Director of Disbursements

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Posting Summary: The Office of Disbursements at Teachers College, Columbia University (the College) is seeking a Director of Disbursements.

Job Summary/Basic Function: Reporting to the Associate Vice President & Controller, the Director of Disbursements will be responsible for managing, leading, and overseeing the Accounts Payable and in-house Payroll functions. This key role is tasked with ensuring standards, regulations, and requirements are met, accurate and timely payments to all suppliers and employees, maintaining accurate records, internal and external reporting, providing quality service and tax compliance management and reporting.

The Director leads a team focused on performing financial-related activities, including full cycle issuance and processing of multiple payrolls for various employee types each month, full scope accounts payable functions comprising vendor payments and the College's employee e-expense program, and recurring tax compliance and reporting responsibilities. The Director will serve as a lead strategic partner across the College through collaboration with institutional and external stakeholders and is responsible for driving transformation and change management initiatives and ensuring successful implementation. The Director will lead a team of seven employees through supervision, training, mentoring, and providing developmental opportunities and for hiring and retaining qualified individuals. Characteristic Duties & Responsibilities: Operations, Accounting, Compliance and Reporting:

• Direct, manage, and oversee day-to-day business process activities and operations over the accounts payable, payroll and time and attendance functions and travel and expense program
• Responsible for oversight and management of tax compliance within the disbursement area, including recurring tax filings and multi-state reporting (W-2, 1099, 1042s, 941, 945, and other related compliance reporting)
• Assist with both internal and external audits to ensure complete, timely, and accurate supporting documentation and responses to information requests are provided
• Research, evaluate, and implement methods, practices, and standards established by regulatory agencies and lead industry associations to ensure an effective internal control environment and compliance with laws and regulations
• 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 and direct and implement changes
• Develop useful measures and metrics to assess and understand department service levels, department and individual performance levels, customer satisfaction, and other information necessary to continuously improve the quality and efficiency of service

Stakeholder Collaboration:

• Serve as a strategic leader, partner, and a point of escalation in a collaborative and cross-functional environment, providing expertise, guidance, and solutions relating to Accounts Payable and Payroll matters to both internal and external stakeholders in order to achieve organizational goals
• In partnership with the College's IT and Human Resource departments, continuously monitor and review existing technology solutions, ensuring applicability, usefulness, operational effectiveness, and efficiency, and serve as the lead support for system and software enhancements, upgrades, and implementations within the cross-functional areas

Team Leadership and Development:

• Develop plans for coaching, mentoring, and training team members to achieve and maintain operational requirements, meet goals, and ensure the continuation of high levels of performance
• Set performance goals, conduct performance evaluations, and provide ongoing feedback and coaching
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement
• Other duties and tasks as assigned

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 7-10 years of recent experience in Payroll and/or Accounts Payable functions
• 5-7 years of management and leadership experience
• Advanced understanding of Federal, Multi-State, and Local regulations and requirements
• Strong knowledge of disbursement processes, financial controls, and compliance requirements
• Familiarity with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems
• Experience designing new business processes and integrating existing or new technology across the accounts payable and payroll functions
• Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent and demonstrated focus on customer service
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Outstanding verbal & written communication skills
• Ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced, and highly ambitious work environment

Preferred Qualifications:

• Payroll/Accounts Payable Certifications (CPP/CAPP)
• Higher education and/or not-for-profit experience
• Experience with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and related system evaluations, upgrades, and implementations
• Ellucian Banner ERP knowledge and experience

Salary Range:

$150K-$165K

Competitive Compensation and Benefits The salary range reflects the College's good faith and reasonable estimate of the compensation for the position at the time of the job posting. Salary decisions are dependent on several factors including but not limited to market and organizational considerations, experience, and qualifications of a selected candidate as well as internal and external equity. Our benefits contribute significantly to the total compensation package that includes medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance plans; flexible and hybrid work schedules; tuition remission; life insurance; short and long-term disability insurance; an exceptional employer retirement matching program; health savings accounts (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), Public Service Loan Forgiveness eligibility, and a robust Employee Assistance Program (EAP). If you would like to request any disability-related accommodations to complete the job application or to participate in the interview process, please email:View email address on us.fitly.work. columbia.edu . Hybrid/Remote Teachers College maintains a hybrid work environment, which provides employees with flexible work arrangements while ensuring we preserve the important aspects of our unique in-person college-campus culture. Depending on role and business needs, colleagues will either work onsite or in a hybrid model (a combination of in-office and virtual days). Employees are expected to live within a 150-mile radius of the College.

Work Modality:

Hybrid

Equal Employment Opportunity

Teachers College is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive academic community and to providing equal opportunity in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration regardless of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or gender expression), religion, creed, national origin, age, citizenship, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other legally protected status.