Senior Controller — Nonprofit Finance & GAAP Lead

Chico State Enterprises; Chico (CA); On-site; USD 128,000 - 151,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

403(b) retirement plan

Paid holidays and vacation

Job summary

Chico State Enterprises is seeking an experienced Controller to lead the accounting function, ensure GAAP compliance, and drive accurate financial reporting for all activities including campus programs and sponsored projects. You will oversee general ledger, close processes, audits, budgets, and internal controls, partnering with executive leadership and campus partners.

Responsibilities include managing cash, investments, monthly/quarterly/annual reporting, and coordinating with external

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a closely related field.
• At least five years of progressively responsible professional accounting experience, including substantial experience with general ledger accounting, financial reporting, month/year-end close, budget development and analysis, and audit coordination.
• Prior supervisory or significant team-lead experience in an accounting or finance environment.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and demonstrated ability to research and apply accounting guidance to complex transactions.
• Experience with internal controls, account reconciliations, accounts payable and receivable, cash management, budgeting/financial analysis, and accounting for investments.
• Advanced proficiency with financial and accounting systems and Microsoft Excel; ability to work effectively with Word, Outlook, and related business applications.
• Strong analytical, organizational, interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain financial information to both financial and non-financial audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, meet firm deadlines, exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and work effectively across organizational boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee daily accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash receipts, banking activity, journal entries, account reconciliations, fixed assets, prepaid expenses, accruals, deferred revenue, and other balance-sheet accounts.
• Maintain the chart of accounts and accounting structure to support accurate reporting across CSE operations, sponsored projects, campus programs, and other activities administered by CSE.
• Ensure timely monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, including review of reconciliations, adjusting entries, supporting schedules, and financial statement accounts.
• Review complex or unusual accounting transactions and determine appropriate accounting treatment in accordance with GAAP and applicable organizational requirements.
• Ensure subsidiary systems and supporting schedules reconcile to the general ledger, and investigate and resolve discrepancies promptly.
• Prepare, review, and/or oversee accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and management reports.
• Provide financial reporting and analysis to executive leadership, the CSE Board of Directors and committees, and other stakeholders as requested.
• Support development, monitoring, and analysis of organizational budgets, forecasts, cash projections, and financial performance metrics.
• Analyze significant account variances, trends, unusual transactions, and financial risks and communicate findings and recommended corrective actions.
• Improve reporting processes so financial information is clear, consistent, useful, and appropriately supported.
• Serve as a primary accounting contact for the annual financial statement audit and coordinate schedules, supporting documentation, confirmations, and responses to auditor requests.
• Coordinate accounting support for the annual Single Audit and other federal, State, CSU, Chancellor’s Office, sponsor, or program-specific audits and reviews.
• Monitor audit findings, management recommendations, and corrective action items within the controller’s area and ensure timely remediation and documentation.
• Coordinate preparation and review of information needed for federal and State tax filings, information returns, regulatory reports, and other required financial submissions, working with external professionals as appropriate.
• Maintain audit-ready records and schedules throughout the year.
• Develop, maintain, document, and continuously improve accounting policies, standard operating procedures, and internal controls.
• Ensure appropriate segregation of duties and safeguards over cash receipts, disbursements, banking, purchasing and payment processes, accounting records, and financial system access.
• Assess accounting and financial-control risks and recommend practical controls that balance compliance, efficiency, and operational needs.
• Ensure accounting practices align with applicable GAAP, federal and State requirements, CSU/Chancellor’s Office guidance applicable to auxiliary organizations, CSE agreements, and internal policies.
• Partner with management to respond to internal or external compliance reviews and implement corrective actions.
• Manage and monitor organizational cash flow, banking activity, liquidity, and cash forecasting to support operational needs.
• Oversee bank reconciliations, authorized banking activity, electronic payments, positive-pay or similar fraud-prevention controls, and other treasury processes.
• Account for invested assets and investment activity, including reconciliation, earnings, realized and unrealized activity, and financial statement presentation.
• Coordinate with authorized banking and investment partners and provide management with information regarding cash and investment positions.
• Partner with Sponsored Programs leadership and staff to ensure sponsored-project accounting is appropriately integrated with CSE’s general ledger and financial reporting.
• Provide accounting oversight for grant and contract transactions involving revenue recognition, receivables, cash receipts, cost transfers, indirect cost recovery, and subrecipient or vendor payments.
• Support compliance with sponsor financial-reporting requirements and assist in resolving accounting issues identified through grant, contract, or Single Audit reviews.
• Provide accounting support for CSE-administered campus programs and other auxiliary activities, recognizing the differing reporting and compliance requirements of those activities.
• Provide functional leadership for accounting and financial systems, including system controls, workflow design, reporting, and data integrity.
• Identify opportunities to automate manual processes, reduce reliance on manual recordkeeping with spreadsheets, strengthen system-based controls, and improve timeliness and accuracy.
• Participate in implementation, testing, upgrades, and optimization of financial systems and related integrations.
• Develop standardized reconciliations, close checklists, reporting calendars, and other tools that create consistent and sustainable accounting practices.
• Direct, supervise, coach, and develop accounting personnel and establish clear expectations, priorities, deadlines, and accountability.
• Partner with Finance & Accounting leadership to maintain an organizational structure and staffing model appropriate to departmental goals and responsibilities.
• Ensure appropriate cross-training, written procedures, and backup coverage for critical accounting functions.
• Promote a professional, service-oriented, collaborative, inclusive, and supportive work environment with strong internal communication.
• Partner with leadership on staffing, succession planning, recruitment, training, performance management, and retention within Finance & Accounting.
• Provide accounting guidance and training to CSE employees, project administrators, and other stakeholders as appropriate.

Job description

Chico State Enterprises is seeking an experienced Controller to lead the accounting function, ensure GAAP compliance, and drive accurate financial reporting for all activities including campus programs and sponsored projects. You will oversee general ledger, close processes, audits, budgets, and internal controls, partnering with executive leadership and campus partners.

Responsibilities include managing cash, investments, monthly/quarterly/annual reporting, and coordinating with external