Associate Vice President for Business and Finance and Controller

Position Details

Position Information

Job Type Non-Faculty

Position Title Associate Vice President for Business and Finance and Controller

Position Number E30011

Department Accounting Services

Location

Morehouse College - Atlanta, GA

Position Summary

The Associate Vice President for Business & Finance and Controller serve as the chief accounting officer for the College and provides strategic and operational leadership within the Division of Business & Finance. Reporting to the Senior Vice President of Business & Finance and Chief Financial Officer, the AVP/Controller provides leadership and oversight of all accounting, financial reporting, internal control, grants accounting, accounts payable, and payroll functions. The position combines technical accounting expertise with transformational leadership, customer-focused service, and organizational change management to ensure financial stewardship, operational excellence, and compliance in support of the College’s mission. The incumbent serves as a trusted advisor to the community and actively promotes a culture of service, accountability, innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Areas of direct responsibility include: general accounting, accounts payable, restricted funds accounting, payroll administration, financial reporting, internal controls and compliance, financial systems administration, audit management, travel, and tax compliance

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) strongly preferred; candidates without a CPA must demonstrate substantial equivalent Controller-level experience in higher education, nonprofit, or a similarly complex regulated environment.
• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Accounting, Finance, or related field preferred.
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible accounting and financial management experience.
• Minimum of five (5) years of supervisory experience leading accounting, financial reporting, grants accounting, accounts payable, or related functions.
• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, or similarly complex organizations preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change, team development, and process improvement initiatives.
• Ability to work after hours or weekends as needed

Preferred Qualifications

Preferred Education/Experience

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Extensive knowledge of nonprofit and higher education accounting principles and practices.
• Thorough understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), FASB standards, internal controls, financial reporting, and regulatory compliance.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Single Audit requirements, federal grant compliance, regulatory submission controls, and U.S. Department of Education reporting expectations applicable to higher education institutions.
• Demonstrated expertise in fund accounting, endowment accounting, grants accounting, and audit coordination.
• Strong understanding of financial systems, ERP environments, and business process automation.
• Experience utilizing financial data and analytics to support strategic decision-making.
• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong project management and organizational change management capabilities.
• Demonstrated commitment to customer service excellence and stakeholder engagement.
• Ability to develop and motivate high-performing teams.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel and reporting tools.
• Experience with Ellucian Banner Finance or similar higher education ERP systems strongly preferred.

Physical Demands

• Sitting for extended periods of time.
• Occasional lifting up to twenty pounds.
• Must be able to work in a climate controlled, office environment.

Essential Duties/Responsibilities

Essential Duties/Responsiblities

Strategic Financial Leadership

1. Provide strategic leadership for the College’s accounting and financial reporting operations.

2. Advise the CFO and senior leadership on accounting matters, regulatory changes, operational risks, and emerging financial issues.

3. Collaborate with leaders across the institution to support strategic initiatives, financial sustainability, and informed decision-making.

4. Lead implementation of accounting and financial management best practices consistent with higher education industry standards. Financial Reporting and Accounting Operations

5. Direct all general accounting activities, including maintenance of the general ledger, chart of accounts, reconciliations, and month-end and year-end closing processes.

6. Ensure the preparation of timely, accurate, and complete financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), FASB standards, and nonprofit accounting requirements.

7. Oversee accounting for endowments, investments, fixed assets, debt, leases, gifts, grants, and other complex financial transactions.

8. Ensure the integrity and accuracy of institutional financial data and reporting.

9. Maintain and continuously improve accounting policies, procedures, and internal documentation.

Internal Controls, Compliance, and Risk Management

1. Design, implement, monitor, and strengthen internal controls that safeguard College assets and ensure regulatory compliance.
2. Ensure compliance with institutional policies, federal, state, and local regulations, including tax reporting requirements.
3. Oversee preparation and filing of required federal, state, and external reports.
4. Monitor emerging accounting standards and regulatory developments to assess institutional impact and implement necessary changes.
5. Coordinate compliance efforts across accounting operations and related financial functions.
6. Establish and maintain formal controls for monitoring regulatory correspondence and ensure material compliance matters, including rejected, incomplete, overdue, or unresolved submissions, are promptly escalated to the CFO, General Counsel, and other appropriate institutional leaders.

Audit and External Reporting

1. Serve as the primary liaison with independent auditors and regulatory agencies.
2. Lead the annual financial statement audit and coordinate all audit-related activities.
3. Oversee preparation of audit schedules, supporting documentation, and management responses.
4. Ensure timely resolution of audit findings and implementation of corrective action plans, where applicable.
5. Support preparation of Board of Trustees financial reports and other executive-level reporting.
6. Ensure the timely and accurate submission, documented acceptance, and retention of evidence for all required financial, audit, and regulatory filings, including the Single Audit and applicable U.S. Department of Education submissions; ensure rejected or incomplete filings are corrected, resubmitted, verified as accepted, and escalated as appropriate.

Grants and Restricted Funds Management

1. Provide oversight for grants and contracts accounting activities.
2. Ensure compliance with federal, state, sponsor, and institutional requirements governing restricted funds.
3. Oversee financial reporting and compliance monitoring for externally funded programs.
4. Collaborate with sponsored programs, principal investigators, grant administrators, program leaders, and institutional advancement to strengthen financial stewardship of sponsored activities.

Accounts Payable and Business Operations

1. Provide leadership and oversight of accounts payable operations and related financial transaction processes.
2. Ensure efficient processing of disbursements while maintaining strong internal controls and compliance standards.
3. Evaluate and improve workflow processes to enhance service delivery and operational effectiveness.
4. Promote a customer-service culture within the unit and in all interactions with campus constituents and external business partners.

Payroll Administration

1. Provide oversight and strategic direction for payroll operations to ensure accurate and timely processing of payroll for faculty, staff, student employees, and other authorized compensation payments.
2. Ensure payroll activities comply with all institutional policies, federal, state, and local regulations, filing and reporting requirements.
3. Develop and maintain a highly effective payroll operation that promotes accuracy, efficiency, internal controls, and exceptional customer service.
4. Serve as the senior escalation point for complex payroll issues, policy interpretation, and regulatory matters.

Systems, Technology, and Process Improvement

1. Provide execu