The Controller serves as the College's chief accounting officer and provides strategic leadership for the institution's accounting operations, financial reporting, internal controls, audit coordination, cash management, and regulatory compliance. The Controller partners closely with the Vice President for Administrative Services and executive leadership to ensure sound fiscal stewardship, transparency, operational excellence, and long-term financial sustainability.
As a key member of the Administrative Services leadership team, the Controller provides financial analysis and recommendations that support institutional planning, strategic initiatives, and data-informed decision making. This position plays a critical role in advancing Highland Community College's mission through innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Direct the College's accounting operations, including the general ledger, cash management, and financial reporting.
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and oversee the fiscal year-end close.
- Coordinate the annual external audit and serve as the primary liaison with independent auditors.
- Assist with the development, monitoring, and analysis of the College's operating and capital budgets.
- Ensure compliance with GAAP, GASB, federal and state regulations, and grant reporting requirements.
- Maintain effective internal controls and recommend improvements to financial policies and procedures.
- Oversee financial reporting and audit coordination for the Highland Community College Foundation.
- Support and optimize financial processes within the College's ERP system, including user training and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Prepare financial analyses and reports to support executive leadership and institutional decision making.
- Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and exceptional customer service.
- Collaborate with departments across the College to support financial planning and operational effectiveness.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Provides leadership and oversight for accounting and other assigned business office functions. Responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of assigned personnel and financial operations.
Carries out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with College policies, procedures, and applicable laws. Responsibilities include recruiting, interviewing, selecting, onboarding, training, mentoring, evaluating, and developing employees; planning and directing work; establishing performance expectations; resolving operational issues; and fostering a culture of accountability, customer service, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education and/or Experience
Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree, preferably in an accounting-related field, from a regionally or nationally accredited institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. Master’s degree or MBA preferred, with an emphasis in accounting.
Language Skills
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common scientific and technical journals, financial reports, and legal documents. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints from customers, regulatory agencies, or members of the business community. Ability to write speeches and articles for publication that conform to prescribed style and format. Ability to effectively present information to top management, public groups, and/or boards of directors.
Mathematical Skills
Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
Reasoning Ability
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. Ability to write and explain recommendations for complex projects and programs.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
CPA highly desirable
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and color vision.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, moving mechanical parts, fumes or airborne particles, outside weather conditions, and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Occasional loud noise may be encountered.