Chief Accounting Officer and Controller - Financial Services

TITLE

Chief Accounting Officer and Controller

JOB SUMMARY

Performs administrative work directing the Accounting Services department. Responsibilities include managing the university's financial accounts and records, preparing annual financial statements, grant accounting, endowment funds and treasury. The Controller maintains thorough knowledge of regulatory requirements, University policies, and accounting guidelines to ensure compliance with reporting requirements at the federal, state and local levels. Work is performed under general supervision and performance evaluation is based upon completion of assignments and results obtained. The performance evaluation is conducted through the performance evaluation system and in accordance with the University Policies & Procedures.

ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Reports to: Associate Vice President, Financial Services

Supervises: Assistant Controller (2); Accountant II (2), Senior Manager of Accounting, Treasury Analyst; Director of Payment Services

ESSENTIAL DUTIES - May include, but not limited to the following:

• Directs day to day accounting activities, including account receivables, investments, grant and gift accounting, reconciliations, and monthly closing.
• Directs day to day financial reporting activities. Timely and accurate preparation of various financial reports, including the Annual Financial Report, interim quarterly reports for the Board of Regents, grant related financial reports, and all other financial reports required for compliance with regulations of federal, state and local agencies.
• Oversees the accounting and financial reporting for the Collegiate Housing Foundation project and the TWU Foundation accounting contract.
• Establishes and monitors procedures, processes, and systems to support finance functions and strong internal controls over financial and business operations.
• Manages compliance with external reporting requirements, such as accounting standards; state and federal tax laws; grant requirements; debt compliance; U.S. Department of Education requirements; and accreditation requirements.
• Provides high quality customer service to both internal and external customer groups.
• Serve as a lead strategic partner across the University through collaboration with institutional and external stakeholders.
• Lead a team through supervision, training, mentoring and providing developmental opportunities.
• Institute and maintain internal control procedures ensuring the integrity of financial information, accountability and fraud prevention measures.
• Identify and support opportunities to improve service delivery, customer support, business processes and procedures, and system functionality. This includes directing and implementing needed changes.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES

• Prepares special projects as assigned by the Associate Vice President, Financial Services.
• Performs other duties as requested.

EDUCATION

Bachelor's degree required. Master's degree preferred.

EXPERIENCE

Five years progressively responsible experience in a relevant field with experience in fund accounting and five years of supervisory/management experience.

REQUIREMENT

Regular and reliable attendance at the University during regular scheduled days and work hours is an essential function of this position.

All employees share the responsibility of maintaining information security and privacy requirements within the university by adhering to Federal and State regulations, and TWU Policies & Procedures. CPA certification required.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES - The following are essential:

• Thorough knowledge of accounting principles and methods, particularly those espoused by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), and preferably with an emphasis in college or university financial reporting.
• Knowledge of federal and state laws and regulations, university policies and banking practices and procedures applicable to payment services.
• Knowledge of proper accounting reconciliation procedures and applicable state and federal laws.
• Ability to communicate including strong written and verbal communication that is clear, concise, timely and effectively communicates issues while offering effective resolution.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described in the Essential Duties and below is representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential duties of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential duties.

The employee may be required to travel.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

All employees are responsible for maintaining an environment that is free from discrimination, intimidation, harassment, including sexual harassment. Work is normally performed in a typical interior work environment.

SAFETY

TWU promotes a safe working environment. Employees are responsible for completing assigned tasks safely and efficiently, and supervisors are responsible for creating and maintaining a safe work environment. Employees must report any unsafe work conditions or practices, as well as any near-miss incidents, to their supervisor and Risk Management. Supervisors and employees should ensure that injury/accident reports are submitted to the Office of Human Resources and Risk Management within 24 hours of the incident.

The job description does not constitute an employment agreement between the employer and employee and is subject to change by the employer as the needs of the employer and requirements of the job change.

Texas Woman's University strives to provide an educational environment that affirms the rights and dignity of each individual, fosters diversity, and encourages a respect for the differences among persons. Discrimination or harassment of any kind is considered inappropriate.

Texas Woman's University is committed to equal opportunity in employment and education and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, age, veteran's status, or against qualified disabled persons.

All positions at Texas Woman's University are deemed security sensitive requiring background checks.

If you are a male between the age of 18 and 25, federal law requires that you must be registered with the U.S. Selective Service System, unless you meet certain exemptions under Selective Service law. Under HB 558, enacted by the 76th Texas State Legislature, if you are currently of the age and gender requiring registration with Selective Service, but knowingly and willfully fail to do so, you are ineligible for employment with an agency in any branch of Texas state government. For additional information regarding registration or status, you can contact the Selective Service System at 847-688-6888 or www.sss.gov.