Assistant Controller

Brief Description

Job title

Assistant Controller

Reports to

Chief Financial Officer

Department

Accounting

FLSA Status

Full-Time, Exempt

Position Summary

The Assistant Controller is a member of the FSA’s Accounting and Finance team, reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer and works in conjunction with the Accounting Managers to plan and direct the accounting functions and operations of the organization. This position is responsible for supporting the accuracy, integrity, and compliance of the organization’s financial operations.

Under the direction of the CFO, they assist with the day-to-day accounting and financial oversight functions of the FSA and its fiscal responsibilities to the university. Day to day responsibilities include direct involvement in accounting functions including general ledger postings, preparation and review of internal financial statements, preparation and review of account reconciliations and other fund related financial matters. This role backs up both of the Accounting Managers in the department and works to maintain and strengthen internal control systems, provides analytical and operational support to advance the organizations strategic objectives, and takes a lead role in project management and implementation for accounting as well as organizational projects that intersect with accounting.

Additional responsibilities include oversight of administrative, financial, and risk management operations including development of standards, policies, and processes for proper financial management of the organization. This role is expected to have excellent leadership and communication skills and must have the ability to operate independently and be able to effectively implement change.

Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position which requires a minimum of 45 hours per week and additional hours during peak periods of business and month end closings. Scheduled shifts typically are Monday through Friday 8am-5pm and occasional Saturdays when month end and year end closings/audit are due.

Essential Functions

• Assist the CFO in providing comprehensive financial updates to senior management by evaluating, analyzing, and reporting various data points. Assists with establishing financial and operational benchmarks, budgets, and reporting standards.
• Assisting the department in maintaining a documented system of accounting policies and procedures; oversight of a system of internal controls and guidelines for accounting transactions to minimize risk
• Assists with oversight of the Faculty Student Associations accounting processes including backing up to the account managers and members of the accounting team. This includes supporting the fiscal agency functions for the Student Governments on campus and the UB Card office functions as they relate to accounting and finance. Duties in these roles includes oversight of accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger functions, proper reconciliation of accounts and maintenance of accurate financial records.
• Supports the month end and year end closing processes and detailed reporting procedures
• Change management. The ability to support the roll out new processes, procedures, systems and effectively implement change. This role helps to develop and support short as well as long term operational strategies and will be directly involved in leading and managing projects as they relate to accounting and financial needs of the organization.
• Assists in system implementations, process improvements, and documentation of accounting policies, procedures, and instructions (budgeting software, system integrations and implementations)
• Maintains and works to improve internal controls to safeguard company assets
• Supports the year-end audit, internal audit, and relationships with internal and external auditors and the University at Buffalo
• Direct oversight and responsibility of the organizations capital request and budgeting processes and procedures
• Collaboration across departments to ensure transparency and understanding of financial processes and to optimize financial processes and decision making
• Collaborate with the operations, accounting, human resource, legal, tax, IT, and treasury functions and departments within the organization
• Assists with annual preparation of the Form 990
• Assists with annual preparation of Form 5500’s for all employee benefits plans
• Assists with reporting financial results to the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and external contacts
• Ensure the company complies with all legal and regulatory requirements
• Other financial and accounting functions as required.
  
  
  

Education and Training

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field
  
  
  

Desired Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible financial experience for a major company or division of a large corporation
• Experience partnering with an executive team and a high level of written and oral communication skills required
• Advanced knowledge of finance policies, practices and systems
• Advanced knowledge and understanding of internal control practices and their impact on protecting FSA resources
• Experience with not-for-profit accounting, budgeting experience preferred
• Ability to present complex financial related information in a clear and concise manner, both in writing and verbally
• In-depth ability to use multiple spreadsheet and database software tools to gather information for specialized, complex financial analysis, fiscal management and financial reports
• Demonstrated ability to interact and communicate effectively and professionally using tact and diplomacy, both orally and in writing, with faculty, staff, students, administrative officials, and the community at large regarding policy, procedures, human resource, financial and operational issues
• Strong attention to detail and analytical skills
• Excellent organization and time management skills
• Preferred experience with system implementations, project management, system integrations
  
  
  

Work Environment

This position operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, photocopies, phones, filing cabinets, fax machines etc.

Physical and Mental Demands

• The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
• The employee must frequently lift and or move up to 10 lbs. and occasionally lift and or move up to 25 lbs.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus
• While performing the duties of the job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear
• The position requires manual dexterity; auditory and visual skills; and the ability to follow written and oral instructions and procedures
  
  
  

Travel

Limited, may travel for conferences

Campus Dining and Shops is committed to ensuring equal employment opportunities without regard to an individual's race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability, gender, pregnancy, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, predisposing genetic characteristics, marital status, familial status, veteran status, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction status. Employees, students, applicants or other members of the University community (including but not limited to vendors, visitors, and guests) may not be subjected to harassment that is prohibited by law or treated adversely based upon a protected characteristic. Campus Dining and Shops policy is in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination and harassment. These laws include the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as Amended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972, and the New York State Human Rights Law. These laws prohibit discrimination and harassment, including sexual harassment and sexual violence.

Summary

This position is a salary exempt role, the anticipated minimum range for yearly compensation for the position is $80,000 and the maximum is $95,000. The advertised pay range represents what we believe at the time of this job posting, that we would be willing to pay for this position. Only in special circumstances, where a candidate has education, training, or experience that far exceeds the requirements for the position, would we consider paying higher than the stated range