Assistant Controller

Job Description

Job Description

Assistant Controller

About Saint Elizabeth University:

Saint Elizabeth University (SEU), located in Morris County, New Jersey, offers convenient access to major highways including Routes 287, 280, 80, 10, and 24, as well as the nearby Convent Station train station. Established in 1899 by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, the University is situated on 150 scenic acres of rolling hills and wooded landscapes. Rooted in the Catholic liberal arts tradition, SEU provides a high-quality education that serves students of diverse ages, backgrounds, and cultures, fostering both academic excellence and personal growth.

SEU Mission & Commitment:

SEU is devoted to providing educational and career training opportunities to traditionally underserved communities and is characterized by small class sizes and a highly communal student-centered culture emphasizing individualized attention. SEU is a federally designated Minority-Serving and Hispanic-Serving Institution. Our traditional undergraduate population is 38 percent Black, and our total enrollment is 30 percent Hispanic, while 47 percent of our students are first-generation college students. In addition, 76 percent of our first-time freshmen are low-income students eligible for federal Pell funding; many come to us with unique challenges related to their financial, social, academic, mental, and physical health. Saint Elizabeth University seeks to foster and maintain a diverse campus community through inclusive excellence and equal opportunity. SEU has long preserved its legacy of providing quality education and access for underserved populations, particularly in fields and career paths traditionally beyond the reach of marginalized and often disenfranchised communities. In our traditional co-educational undergraduate enrollment today, women outnumber men two-to-one. SEU has a long legacy of educating women who thrive in STEM and healthcare professions and continues to produce diverse women and men as leaders equipped with a deeper appreciation of inclusion in its various forms. We strive to ensure that all graduates realize their potential through hard work and an exceptional education that is unimpeded by irrational self-doubt or societal biases.

Assistant Controller

The Assistant Controller will manage, supervise, and provide oversight for the accounting and reporting functions of the University and assist the Controller in the day-to-day operation of the Business Office.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Accounting & Financial Reporting functions:

1. Manage execution of the monthly close checklist
2. Track and review reconciliations
3. Review journal entries and accounting schedules
4. Maintain audit documentation and schedules
5. Ensure subsidiary systems reconcile to the general ledger
6. Assist auditors in the preparation of the annual 990 tax return, 1098-T, and 1099 Forms.
7. Assist with the annual audit and preparation of the year-end financial statements.
8. Develop system-generated financial reports.
9. Ensure that GAAP requirements are implemented and enforced.
10. Prepare financial information for annual reports to IPEDS, NCAA, EADA, and various departmental accreditation filings including Middle States.
11. Assist the COFO and AVP/Controller in the annual budget preparation and provide department heads with monthly budget vs. actual analysis

1. General Ledger functions :

1. Co-lead with the AVP/Controller to review the integration of subsidiary systems to Great Plains 
2. Maintain chart of accounts; adding and deleting accounts as appropriate while maintaining reporting integrity along functional category lines.
3. Open and close fiscal and reporting periods ensuring entries are booked within the proper periods.
4. Prepare and/or supervise Perkins Loans reconciliations.

1. Supervision:

1. Supervise and support the work of the Senior Accountant, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and compliance with financial policies and procedures.
2. All other duties as assigned

Salary Range: $95,000 - $105,000

Qualifications

Experience: 

Minimum of three to five years of progressively responsible accounting experience , including at least two years in a supervisory role

Education:

A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is required, preferably in accounting. A bachelor’s degree in Finance or Business Administration/Management with relevant work experience will also be considered. CPA is desirable, but not required

Must have higher education or non-profit experience

Must have advanced experience in Great Plains Accounting Software

Skills: High analytical skills, ability to multitask, prioritize, organize, and communicate effectively.

System Expert : Proficiency in complex ERP System (Workday, Banner, Great Plains, PeopleSoft, or Oracle)

Why Choose Saint Elizabeth University?

Saint Elizabeth University offers a positive work environment, dedicated leadership, faculty, and staff who are committed to excellence, and an attractive benefits and compensation package. 

  Full-time Faculty and Staff Benefits Include:

• Employer-Subsidized Health Care Plan
• Dental and Vision Plan – (Paid by employee)
• Health Savings and Flexible Spending Accounts
• 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan 
• Group Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance (No cost to employee)
• Supplemental Insurance Available for Employee, Spouse, and Dependents
• Other Voluntary Plans (Legal, Identity-Theft, Accident, Critical Care, etc.)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Tuition Remission for Employee, Spouse, and/or Dependents
• Tuition Exchange Program offering Reciprocal Scholarships Nationwide at 600+ Colleges and Universities
• Paid State and Federal holidays, as well as the week before and the week after Christmas off with pay
• Paid Days Off on Fridays in the Summer Months
• Birthday as a Paid Day Off
• Vacation Days
• Sick Days
• Employee Discount Program

How to Apply

• Applications should consist of a cover letter, resume, and three professional references with email addresses and/or telephone numbers.
• Saint Elizabeth University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer. 
• Applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. 
• Saint Elizabeth University is a designated minority serving undergraduate institution.

EEO/AA Statement:

Saint Elizabeth University is committed to fostering a community grounded in collaboration, innovation, creativity, and a strong sense of belonging. Our collective success is driven by the open and respectful exchange of ideas—an exchange that is enriched by the diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. We believe that this environment thrives when all individuals feel welcomed, safe, secure, and heard. 

In support of this commitment, Saint Elizabeth University provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, genetic information, gender identity or expression, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

Any information collected for Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) or Affirmative Action reporting purposes will be used solely in compliance with applicable regulations. Providing this information is voluntary and will not affect an applicant’s opportunity for employment or the terms and conditions of employment.