Controller

California State University; Turlock (CA); On-site; USD 130,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

California State University’s University Controller position requires strategic leadership over accounting and financial reporting for the University and Auxiliary entities. The role ensures accuracy, integrity, controls, and regulatory compliance while advising university leadership on accounting matters.

The successful candidate will guide the accounting function, support the campus with financial analysis, and collaborate with academic and administrative leaders to modernize accounting

Qualifications

• Seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional accounting or financial management experience that includes financial reporting, internal controls, auditing, or governmental accounting, including three (3) years of experience leading professional accounting staff or managers.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or other closely related field; education may be substituted year-for-year by related experience.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and management of University and Auxiliary accounting and financial reporting.
• Oversee monthly and annual financial close processes.
• Oversee the preparation of annual financial statements and schedules.
• Review and analyze financial statements and accounting information and make recommendations for improvements.
• Oversee compliance with GASB, FASB, GAAP and state regulatory requirements.
• Coordinate financial and compliance audits.
• Establish, document, and maintain internal control policies and procedures.

Skills

Leadership

Financial reporting

GAAP knowledge

GASB knowledge

Internal controls

Regulatory compliance

Strategic advising

Education

Bachelor's degree

CPA license (preferred)

Tools

PeopleSoft Finance

Excel

Dashboard tools

Job description

• Position Summary

  Full-time position under the Management Personnel Plan (MPP) available on or after January 4, 2027 for Financial Services. The University Controller provides strategic leadership for University and Auxiliary accounting and financial reporting and has overall responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of financial records, fiscal accountability, internal controls, and regulatory compliance. The position serves as a strategic financial advisor to University leadership on accounting, financial reporting, fiscal stewardship, and regulatory compliance matters and provides leadership and direction for the University’s accounting functions.

• Job Duties

  • Provide overall leadership and management of University and Auxiliary accounting and financial reporting, including Student Financial Services.
  • Oversee University and Auxiliary accounting records, financial transactions, general ledger activities, and reconciliations.
  • Oversee monthly and annual financial close processes.
  • Oversee the preparation of annual financial statements and associated prepared-by-client schedules.
  • Review and analyze financial statements and accounting information and make recommendations for corrections or improvements.
  • Oversee compliance with applicable accounting and financial reporting standards and requirements, including GASB, FASB, GAAP, Chancellor’s Office, and State of California requirements.
  • Oversee compliance with applicable local, state, and federal tax requirements.
  • Collaborate with Post Award Grant Administration and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs to ensure accurate grant accounting, financial reporting, internal controls, and applicable compliance requirements.
  • Coordinate financial and compliance audits.
  • Establish, document, and maintain internal control policies and procedures.
  • Develop, interpret, and apply accounting and financial policies, guidelines, and procedures.
  • Serve as a strategic financial advisor on accounting, financial reporting, fiscal stewardship, and regulatory compliance matters.
  • Provide financial analysis and recommendations and advise the campus on accounting matters.
  • Collaborate with academic and administrative leaders on complex financial issues and business process improvements.
  • Lead the review and modernization of accounting practices, financial systems, and processes, including automation and technology initiatives.
  • Serve as the University’s technical accounting authority.
  • Represent the University on CSU systemwide committees and workgroups related to accounting and financial matters.
  • Communicate accounting and financial reporting requirements to the campus community.
  • Provide leadership and direction to managers and staff.
  • Hire, train, supervise, assign work, and evaluate personnel.
  • Develop staff and lead succession planning.
  • Determine long-range University and Auxiliary accounting goals and priorities.
  • Provide leadership and support to senior management.
  • Serve as a member of the Financial Services management team.
  • Participate in divisional, departmental, campus, and CSU systemwide committees and workgroups.
  • Other duties as assigned.

• Minimum Qualifications

  Experience: Seven (7) years of progressively responsible professional accounting or financial management experience that includes financial reporting, internal controls, auditing, or governmental accounting, including three (3) years of experience leading professional accounting staff or managers.

  Education: Bachelors degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or other closely related field. (Additional progressively responsible experience directly related to the duties of the position may be substituted for the required education on a year-for-year basis.)

• Preferred Qualifications

  • Prior experience in a CSU or higher education setting.
  • Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license or certification.
  • Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
  • Three (3) years of professional accounting or financial management experience in a higher education environment.
  • Three (3) years of experience using PeopleSoft Finance or a comparable enterprise financial management system.
  • Three (3) years of experience coordinating or managing external financial and compliance audits.

• Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

  • Comprehensive knowledge of accounting and financial management principles, practices, and standards.
  • Ability to interpret and apply Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB), Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), and applicable federal, state, Chancellor’s Office, and campus policies and procedures.
  • Ability to work effectively with enterprise financial systems and various financial reporting tools, including dashboard reporting and query tools.
  • Ability to manage and direct complex accounting and financial operations, including financial reporting, general ledger activities, reconciliations, and monthly and annual close processes.
  • Knowledge of internal control, financial and compliance audit, fiscal accountability, and regulatory compliance principles and practices.
  • Ability to analyze complex financial and accounting issues, apply strategic thinking and sound judgment, and develop recommendations for senior management.
  • Ability to develop, interpret, implement, and maintain accounting and financial policies, procedures, and internal controls.
  • Ability to lead and implement business process improvements and effectively use technology to enhance the efficiency, accuracy, and transparency of financial operations and reporting.
  • Ability to supervise and provide leadership to managers and professional staff, including establishing priorities, assigning work, evaluating performance, and developing staff.
  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships and collaborate with campus departments and other internal and external stakeholders.
  • Ability to communicate complex accounting and financial matters clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing, including with executive leadership.
  • Ability to exercise sound professional judgment, discretion, integrity, and accountability in matters involving institutional finances, internal controls, and regulatory compliance.