Assistant Controller, Controller’s Office

Job Description

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University is seeking a full-time Assistant Controller reporting to the Vice President and University Controller. The Assistant Controller will be a key business partner to members of the Controller’s Office, the Office of Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement and University community. This position will have one direct report and will take an active role in the month-end closing process, annual audits and tax filings to ensure the proper recording of activities. The successful applicant will have the skills necessary to develop, interpret, and implement moderate to complex financial and tax accounting concepts or techniques for financial planning, reporting, and control.

Responsibilities:

Gift Accounting

·         Accurately determine donor intent and gift purpose(s) in recording various gift activity by reviewing relevant documentation and CRM data.

·         Process gifts, pledges, matching gifts and deferred gifts in accordance with University policies, IRS regulations, GAAP, FASB, and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) guidelines.

·         Process matching gift entries and other multi-step transactions across all systems.

·         Ensure gifts are recorded to the general ledger in a timely manner including monitoring and troubleshooting daily reconciliation of Salesforce Ascend to the general ledger.

·         Maintain the gifts and endowment module including creating new gifts, maintaining all gifts and gift hierarchies, defining gift roles for approvals and reporting, and investment line types for endowment and charitable gift annuity investments.

·         Reconcile and update endowment gifts monthly for contributions and payout activity.

·         Record monthly endowment pool valuation and endowment ROI allocation to endowed gift funds.

·         Provide monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting including ad hoc analyses based on giving or constituent information.

·         Prepare pledge accounting, including present value calculations.

·         In collaboration with Philanthropy and Alumni Engagement, analyze pledge receivables for write-offs and/or collections.

·         Prepare and analyze the endowment due to/due from investment portfolio.

·         Analyze investment earnings distributed and net assets released for accuracy on the University’s statement of activities.

·         Lead initiatives to resolve complex accounting issues, improve methods and procedures, and provide timely and helpful information to users of financial information related to gifts and endowments.

·         Work with other departments and colleagues to research and resolve internal and external inquiries and recommend and implement improvements to enhance the donor experience and operational efficiency.

Tax Management

·         Oversee the preparation of the University’s, and applicable subsidiary’s, tax returns and related financial disclosures including, but not limited to, Forms 990 and 990-T, Florida Form F-1120, Arizona Form 99T and sales tax.

·         Adhere to federal and state tax compliance requirements, resolve tax notices, gather data and assist in field exams; provide tax guidance to specific departments as needed.

·         Determine appropriate tax objectives, scope, and methodology and actively participate in decisions related to tax matters with University management and other members of the Controller’s Office.

·         Propose and implement modifications to existing accounting policies and procedures that impact tax and compliance.

·         Assist with the development of tax-related communications and training for University departmental personnel to improve awareness on tax matters and financial compliance.

·         Monitor the University's tax compliance, particularly in high-risk tax areas, identify potential tax exposure due to non-compliance, assist with the recovery of taxes paid in error, if any, and facilitate process improvements to mitigate compliance gaps and weaknesses.

General

·         Provide clear direction, effective performance feedback, and actively mentor team member(s).

·         Develop and maintain all applicable policies, procedures, and processes as well as train and communicate changes to all relevant parties.

·         Ensure the organization remains at the forefront of financial management practices by effectively utilizing new features and updates in Workday Financial Management related to gift accounting:

·         Evaluate new functionalities released by Workday for their relevance and potential benefits.

·         Conduct comprehensive testing of new features to ensure they meet organizational needs and standards.

·         Collaborate with IT and finance teams to implement new functionalities seamlessly.

·         Develop and deliver training programs to educate staff on new features.

Qualifications

Qualifications:

Education

·         Bachelor’s degree in accounting or related field

·         MBA and/or CPA preferred

Required and Preferred Qualifications

·         Seven to 10 years recent relevant experience, preferably in auditing and/or nonprofit accounting.

·         Three years supervisory/management experience.

·         Demonstrated understanding of GAAP and FASB standards.

·         Demonstrated ability to manage accounting functions and processes with a hands-on approach.

·         Working knowledge of software applicable to gift accounting and tax reporting.

·         Knowledge and experience working with internal and external auditors.

·         Experience and proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.

·         Seeking expertise in Workday Financial Management, Salesforce Ascend and/or K1x tax preparation software suite.

Skills and Competencies

·         This position requires a high degree of professionalism and an ability to interact with a variety of entities and individuals.

·         The ability to coordinate a variety of tasks simultaneously and handle tension and stress in a positive manner is required.

·         Evening/weekend work hours may be required.

·         Acceptance of a culture of high-performance expectations and accountability

·         Detail oriented with a demonstrated ability to produce accurate results

·         Effective time-management and organizational skills while handling multiple tasks

·         Ability to operate independently, and exercise substantial latitude for independent judgment, action and discretion in accomplishing goals and objectives

·         Strong analytical and problem-solving skills

·         Excellent communication (verbal and written) and training abilities

·         Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively in a rapidly changing environment

·         Demonstrated ability to assess and resolve issues quickly and resolutely