Controller

Lindenwood University; St. Charles (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-paid tuition benefits

Tuition discounts for doctoral studies

Comprehensive benefits: medical, dent,

Job summary

Lindenwood University seeks a Controller to lead the accounting operations, including financial reporting, month-end close, treasury, and compliance. The role oversees grants, endowments, gifts, cash forecasting, and investment accounts, ensuring GAAP compliance and strong internal controls.

The Controller partners with leadership to optimize financial processes, manage Workday integration, and drive accurate, timely reporting for decision-makers within a comprehensive benefits package.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required.
• Experience with not-for-profit accounting, regulations, grant, restricted gift accounting, and compliance requirements.
• Minimum of 10 years’ relevant experience.
• Master’s degree preferred; CPA certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily activities of Accounting and Accounts Payable departments.
• Ensure GAAP-based financial statements and accurate financial recording.
• Lead treasury activities including cash flow, debt, and capital management.
• Oversee investment accounts and annual financial audits, including IRS Form 990.
• Represent the university in financial reporting, with risk management and internal controls.
• Collaborate with University Advancement to align financial systems with donor reporting.

Skills

Leadership

Workday

GAAP knowledge

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance

Master’s degree preferred

CPA certification preferred

Tools

Workday

Microsoft Office

Job description

Welcome to Career Opportunities at Lindenwood University.

Benefits of Being a Lindenwood Employee:

• Upon hire, employer-paid tuition benefits for bachelor’s (employee, spouse, and dependent) and master’s degree programs (employee and spouse only).
• Tuition discounts for doctoral programs (employee only).
• Comprehensive benefits plan: medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability insurance, and retirement options.
• Paid holidays: MLK Jr. day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving break (Wednesday – Friday), and winter break (Dec. 23 – Jan. 1).
• Free lunch Fridays: LU employees are eligible for a free meal on Fridays at the Evans Commons Dining Hall or Spellman Dining Hall; Chick-fil-A and Qdoba included.
• Professional development opportunities through the Lindenwood Learning Academy.

JOB TITLE SUMMARY

Job Title: Controller

Division: Fiscal Affairs

Evaluation Group: Staff Administrator

FLSA Status: Exempt

Reports To: Senior Vice President, Fiscal Affairs and Administrative Services/ Chief Financial Officer

Positions Supervised: Assistant Controller; Manager, Accounts Payable

Job Summary

The Controller leads the University’s accounting operations, including financial reporting, the monthly and year-end close, treasury and cash management, and compliance verification, and oversees all facets of accounts payable. This role also oversees financial management of grants, endowments, and gifts; tracks capital assets; creates and maintains a cash forecast; and manages the University’s investment accounts.

Essential Job Functions and Performance Indicators

The intent of this job description is to provide a representation of the types of duties and level of responsibility that will be required of positions given this title. This job description shall not be construed as a declaration of the total of the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position. Employees may be directed to perform job-related tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.

Job Responsibility and Execution

• Directs daily activities of Accounting and Accounts Payable departments
• Determines accounting policies and practices to ensure financial statements are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
• Ensures accuracy in recording financial transactions; provides excellent customer service; and practices good financial stewardship of University assets
• Facilitates the collection and reporting of financial data for financial reports, tax returns, regulatory reports, audits, presentations, and other evaluations; undertakes discussion and closure of all related issues
• Leads the LES system-wide year-end financial audit and the annual IRS Form 990
• Performs treasury activities related to cash flow, borrowings, debt, and capital management
• Manages all University investment accounts
• Leads the annual NCAA agreed-upon procedures engagement for intercollegiate athletics
• Prepares and monitors the Department of Education financial responsibility composite score
• Manages banking and merchant services relationships, including day-to-day bank administration and coordination of PCI compliance
• Coordinates the annual endowment spending calculation and reporting on donor-restricted funds
• Partners with University Advancement to integrate financial systems with Raiser’s Edge, reconcile gift and pledge activity, and ensure consistent gift reporting between Advancement and the general ledger
• Completes all annual surveys, such as IPEDS and HLC
• Creates and maintains a cash forecast
• Assists in the creation of PowerPoint slides for the Board of Trustees and management that contain financial information on a monthly and quarterly basis
• Assists in developing and collecting accurate data to help guide University business decisions
• Determines appropriate financial information technology (IT) systems and capabilities necessary for the University to fulfill its financial operations/requirements
• Communicates accounting and business process changes to faculty and staff and enforces applicable University financial and accounting policies
• Distributes University/department financial results relative to budget and prior years; interprets findings for faculty and staff

Leadership and Strategic Thinking

• Researches technical accounting issues and implements new accounting standards
• Maintains responsibility for the ongoing development and integration of accounting practices and procedures into the University’s Workday enterprise resource planning (ERP) system
• Serves as the functional lead of Workday Financials for Accounting; leads continuous improvement, configuration changes, new module implementations, and issue resolution in partnership with IT and the Financial Systems Manager
• Establishes a regular review cycle for fiscal policies and procedures; modernizes, documents, and communicates updates to ensure alignment with current standards and University practice
• Ensures adequate policies, procedures, and internal controls are in place to provide fiscal integrity for financial and regulatory reporting matters
• Establishes long- and short-term strategic goals based on assessment data and ensures standards for the department and its field are met or exceeded
• Adapts and modifies leadership based on new information and/or data; works to set and unite people on the new direction
• Utilizes effective strategies to build collaboration for maximum execution
• Aligns division/department purpose and actions with relevant University initiatives and higher education trends

Employee Management and Development

• Supports the mission of the University and serves as an ambassador of the Q2 culture of service excellence
• Models, supports, and holds others accountable to the University’s values
• Recruits, interviews, recommends, welcomes, observes, and monitors performance of department staff
• Sets clear performance expectations and holds employees accountable
• Ensures close procedures are documented and accounting staff are cross-trained to reduce key-person risk
• Conducts annual employee evaluations based on evidence, observation, and feedback

Job may require other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications – An equivalent combination of education, training, and experience will be considered. Additional requirements may be designated by position.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance
• Experience with not-for-profit accounting, regulations, grant, restricted gift accounting, and compliance requirements
• Minimum of 10 years’ relevant experience
• Master’s degree preferredCPA certification preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities – May be representative, but not all inclusive, of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to perform this job competently.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with individuals from diverse communities and cultures
• Ability to execute multiple tasks according to specifications
• Strong professional integrity
• Ability to use good judgment and think critically
• Strong leadership and collaborative skills
• Ability to take initiative and be creative
• Mastery of Workday enterprise accounting and finance software
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite

Work Environment – Environmental or atmospheric conditions commonly associated with the performance of this job’s functions. Please click here to view Lindenwood University’s flexible work designation descriptions.

• General office setting
• Non-Standard Flex

Physical Abilities – The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Ability to work effectively at a computer for extended time daily
• Ability to sit/stand for extended periods of time
• Ability to lift/carry items commonly found in an office setting including, but not limited to, documents, laptops, keyboards, etc.
• Ability to use repetitive wrist, hand, and finger movements to type regularly
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function

For fully remote positions, candidates must reside in or be willing to relocate to one of the following states in which Lindenwood University is authorized to employ:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• Florida
• Georgia
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Michigan
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia

Equal Opportunity Employer

Lindenwood University is an Equal Opportunity employer. The University complies with appropriate federal, state, and local laws and provides equal employment opportunities and access to educational programs without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other protected status to all qualified applicants and employees. Lindenwood University is committed to a policy of non-discrimination and dedicated to providing a positive discrimination-free educational work environment.