilities and collegiate needs are met, including occasionalwork outside of core business hours.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintains the College's financial systems and is responsiblefor the overall accuracy of the general ledger including themonthly and fiscal year end closings.
• Develops and maintains an effective and efficient system ofinternal controls validated through internal audit procedures.
• Responsible for the maintenance of proper systems andprocedures of internal control to assure accurate accounting offinancial information and to ensure appropriate budgetarycontrol.
• Responsible for the integrity of the college financialrecords.
• Reconciles and/or reviews the reconciliation of all balancesheet accounts to the general ledger.
• Serves as the lead person for the Finance related modules ofEllucian Banner software system.
• Reviews and reconciles quarterly and annual payroll reports andleads correspondence with taxing authorities.
• Provides leadership and support in Banner related issues,including the enhancements to existing Banner finance modules andinstallation of new Banner finance related modules.
• Directly or indirectly responsible for the accurate recordingand reporting of the following: payables and disbursements;purchasing, grant reporting, accounts receivable, revenues andreceipts; and payroll.
• Provides accurate, timely and useful internal and externalfinancial reporting, including, but not limited to quarterlyreports to the President's Cabinet and the Finance and FacilitiesCommittee of the Board of Trustees.
• Responsible for the coordination of all activities of theexternal auditors, all year end accounting functions, thepreparation of audit schedules and the College audited financialstatements, including MD+A and footnotes.
• Understands all required finance and compliance informationrelative to special and regular state and federal grants.
• Maintains a firm understanding of the PA Department ofEducation funding regulations and the overall regulations dealingwith community colleges.
• Responsible for operating, debt service, and capital fundtransfers.
• Prepares schedules for PA Department of Education data requestsand reports.
• Assists college faculty and staff in developing business plans,financial models, and other financial analysis as may berequired.
• Provides leadership and assistance to other college departmentsand staff as it pertains to all financial and accountingfunctions.
• Interacts with banks, auditors, governmental agencies and othercollege departments on matters of accounting and finance.
• Stays current and implements new pronouncements of accountingstandards and other regulatory issues affecting accounting,financial reporting and governmental funding and audit issues.
• Ensures that all staff is adequately trained so as to providecontinuation of necessary financial operations.
• Responsible for the documentation of Finance Department policyand procedures.
• Enforces all applicable Finance policies and procedures.
• Directly supervises the Foundation Staff Accountant.
• Responsible for evaluating the performance of directreports.
• Contributes to the college’s accreditation efforts, includingthe overall Middle State accreditation and any program specificaccreditation standards.
• Carries out special projects as may be assigned.

Required Qualifications

Education

• Master's degree in accounting or a related field from anaccredited institution or bachelor's degree with five yearsaccounting/finance experience or Certified Public Accountantlicense.

Certifications

• Act 153 Clearances (Act 34 PA Criminal Background, Act 151 PAChild Abuse History, Act 114 FBI Clearance Fingerprinting)

Work Experience

• Seven years of progressive experience in an accounting andbusiness management capacity.
• Three years as a Controller, five years as an AssistantController or seven years of higher education auditexperience.
• Higher education and/or not-for profit experience.
• Experience with Microsoft Office products, especially MicrosoftExcel or Access.
• Experience with enterprise software.
• Applicant must have sufficient experience and background infinancial reporting and accounting to be able to supervise andmanage all functions within the department of financialoperations.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Must possess good communication skills to deal with bothinternal and external constituencies.
• Must be able to set priorities, plan work, and workindependently.
• Must be detail oriented and able to enforce policies andprocedures.
• Must be able to independently research state and federalaccounting issues to apply results of findings to actualsituations.
• Proficient in usage of spreadsheet, database, and wordprocessing software.
• Must possess a high level of the following work skills andbehaviors: leadership, teamwork/cooperation, initiative, customerservice, and commitment to continuous professional growth in skillsand knowledge.

Preferred

• Experience with enterprise software required - preferablyEllucian Banner.
• Bilingual (Spanish).

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequentlyrequired to stand; walk; sit; use hands to handle or feel; reachwith hands and arms; talk and hear. The employee may regularly liftand/or move up to 5 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job includeclose vision and distance vision.

Work Environment

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet tomoderate.

LCCC is an equal opportunity employer.

LCCC Internal candidates must apply within 15 days of posting.

Salary and Benefits

• Salary is restricted to above range and will not exceed themaximum of the range. Salary offers are non negotiable and offersare determined and are based upon related work experience submittedon resume.
• Foreign degrees – must provide a US equivalency report of yourdegree credentials with your transcript, if not, your resume willnot be accepted.

Position open until filled.