Controller

Ascension Press; United States; Remote; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental &amp

Vision)

Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)

Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&

P&D)

Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & P

Public Holidays)

Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)

Short Term & Long Term Disability

Training & Development

Work From Home

Wellness Resources

Job summary

Ascension Press seeks an experienced Controller to oversee accounting operations and financial reporting, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with GAAP for a faith-formation organization.

Reporting to the Director of Finance & Accounting, you will manage the general ledger, month-end close, reconciliations, and internal controls while supporting royalty and banking activities and driving improvements to systems and processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including general ledger, reconciliations, and month-end close.
• Experience preparing financial statements and applying GAAP.
• CPA designation preferred.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central.
• Experience with inventory-intensive businesses or subscription-based revenue models preferred.
• Occasional travel to Ascension's headquarters.
• Uphold Ascension's core values of humility, passion, integrity.

Responsibilities

• Manage the monthly and annual accounting close processes, including journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, and financial statement preparation.
• Maintain the general ledger integrity and proper account balances.
• Prepare and review financial statements and supporting schedules for GAAP/income-tax basis reporting.
• Perform accounting activities including inventory, cost of goods sold, royalties, revenue recognition, fixed assets, and prepaid expenses.
• Review AP/AR, cash application, and collections, resolving discrepancies.
• Prepare documentation for external reviews and tax filings.
• Manage royalty accounting, banking operations, internal controls, and system/process improvements.
• Collaborate with Director on financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and analysis.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Month-end close

Ledger accounting

Internal controls

Financial reporting

Auditing support

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Job description

Summary

When people look for the best faith-formation resources, they turn to Ascension. The Controller ensures the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of Ascension's accounting records and financial reporting that support this mission.

Reporting to the Director of Finance & Accounting, the Controller serves as Ascension's senior technical accounting resource, responsible for the general ledger, monthly close, reconciliations, and financial statement preparation. The Controller also supports accounts payable, accounts receivable, royalties, banking operations, internal controls, and improvements to accounting systems and processes.

Duties & Responsibilities

Accounting Operations & Financial Reporting

• Manage the monthly and annual accounting close processes, including journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, and financial statement preparation.
• Maintain the accuracy and integrity of the general ledger, ensuring proper account balances, classifications, and alignment with supporting subledgers.
• Prepare and review financial statements, supporting schedules, and business-unit financial reporting in accordance with applicable income-tax basis accounting principles and GAAP requirements.
• Perform and review accounting activities, including inventory, cost of goods sold, royalties, revenue recognition, capitalized project work, fixed assets, and prepaid expenses.
• Review accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash application, and collections activities, resolving discrepancies and ensuring accurate financial records.
• Prepare supporting schedules and documentation for external financial statement reviews, tax filings, and other compliance requirements.

Royalties, Banking & Internal Controls

• Manage royalty accounting, including applying contract terms, reconciling sales data and royalty liabilities, tracking advances and stipends, preparing statements, and coordinating payments.
• Support banking operations, including authorized payment processing, bank reconciliations, vendor banking records, and resolution of transaction discrepancies, while maintaining appropriate segregation of duties.
• Apply and monitor established accounting policies and internal controls, including segregation of duties, transaction approvals, and independent verification of payment instructions.
• Review accounting transactions and supporting documentation for accuracy, completeness, and compliance with company policies.
• Identify accounting risks, control weaknesses, and reporting discrepancies, recommending corrective actions.

Accounting Systems & Process Improvement

• Serve as a technical accounting resource to the department, providing guidance on complex transactions, reconciliations, and accounting standards.
• Develop and maintain accounting procedures, documentation, and consistent workflows across accounting functions.
• Support improvements to accounting and royalty systems, reporting, automation, and workflows to increase accuracy and efficiency.
• Collaborate with the Director of Finance & Accounting on financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, and analysis.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including significant responsibility for general ledger accounting, reconciliations, financial reporting, and month-end close.
• Demonstrated experience preparing financial statements, performing reconciliations, and applying GAAP.
• CPA designation preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central preferred.
• Experience with inventory-intensive businesses, manufacturing, publishing, distribution, or subscription-based revenue models preferred.
• Occasional travel to Ascension's headquarters required.
• Exemplify and live Ascension's core values of humility, passion, and integrity.

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (401k, IRA)
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary & AD&D)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity)
• Short Term & Long Term Disability
• Training & Development
• Work From Home
• Wellness Resources