Senior Director, Controller

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By joining the National Student Clearinghouse, you can be sure that the work you do now will help shape the future of education and the workforce in the U.S. As the trusted source for higher education data since 1993, the Clearinghouse is the leading provider of transcript and data exchange services, automated enrollment and degree verifications, learner insights and research, and compliance solutions for schools, businesses, and learners nationwide. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Clearinghouse works with nearly 3,600 postsecondary institutions to meet their compliance needs and with thousands of high schools and districts to provide continuing collegiate enrollment, progression, and completion statistics about their alumni. In addition, the Research Center publications inform policymakers and business leaders about student educational pathways. Using our unique combination of data, analytics, and software to drive our mission, security and privacy is paramount. Join us as we continue to invest in our talent and new advanced technologies to unlock the power of data on behalf of all learners.

About the Role

The Senior Director, Controller serves as the organization's principal accounting officer, reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer and acting as the senior accounting and financial reporting leader for NSC. This position is accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of all financial reporting, accounting operations, and transaction processing activities.

The Controller leads a team of 812 accounting and transaction processing professionals and oversees the full accounting function, including financial close, billing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, fixed assets, grants accounting, revenue recognition, and procurement-related transaction processing. The role also maintains primary responsibility for U.S. and Canadian federal, state, provincial, and local tax compliance, annual audit management, Form 990 preparation, and the organization's internal control environment.

As a key member of the Finance leadership team, the Controller partners closely with FP&A, Procurement, Human Resources, Technology, Legal, and program leadership to strengthen financial stewardship, operational effectiveness, and the long-term sustainability of the organization.

Currently, this is a remote-first position, and this position may be required to periodically work on-site at our office and the frequency would depend on the department/division's requirements. Therefore, candidates must either reside within a reasonable distance to commute to our office or be willing to travel to our office in Herndon, when required.

How You Contribute

Financial Accounting & Reporting

• Direct all accounting operations in accordance with U.S. GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards.
• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, targeting a 7-business-day close cycle.
• Ensure accurate preparation of internal and external financial statements and related disclosures.
• Oversee account reconciliations, journal entries, and general ledger activities.
• Develop, document, and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Provide financial analysis and reporting to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Ensure proper accounting treatment of grants, contributions, contracts, subscriptions, and service revenue.
• Interpret and communicate financial operating results to NSC leaders in a timely and accessible manner.

Transaction Processing Operations

• Direct billing processes to ensure timely and accurate invoices are provided to customers
• Direct accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, employee expense reimbursement, and cash application functions.
• Establish service-level standards and performance metrics for transaction processing activities.
• Ensure timely processing of vendor payments, customer invoicing, collections, and payroll.
• Develop and implement the organization's cash management and payment processing strategy.
• Drive continuous improvement and automation initiatives to increase efficiency and accuracy.
• Oversee financial systems and workflows supporting transaction processing, including procurement-to-pay and order-to-cash processes.

Internal Controls & Compliance

• Maintain a strong internal control environment, including robust segregation of duties.
• Ensure compliance with nonprofit regulations, U.S. federal grant requirements, and applicable U.S. and Canadian state/provincial regulations.
• Oversee documentation and periodic testing of key financial controls.
• Monitor compliance with organizational policies and delegated authority requirements.
• Coordinate responses to audit findings and implement corrective action plans.
• Support enterprise risk management initiatives related to financial operations.

Audit & Tax Management

• Serve as the primary liaison with independent auditors for annual financial statement audits and Single Audits (where applicable).
• Coordinate preparation and review of Form 990 and other required U.S. and Canadian federal, state, and local tax filings.
• Ensure compliance with donor restrictions and grant reporting requirements.
• Oversee implementation of new accounting pronouncements and regulatory changes.
• Prepare financial information for Board meetings, annual budget cycles, and ad hoc audit requirements.

Cash Management & Treasury Accounting

• Oversee accounting for cash, investments, debt, and liquidity activities.
• Ensure accurate recording and reconciliation of banking transactions, including U.S. and Canadian accounts.
• Partner with treasury and finance leadership to support cash flow forecasting and liquidity management.
• Monitor compliance with banking covenants and investment policies.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing accounting and transaction processing team of 812 professionals.
• Establish departmental goals aligned with organizational objectives and promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional development.
• Build a team-based environment that reflects NSC's values customer focus, open and authentic communication, effective collaboration, and optimized work processes.
• Effectively manage critical third-party organizations that provide support or service to the accounting function (e.g. software providers, auditors, staffing organizations, etc.)
• Recruit and develop top accounting talent; support succession planning and advancement within the team.
• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with FP&A, Procurement, Human Resources, Technology, Legal, and operational leaders.
• Coach and mentor staff on both technical competencies and professional growth, including formal and informal feedback and annual performance reviews.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Lead optimization of ERP, accounting, and financial reporting systems used at NSC.
• Champion implementation of automation, workflow, and reporting tools to reduce manual processes.
• Drive efficiency gains in financial close, reconciliations, and reporting workflows.
• Champion data governance and financial data quality initiatives.
• Evaluate and implement best practices in nonprofit financial operations; move beyond the status quo and encourage innovative thinking within the team.
• Actively seek cost-effective solutions that reduce costs and optimize results across the finance function.

Workforce Management:

• Demonstrate the management and senior leadership competencies:
  • Management Competencies : Making Complex Decisions, Being Flexible and Adaptive, Build Collaborative Relationships, Focusing on Performance, and Optimizing Diverse Talent.
  • Senior Leadership Competencies : Balances Stakeholders, Cultivates Innovation, Drives Vision and Purpose, Strategic Mindset, and Understanding the Business.
• Build a team-based environment that aligns with company values, ways of working, and competencies.
• Ensure employees comply with company policies, procedures and regulations, while meeting established goals.
• Recruit and select the best talent to help optimize skills and experiences.
• Motivate and manage staff to maximize productivity and efficiency.
• Provide direction to team members, including feedback to support personal and career development and ongoing improvement.
• Develop and manage career development and advancement and define and monitor training and development plans to support job and career satisfaction.
• Coach, mentor, and ensure staff are adequately trained and provide guidance, as needed.
• Monitor and provide feedback on performance including annual reviews, rewards, and compensation structure.
• Reward employees using formal and informal methods.

Position may be required to perform other duties as required.

These essential functions are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

What You Bring to the Table

• Bachelor