Strategic Controller & Treasury Leader

Barnard; New York (NY); On-site; USD 240,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

Barnard College in New York, NY seeks a Controller & Assistant Treasurer to lead accounting operations, financial reporting, and treasury functions, ensuring GAAP compliance and accurate disclosures. Reporting to the VP for Finance and CFO, the role oversees teams, partners with campus departments, and drives process improvements, automation, and data integrity, while supporting financial transparency.

The successful candidate will bring extensive leadership, CPA credentials, and a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• CPA designation required.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible accounting and financial leadership experience.
• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, healthcare or similarly complex institutional environments.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, and internal controls.
• Experience leading financial statement audits and managing complex accounting operations.
• Experience with nonprofit accounting, restricted funds, endowment accounting and sponsored programs administration.
• Experience with Workday or other enterprise financial systems.
• Demonstrated experience supervising and developing professional staff.
• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively across departments.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet critical deadlines.
• Ability to communicate complex financial and accounting matters clearly to a broad range of financial and non-financial stakeholders.
• Experience operating effectively within complex and decentralized organizations.

Responsibilities

• Manage the College’s general accounting, financial reporting, treasury, and compliance functions.
• Ensure that financial reporting, reconciliations, and account analyses are completed accurately and on a timely basis.
• Lead the preparation of the College’s audited financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with GAAP.
• Review accounting treatment for complex or non-routine transactions and ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards.
• Coordinate the monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes.
• Oversee institutional tax compliance activities, including Forms 990, 990-T, and other required filings.
• Serve as a primary liaison with external auditors, financial advisors, rating agencies, banks, and regulatory agencies.
• Oversee treasury operations, cash management activities, liquidity monitoring, debt compliance reporting, banking relationships, and balance sheet reconciliations.
• Support financing activities, including coordination related to debt issuances, covenant compliance, and external financial reporting requirements.
• Support accounting and reporting for gifts, endowment activity, and sponsored projects.
• Partner with Finance and Information Technology staff to support Workday Finance operations, optimize financial systems and reporting capabilities, strengthen data integrity, and implement process improvements and automation initiatives.
• Develop, document, and maintain financial policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen financial operations, improve reporting processes, and enhance operational efficiency.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop accounting and financial operations staff.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and service excellence within the Finance organization.
• Support financial reporting and presentations for senior leadership and the Board of Trustees.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

CPA designation

Tools

Workday

Job description

Barnard College in New York, NY seeks a Controller & Assistant Treasurer to lead accounting operations, financial reporting, and treasury functions, ensuring GAAP compliance and accurate disclosures. Reporting to the VP for Finance and CFO, the role oversees teams, partners with campus departments, and drives process improvements, automation, and data integrity, while supporting financial transparency.

The successful candidate will bring extensive leadership, CPA credentials, and a