SEI Controller - 2025152

Software Engineering Institute | Carnegie Mellon University; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Software Engineering Institute (SEI) at Carnegie Mellon University is seeking an experienced accounting and finance leader to guide Accounting and Business Operations, strengthen internal controls, and ensure financial integrity of contract execution.

As SEI Controller, you will lead the Accounting and Business Operations function, oversee Contract Financial Management and Business Operations, and partner with Planning & Analysis, University Accounting, and Contracts to support accurate,

Qualifications

• Significant progressive experience in accounting operations or leadership.
• Active CPA license with strong technical accounting knowledge.
• Collaborative leader building relationships across teams.
• Control-oriented with attention to detail and process design.
• Strategic yet practical, balancing daily needs with long-term plans.
• Clear communicator with staff, leadership, and partners.
• Growth-minded, focused on capability building and system improvements.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and operational leadership for Accounting and Business Operations, including Contract Financial Management and Business Operations.
• Strengthen internal controls and improve process documentation for consistency, accuracy, and efficiency.
• Lead, coach, and develop team members with cross-training and succession planning.
• Oversee the financial execution of the SEI contract, including funding administration, contract accounting, billing, receivables, cash activity, and related recordkeeping.
• Oversee core business operations functions, including Accounts Payable and Travel; ensure timely service delivery.
• Collaborate with Planning & Analysis, University Accounting, Contracts, and other stakeholders to align financial processes.
• Serve as escalation point for complex accounting, billing, receivables, payables, travel, and contract matters.
• Identify and implement opportunities for automation and standardization across Accounting and Business Operations.

Skills

Accounting leadership

Internal controls

Team leadership

Contract accounting

Billing & receivables

Accounts payable

Cross-functional partnership

Education

CPA license

Job description

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.