Controller

Suffolk County Community College is an open admissions institution committed to serving a diverse student population in a variety of degree and career programs. It is the largest community college in the State University of New York (SUNY) system, enrolling more than 20,000 students at its three campuses in Selden, Brentwood, and Riverhead, as well as a Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center in Riverhead. Suffolk County Community College is seeking a skilled financial leader to serve as Controller. This position reports to the Vice President for Business and Financial Affairs and assists in overseeing an annual operating budget of approximately $215 million and is responsible for the general accounting, financial reporting, capital accounting, student financial services, and internal controls of the college. Key Responsibilities include: Assists the VP in the oversight of all accounting procedures, record keeping, and compliance with laws and regulations of the State of New York as well as Suffolk County. Responsible for analyzing and implementing internal financial controls and procedures. Ensures compliance with various legal requirements at the college, state and federal levels. Maintains integrity of financial data. Establishes internal financial controls for the College; reviews internal financial control procedures on a periodic basis and directs transaction audits of internal areas as needed. Ensures that all college financial transactions and financial reporting are performed in accordance with rules, mandates, regulations, fiscal policies, statutes, and generally accepted accounting principles as set forth by the College Board of Trustees, NYS, SUNY, US Department of Education, GASB, Federal circulars, and the US government. Coordinates annual external audit and audits by other entities of college’s official records, ledgers, and accounts. Reviews auditor’s recommendation and makes appropriate procedure or system changes. Collaborates with a variety of internal stakeholders to identify key internal business intelligence and lead improvements in business processes. Collaborates with appropriate College staff to ensure accuracy, security and integrity of college’s financial ERP systems and data. Assists in the implementation and management of a financial system that incorporates and adheres to recommendations issued by State Education Law and/or governmental agencies having reporting jurisdiction over this aspect of the college’s functions. Coordinates and provides guidance to the campus Business Officers to assure compliance with college budgetary and financial policies/procedures. Promotes an environment of customer service, ensuring quality financial support in all areas of financial service for all customers, including campus departmental personnel, students, vendors, and other external customers. Maintains appropriate knowledge and ensures the implementation of regulations, audit standards, and financial reporting requirements to ensure compliance. Implements, maintains, and supervises fixed asset accounting, including developing and maintaining the process for inventory control and reporting, and development and oversight of internal fixed asset procedures. Directs periodic physical counts of fixed assets and directs determination of depreciation rates to apply. Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned. The ideal candidate should possess demonstrated leadership and strong interpersonal communication skills, as well as demonstrated strategic financial policy development experience in a complex institution; the ability to lead a high performing team and experience working with a diverse employee population; excellent analytical skills with effective business acumen. Strong verbal and written communication skills. A history of identifying and implementing changes to improve the organization. Reputation of integrity, high ethical standards, sound judgement, enthusiasm, and creativity. Ability to work collaboratively with various internal and external stakeholders. Proven managerial experience and experience as a team leader. Knowledge of technology related to accounting, financial reporting, budgeting and treasury management. Minimum Requirements: A Bachelor’s degree in Accounting with a minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in a complex accounting and financial management department. Preferred Qualifications: NYS CPA license. Experience in public accounting or governmental auditing, experience in a higher education multi-campus and/or in a municipal finance department. Experience working with Banner or similar integrated enterprise systems for financial reporting. J-18808-Ljbffr