SEI Controller

Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Presencial; USD 130.000 - 190.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

The SEI at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh seeks an experienced accounting and finance leader to guide the Accounting and Business Operations function. You will strengthen internal controls, oversee contract financial management, and lead a team delivering accurate, timely financial operations in a regulated environment.

You will partner with Planning & Analysis, University Accounting, and Contracts, driving process improvements and automation while building capability for the future of

Formación

• CPA-licensed professional with strong technical accounting knowledge.
• Significant progressive experience in accounting operations and internal controls.
• Experience in government contracting, FFRDC, or similarly regulated environments.
• Collaborative leader who partners with stakeholders to drive results.
• Strong communication skills and attention to detail.

Responsabilidades

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for Accounting and Business Operations.
• Strengthen internal controls and document processes.
• Coach and develop team members and support succession planning.
• Oversee contract financial management, billing, and revenue recognition.
• Oversee Accounts Payable and Travel to ensure timely service.
• Collaborate with Planning & Analysis, University Accounting, Contracts and other stakeholders.
• Identify opportunities for automation and efficiency.

Conocimientos

Accounting leadership

Controls & compliance

Cross-functional partnering

Strategic thinking

Educación

CPA license

Descripción del empleo

About the role:

Are you an experienced accounting and finance leader who thrives in a complex, highly regulated environment? Do you enjoy building strong controls, developing teams, and improving financial operations while partnering across the organization to keep work moving smoothly? Are you ready to lead a critical operational function for a mission-driven organization and help strengthen the financial foundation that supports its work? If so, we want to hear from you! As the SEI Controller at the Software Engineering Institute (SEI), you'll play a critical role in leading the Accounting and Business Operations function, strengthening internal controls, and ensuring the financial integrity of the SEI's operational accounting and contract execution processes. You'll oversee key functions including Contract Financial Management and Business Operations, while partnering closely with Planning & Analysis, University Accounting, Contracts, and other internal stakeholders to support accurate, timely, and well-controlled financial operations.

What you'll do:

• Accounting and Business Operations Leadership: Provide strategic direction and operational leadership for Accounting and Business Operations, including Contract Financial Management and Business Operations.
• Controls and Process Improvement: Strengthen internal controls, improve process documentation, and drive consistency, accuracy, and efficiency across accounting and business operations.
• Team Leadership and Development: Lead, coach, and develop team members, supporting cross-training, succession planning, and team capability to ensure continuity and growth.
• Contract Financial Oversight: Oversee the financial execution of the SEI contract, including funding administration, contract accounting, billing, receivables, cash activity, revenue recognition support, and related financial recordkeeping.
• Business Operations Oversight: Oversee core business operations functions, including Accounts Payable and Travel, ensuring timely service delivery and operational effectiveness.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Work closely with Planning & Analysis, University Accounting, Contracts, and other stakeholders to resolve issues, align financial processes, and support effective financial administration.
• Issue Resolution and Escalation: Serve as a key leader and escalation point for complex accounting, billing, receivables, payables, travel, and contract financial matters.
• Operational Excellence: Identify and implement opportunities for automation, standardization, and improved service delivery across Accounting and Business Operations.

Who you are:

• Experienced Accounting Leader: You have significant progressive experience in accounting operations, financial controls, or accounting leadership, ideally in a government contracting, FFRDC, university-affiliated research, or similarly regulated environment.
• CPA-Qualified Professional: You hold an active CPA license and bring strong technical accounting knowledge and judgment.
• Collaborative Leader: You build strong relationships across teams, providing clear direction while working effectively with stakeholders to solve problems and move work forward.
• Control-Oriented and Detail-Focused: You value accuracy, strong controls, and thoughtful process design, and you understand how to build reliable accounting and business operations.
• Strategic and Practical: You can balance day-to-day operational needs with longer-term planning, process improvement, and team development.
• Clear Communicator: You communicate effectively with staff, leadership, and partners, making complex accounting and finance topics understandable and actionable.
• Growth-Minded: You are energized by building capability, improving systems, and creating a strong foundation for the future.

Who we are:

The SEI helps advance software engineering principles and practices and serves as a national resource in software engineering, computer security, and process improvement. The SEI works closely with defense and government organizations, industry, and academia to continually improve software-intensive systems. Its core purpose is to help organizations improve software engineering capabilities and develop or acquire the right software, defect‑free, within budget and on time, every time.

Location Pittsburgh, PA

Job Function Financial Planning, Analysis, Accounting and Reporting

Position Type Staff – Regular Full time/Part time Full time

Carnegie Mellon University is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran.

Statement of Assurance: Always focused on the future, the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) advances software as a strategic advantage for national security. We lead research and direct transition of software engineering, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence technologies at the intersection of academia, industry, and government.

We serve the nation as a federally funded research and development center (FFRDC) sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) and are based at Carnegie Mellon University, a global research university annually rated among the best for its programs in computer science and engineering.

Our people apply special knowledge and skills and are part of an elite research university. We perform research and apply our expertise every day to foresee problems and exploit opportunities in software engineering, AI engineering, and cybersecurity. Quality software that is secure will control the future. At CMU SEI, we are engineering that ever‑greater software‑fueled future.

Need Help? For technical assistance, email [e-mail] or call 412-268-5072. We are committed to providing an accessible experience throughout our recruitment process. If you need assistance or a reasonable accommodation at any stage of the application, interview, or hiring process, please contact Equal Opportunity Services by email at [e-mail] or by phone at 412-268-3930.