Financial Controller (San Francisco)

About California Institute of Integral Studies

California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS) is an internationally recognized university and leader in integral education. CIIS strives to embody spirit, intellect, and wisdom in service of individuals, communities, and the earth. With over 1900 students, CIIS offers Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph. D programs in its schools of Consciousness and Transformation, Professional Psychology and Health, and Undergraduate Studies. The University also provides low-cost mental health services to the San Francisco Bay Area through its 6 award-winning community counseling clinics. CIIS is accredited by the Western Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC).

Position Summary

The Controller serves as the Director of the Accounting and Control Department, is the senior-most accountant, and ensures compliance with all applicable college, state, and federal regulations and policies. Reporting to the CFO, Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Controller is responsible for organizing, directing, and evaluating a wide variety of financial activities, including the planning and development of the University’s accounting and financial control and for the overall control of the general ledger, financial reporting, and treasury management.

The position establishes and carries out the mission statement of the CIIS’ Accounting and Control Office; formulates goals and objectives for the department in accordance with the overall mission and goals of the University. The position also establishes the financial policies and standards; directs and oversees the operations of the Finance and Administration offices, unrestricted accounting, finance systems management, payroll, restricted accounting, accounts payable, plant accounting, working capital investments, and accounts receivable; and participates in the development & management of university-wide and its departmental budgets.

The position works and collaborates with all functional areas and academic programs, internal and external key-stakeholders, including but not limited to students, employees, Board of Trustees, executive leadership, department chairs, directors, and budget managers, external auditors, accountants, and other advisory or vendor relationships. The Controller is a strong contributor to and leads the day-to-day accounting operation, develops policies, and works to improve procedures and internal control.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Controls CIIS financial policies and transactional standards, ensuring consistency with the CIIS’s mission and strategic plans and compliance with Board of Trustee’s policies, State and Federal fiscal management laws and regulations, and generally accepted accounting standards.
• Works closely with the CFO on the identification and resolution of strategic financial issues with current or potential impact on CIIS as an enterprise, including advising on the financial condition of institutional funds and accounts and on appropriate fiscal procedures.
• Works closely with the Finance Manager in the process of budget development and revision; participates in all budget discussions at the Institute Planning & Budget Committee and Board of Trustees meetings; monitors the budget and prepares monthly status and variance reports, including enrollment and all tuition and non-tuition revenue projections.
• Administers the general ledger and accounting system for all funds which fulfills internal and external information and reporting requirements and complies with GAAP, GASB, WASC, and NACUBO guidelines.
• Oversees internal and external audits and preparation of all audit reports, ensuring timely and accurate completion within expected timelines. Prepares IRS Form 990 Information Return in a timely manner.
• Analyzes the income and expenses of CIIS and auxiliary operations, clinics, and public programs, including directing Departments, Clinics, Auxiliaries and Public Programs on good cash handling and internal control practices.
• Reviews and analyzes major contractual obligations, contracts, grants, and awards of the institution to ensure consistency with overall financial goals, objectives, and plans, and compliance with CIIS financial policies, procedures, and standards, including the oversight of all compliance reporting requirements with banks, lenders, third parties.
• Leads the monthly, quarterly, and year-end accounting reconciliations and closes, including reconciliation of financial statements, bank accounts, and other financial reporting, assuring the accuracy and compliance of all activities and reports.
• Compiles data and prepares reports, statements, studies, and analyses as required or requested and in a timely manner.
• Maintains an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish the department's overall goals and objectives; directs and oversees the hiring, development, management, and evaluation of department staff.
• Provides leadership and direction by supervising the accounting, payroll, budgeting and student accounts staff, including establishing goals and objectives, Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and Key Performance Drivers (KPD).
• Keeps and manages a department calendar of required reporting activity.
• Oversees treasury/credit/cash management. Manages banking relationships, institutional credit lines, and the processing of credit card transactions.
• Produces weekly cashflow reports and monthly cash forecasts.
• Oversees daily bank balances and monthly cash flow statements.
• Supervises the spending allocation and drawdowns from the University's endowment and restricted funds, ensuring proper accounting, compliance with donor intent, and alignment with the IPS.
• Reviews monthly investment performance reports, liquidity summaries, and investment reconciliations.
• Manages compliance reporting related to institutional financial health, including the Composite Financial Index (CFI).
• Maintains an up-to-date knowledge of University operating systems, and many other third party or bank reporting systems.
• Performs other duties as needed or required.

Required Qualifications and/or Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Accounting, or Finance required, Master's degree a plus.
• Accounting designation (CPA or CMA) a plus.
• 5+ years of accounting experience at the Controller level, higher education and/or non-profit experience helpful but not required.
• Excellent communication and organizational skills.
• Myopically detail oriented and results driven.
• Excellent understanding of enterprise database systems and other financial systems.
• Knowledge of an ERP such as Ellucian Colleague and Argos highly desirable.
• Knowledge of Commercial Bank services and information reporting systems highly desirable.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel, including pivot table and charting functions is required.

Ability To

• Perform and communicate in a highly professional and effective manner in a rapidly changing environment.
• Hold the utmost, highest degree of confidentiality, discretion, and discernment while providing transparency to CFO.
• Exercise initiative, judgment, and problem-solving skills to complete work, take responsibility and make decisions based on solid analysis and interpretation.
• Relate in a multicultural environment that values the diversity of its student body and workforce and actively promotes equity and inclusion.
• Interact effectively and efficiently with a broad spectrum of internal and external constituents, and work effectively with university employees, faculty, students, and the general public in a collegial, cooperative, and respectful manner.
• Maintain effective working relationships within the Division and office as well as with other University divisions.
• Coordinate, delegate, and implement assignments to meet deadlines.
• Thrive in a high-functioning, fast paced organization.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook), Office 365 (Teams, OneDrive, etc.), and Adobe.
• Problem-solving skills are required in discerning when and how to re-route or solve issues that can be handled at a lower level first and knowing when issues need the immediate attention of the CFO/Vice President.

Salary and Benefits

Salary up to $165,000 with comprehensive benefits.

Background Check

Due to the sensitivity and requirements of this position, you should expect to undergo and be cleared of an employment background/criminal check if extended an offer for employment. You may also be asked to provide proof of educational degree(s), licenses, or credentials pertinent to the position.

Contact

This retained search is managed by Mary Law Executive Search, the Bay Area leader in placing nonprofit and private school Finance and HR professionals.

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