Controller
: Job Details :

Engineering a world of possibilities

The Colorado School of Mines is a public R1 research university focused on applied science and engineering, producing the talent, knowledge and solutions to service industry and benefit society. Mines has a strong reputation and celebrates high rankings due to its STEM-focused education and research results.

The Office of Finance, Administration and Operations (FA&O) provides critical support to the mission and forward-thinking strategic initiatives while managing $325 million in operating activity, stewarding $1 billion in assets, and supporting 1400 faculty and staff. The Controller's Office is within FA&O and provides oversight for financial reporting, compliance, student billing and receivables, campus shared services, and payroll. The Controller reports directly to the Deputy Chief Financial Officer and provides strategic leadership to the Controller's Office and financial management for Mines. The Controller provides leadership for the Bursar's Office, General Accounting, and Financial and Tax reporting units.

The Controller manages up to five direct reports with a team of approximately 50 professional and classified employees. They are responsible for ensuring sound financial processes and internal controls; leading the daily operations for the Controller's office; and managing multiple audits performed by the State of Colorado, Federal Government and others as necessary. This position will provide strategic leadership in financial services for the institution and will represent the Controller's office in a wide range of activities, committees, and meetings. The Controller will collaborate and interact with many internal and external constituencies including campus administration and academic departments, other higher education institutions, governmental agencies (e.g. Office of State Controller, Office of State Auditor, and Legislative Joint Budget Committee staff), and the public. The Controller will implement new systems and subsequent enhancements to financial and administrative systems, along with maintaining data integrity between the University financial system and the State of Colorado financial system. This position requires strategic and critical thinking in the analysis and development of financial data, trends, and variances, that executive management will rely on for decision making. They must have the ability to provide effective communication formats of financial information for non-financial audiences.

This is a professional position that requires exceptional analytical and communication skills. The Controller must be able to drive the university's strategic goals, advance financial performance and provide seamless compliance solutions. They must be able to affect change through a large complex organization and maintain high customer service levels while meeting strict reporting deadlines. As the lead financial position for the university, the Controller must develop and maintain strong and effective relationships across campus and with outside partners. The Controller must have strong relationship building tenets and outcomes, engage in effective collaboration, become a trusted partner with the university community and engage campus as appropriate. In addition, they must have the ability to communicate complex financial information in a consumable format for a broad audience. The ideal candidate has a can-do attitude, enjoys working with diverse groups, and collaborating with others to resolve unique challenges.

This position can be hybrid in Colorado and requires a majority of their time with on-campus presence. Colorado School of Mines provides dedicated professional development and training. Onboarding for this position includes training on policies and procedures, and technical training opportunities for systems and technology required for this role.

Primary responsibilities

Provide strategic leadership to support the short and long-term financial objectives for the institution.

* Determine the appropriate incorporation of regulations and generally accepted accounting principles applicable to financial management. Examples include, but are not limited to:

* Federal and State legislation and regulatory guidelines

* Governmental Accounting Standards

* Bond requirements

* Implementation of internal controls.

* Collaborate with key stakeholders within the institution to:

* Develop and implement financial policies, procedures, and strong internal controls that reflect industry best practices while ensuring streamlined business processes for campus partners. Provide training as needed in financial policies and processes.

* Develop, implement, test and monitor strong accounting controls to ensure accuracy of reporting and mitigate potential risk of the misappropriation of funds.

* Provide accurate and timely financial reports (both ad-hoc and routine) to executive officers, campus constituents, and external agencies. Examples include, but are not limited to:

* The annual financial statement package with accompanying notes

* Monthly GAAP financial statements and variance analysis

* Accounts receivable aging reports

* IPEDS financial and student information

* State of Colorado financial system and preparing annual financial exhibits for the State ACFR.

* Assisting with the submission to legislative fiscal notes.

* External reporting to higher education constituents (e.g. IPEDS, Department of Higher Education, NCAA and Federal agencies).

* Required Tax filings that include payroll, Unrelated Business Incomes, Sales Tax and applicable credit applications.

* Provide oversight and coordination for both external and internal audits. Understand and advocate financial position for Finance, Administration and Operations.

* Lead the negotiation for favorable indirect cost and fringe rates on research with our federal cognizant agency.

* Represent the Finance Office in the absence and/or in conjunction with the Deputy CFO on committees, events, and meetings.

Provide leadership and daily management for the Controller's Office operations. Lead the Controller's Office units to ensure cohesive, seamless accounting procedures that result in effective financial stewardship of university resources.

* Direct the operations while balancing the priorities of the university with regulatory reporting requirements in the following areas:

* Financial and Tax Reporting

* General Accounting

* Bursar

* Cash Management

* Asset and Debt management

* Payroll and Employment Services

* Cost Accounting

* Implement accounting technology and streamlined processes to alleviate administrative burdens and ensure seamless compliance procedures.

* Serve as a liaison for campus constituents, gather feedback, and improve processes to ensure seamless financial management.

