Interim Controller for Higher Education Finance

Ferrilli; New Jersey; On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Ferrilli is seeking an Interim Controller to provide temporary leadership and oversight of finance and accounting operations for colleges and universities on-site in Davenport, IA. The role requires deep knowledge of higher education accounting, reporting, compliance, and business office operations.

You will oversee general accounting, payroll, purchasing, grants management, and month-end close, while ensuring strong internal controls and timely financial reporting to leadership and auditors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field required.
• CPA, MBA, or other relevant professional credential preferred.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in higher education finance, accounting, or business office leadership.
• Strong knowledge of accrual accounting, financial reporting, budgeting, forecasting, grants management, audit preparation, compliance, and internal controls.
• Experience leading teams and supervising finance or business office personnel.

Responsibilities

• Provide interim leadership and daily oversight of college finance and accounting operations.
• Manage or support general accounting, payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, purchasing, grants management, cash management, fixed assets, and related financial activities.
• Lead month-end and year-end closing processes, including general ledger reconciliations, journal entry review, account analysis, and financial statement preparation.
• Prepare and review budgets, forecasts, variance analyses, financial reports, and management presentations.
• Provide accurate and timely financial information to institutional leadership, governing boards, auditors, and external agencies.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, regulatory, grant, tax, audit, and institutional requirements.
• Evaluate and strengthen internal controls to safeguard institutional assets and reduce financial and operational risk.
• Partner with external auditors and institutional stakeholders to support audit preparation, fieldwork, findings resolution, and ongoing compliance.
• Advise institutional leadership regarding financial policies, accounting procedures, cash flow, financial risks, and strategic initiatives.
• Assess finance operations and recommend improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, accountability, and transparency.
• Support Ellucian Colleague Finance functions related to general ledger, budgeting, purchasing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, grants, and financial reporting.

Skills

Finance leadership

Accounting

Budgeting

Financial reporting

Internal controls

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CPA/MBA preferred

Tools

Ellucian Colleague Finance

Job description

Ferrilli is seeking an Interim Controller to provide temporary leadership and oversight of finance and accounting operations for colleges and universities on-site in Davenport, IA. The role requires deep knowledge of higher education accounting, reporting, compliance, and business office operations.

You will oversee general accounting, payroll, purchasing, grants management, and month-end close, while ensuring strong internal controls and timely financial reporting to leadership and auditors.