* Determine and manage the implementation of new technology to enhance finance functions and processes.

* Ensure robust training programs are developed for campus partners and internal staff on current and new technologies.

Develop and maintain a highly skilled and engaged team. Manage the organizational structure, roles, responsibilities of the Campus Controller team. The Controller will be responsible for a dynamic team that requires continued professional development and strategic visioning.

* Develop and maintain an inclusive and respectful work environment with a team capable of working through new challenges, responsive to ad hoc requests, able to meet important deadlines, and is highly accountable for accuracy in their work product.

* Ensure high quality, elite customer advising services to the campus community and implement service metrics and feedback reporting.

* Ensure performance plans include role based professional development goals to drive exceptional quality work product.

* Provide training for Campus Controller employees to enhance the skills and knowledge base for the team.

* Develop and maintain policies and procedures covering the functional areas within the Controller's Office which includes actively managing check lists, deadlines and timely reporting.

* Develop performance-based metrics and ensure robust feedback loops between supervisors and employees are regularly utilized and documented.

Minimal Qualifications

* 8 years of progressive experience that includes financial and accounting management across an organization.

* Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.

* Progressive experience in leading financial teams within complex organizations.

* At least 5 years of supervising professional level staff.

* Demonstrated ability to present detailed financial information in a consumable format to broad audiences.

* Experience leading organization-wide projects that may include robust policy changes, system implementations, or organizational changes.

* Experience creating annual financial statements and managing internal and external audits.

* Demonstrated experience with implementing change or business process improvements.

* Exceptional communication skills.

* Demonstrated financial and analytical skills.

* Ability to develop strong working relationships across diverse groups of constituents

Preferred Qualifications

* Master's Degree in Accounting, or related field.

* Experience managing a financial team at a public or private university

* Fund accounting experience

* Demonstrated experience with strategic planning and implementation

* Experience implementing financial and reporting systems and/or modules

* Certified Public Accountant or equivalent.

* Ability to build and manage dynamic teams that can overcome challenges and meet deadlines.

* Experience providing financial training to a diverse audience.

* Strong report writing skills using various platforms.

Salary and Benefits

$183,800 - $195,000 annual salary

Mines takes into consideration a combination of candidate's education, training and experience as well as the position's scope and complexity, the discretion and latitude required in the role, work location, and external market and internal value when determining a salary level for potential new employees.

Colorado School of Mines offers a robust portfolio of benefits for all employees. For this role, that includes:

* Flexible health and dental care options

* Generous sick/vacation time: 13 paid holidays per year - including a week-long winter break for entire campus.

* Fully vested retirement plan on first day of employment, with generous employer contribution

* Tuition benefits (6 credits per year for employees, 50 percent discount for dependents)

* Free RTD Ecopass

All Mines employees also have access to discount programs through the State of Colorado and free tickets for Mines Athletics home games, as well as access to the state of the art Recreation Center (fitness classes and training, swimming pool and more) and equipment rentals through the Outdoor Rec Center. We are proud to have recently opened an on campus daycare center. For more details about benefits at Mines, visit mines.edu/human-resources/benefits.

How to Apply

Applicants must:

Complete an online application (personal information, demographic information, veteran status)

* Upload a resume or CV

* Upload a cover letter

Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States.

References will not be contacted until later in the selection process and you will be informed before that contact is made.

Mines welcomes everyone to our team; please feel free to note which pronouns you use (For example - she/her/hers, he/him/his, they/them/theirs, etc).

This posting will close December 11, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Applications will not be accepted after that date.

It is the intent of Mines to comply with the applicable requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act of 2008, and their implementation rules and regulations, in support of equal opportunities for qualified applicants with disabilities to promote diversity and inclusion at Mines. To meet this goal, Mines will make reasonable accommodations during the employment selection process and within our working environment.

If you are a qualified individual with a disability or a disabled veteran, you may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our site as a result of your disability. You can request a reasonable accommodation by contacting our Human Resources team at ...@mines.edu or 303.###.#### for assistance.

Successful Completion of a Background Investigation is Required for this Position.

Equal Opportunity

Colorado School of Mines is committed to equal opportunity for all persons. Mines does not discriminate on the basis of age, sex, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), ancestry, creed, marital status, race, ethnicity, religion, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, veteran status or current military service. Further, Mines does not retaliate against community members for filing complaints regarding or implicating any of these protected statuses.

Mines' commitment to nondiscrimination, affirmative action, equal opportunity and equal access is reflected in the administration of its policies, procedures, programs and activities and in its efforts to achieve a diverse student body and workforce.

Through its policies, procedures and resources, Mines complies with federal law, Colorado state law, administrative regulations, executive orders and other legal requirements to prevent discrimination (including harassment or retaliation) within the Mines campus community and to address potential allegations of inequity or concerns for safety.

Colorado's premier engineering and applied science university for 150 years and counting