SUMMARY

The Controller works with the Director of Finance to foster the financial sustainability of the school within a culture of excellence, accountability, integrity, teamwork, and customer service while facilitating the management of the school’s financial resources. This person will be expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and customer services-oriented approach as a leader in the Business Office operations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain congruency between the Board of Trustees approved mission statement and the management ofthe school’s business operations.
• Responsible for fostering the financial stewardship of the school by providing excellence in the Business Office department
• Responsible for superior financial management of school’s financial resources via accurate and timely financial reporting and accountingWork with all customers within the school (faculty, staff, families) to provide superior customer service
  relative to financial issues
• Work to create a positive working environment that inspires and motivates others, communicates effectively with others and foster an environment of respect and teamwork
• Write proficiently to communicate financial reports and other financial information
• Maintain the highest level of integrity in all aspects of the job
• Maintain, evaluate, and implement optimal and appropriate internal controls
• Communicate accounting policies and ensure compliance
• Use teamwork and creative thinking to solve problems and be solutions-oriented
• Champion initiatives to review and streamline accounting policies/processes
• Possess advanced skills in the Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Excel) and assist others with technology-based process improvements
• Excellent at multi-tasking and managing deadlines
• Create plans to meet departmental goals and objectives and monitor these plans to ensure success
• Supervise the daily operations of the Business Office Operations related to Accounts
• Payable and Accounts Receivable activity

Specific Responsibilities -

General Accounting and Financial Reporting

• Assume primary responsibility for the general ledger and all organizational systems and processes that support it
• Maintain general ledger in accordance with GAAP, donor restrictions and other regulatory requirements
• Responsible for managing the accounting department entries, ensuring accurate and timely financial information
• Ensure that the financial statements not only comply with reporting standards, but are also responsive to the evolving needs of financial statement users
• Prepare/Review/Approve Payroll, Cash Disbursements and Fixed Assets
• Prepare monthly financial statements, including quarterly variance analyses
• Prepare financial statements for Finance Committee or Board review as directed by Director of Finance
• Manage general accounting operations
• Prepare and/or review account reconciliations monthly
• Maintain, evaluate, and implement optimal and appropriate internal controls
• Assist the Director of Finance in the preparation and monitoring of departmental budgets and forecasts, working with other administrators and department heads concerning budget performance
• Communicate accounting policies to affected employees and ensure compliance with such policies
• Handle sensitive and confidential information with the highest level of professionalism and care
• Prepare all periodic surveys and reports for the school’s trade organizations (e.g., NAIS, MISBO, ACSI, CESA, NBOA)
• Continually monitor, evaluate, implement, and document accounting policies and procedures to identify changes that would increase internal controls, efficiency, and the accuracy of financial records.
• Closely monitor financial statements of the Operating Fund and, with the Director of Finance, prepare information for presentation to the Finance Committee of Board.
• Oversee tracking of investment accounts and proper allocation into permanently and temporarily restricted funds.
• Work with Director of Finance to ensure risk management policies and procedures are followed and maintained
• Update, as necessary, Accounting Policies & Procedures manual
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Finance

Cash Management / Bank Reconciliation / Accounts Receivable

• Prepare and submit A/R- Student Billing
• Monitor all incoming cash receipts and deposits; review daily bank account(s) activity
• Review and approve bank adjustments
• Review and approve bank reconciliations
• Review the monthly aging report for past due accounts and actions required; monitor tuition receivable accounts more than 45 days past due and provide additional support in the collection of tuition receivables as necessary
• Discuss any proposed payment plans for extremely past due accounts with Director of Finance
• Reconcile financial aid monthly
• Reconcile Raiser’s Edge activity monthly and issue the monthly reconciliation report to Director of Finance

Purchasing / Accounts Payable

• Supervise Senior Staff Accountant
• Monitor all outgoing accounts payable activity
• Review and approve check voids, initiate the adjustments
• Review and approve bank reconciliations
• Work with the Senior Staff Accountant, review the monthly outstanding check report, and address stale dated checks greater than 180 days
• Ensure 1099 and W9 reporting requirements are met as well as issue annual 1099 statements
• Ensure appropriate approval rules are in place and followed, including checks that have appropriate approval before mailing.
• Work closely with the Advancement Office to provide information for donor stewardship and ensure proper gift/endowment tracking.

Financial Aid/Student Accounts

• Serve on the Financial Aid Committee with specific responsibility for the review of applications and establishment/enforcement of appropriate policies and procedures.
• Meet regularly with families with financial needs or questions.
• Work with other committee members to ensure that all information necessary for consideration of the application is available for review. Make recommendations for awards based on current school policy and/or guidelines and within budget constraints.
• Primary person responsible for contacting families with significant billing concerns and making arrangements to clear outstanding accounts.

Fixed Assets:

• Implement, add, and maintain new assets in Fixed Assets Spreadsheet
• Dispose of assets as directed
• Generate estimated depreciation on monthly basis
• Reconcile the Fixed Assets to the general ledger accounts
• Prepare a year-end roll forward which reconciles additions, disposals, depreciation expense and gain and loss to the general ledger
• Establish the capitalization policy and ensure compliance

Budgets

• Coordinate the budget process with each department/building level; includes dissemination and return of the budget spreadsheets, review for completeness and accuracy
• Input/Import the budget worksheets into Financial Edge
• Work with budget holders on variance issues and resolve discrepancies
• Run monthly budget vs actual reports for Director of Finance review

Net Assets

• Reconcile temporarily and permanently restricted contributions to the general ledger and Net Assets Schedule
• Allocate interest and dividends earned from endowment to proper accounts
• Prepare a year-end roll forward of the temporarily and permanently restricted net assets

Annual Audits

• Successfully manage and coordinate the annual audit – Financial and 403(b) Audits
• Take lead position on preparation of schedules and work papers for annual audit
• Communicate any issues to the Director of Finance
• Ensure timely completion of the annual audit
• Maintain permanent office files for all audit schedules prepared by school
• Coordinate preparation of schedules and work papers for tax filings

Monthly/Quarterly/Annual Financial Closeout

• All accounts are reconciled on a quarterly basis as well as all adjusting entries are recorded
• Provide Director of Finance key indicator reports along with an analysis of significant variations

General Administration

• Attend all school meetings as requested
• Maintain compliance with all recordkeeping of financial documents

Professional Growth and Development

• Attend and participate in professional conferences, lectures or other educational events as requested – minimum of 40 hours per year if a CPA
• Attain membership in appropriate educational organizations
• Keep current on professional issues through research and study

Other Duties as assigned by the Director of Finance or Head of School

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to speak; hear; stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, grasp or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move more than 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be
available to allow the employee to perform the essential functions of the job.

WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work is primarily performed in an office environment where sitting for long periods of time is required. To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. There may be times when the Controller may be required to work remotely due to weather or school closure issues.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
1. Minimum of a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or relevant subject
2. Five to seven years of accounting and management experience preferred; experience working in independent schools or nonprofits (preferred)
3. Experience with Blackbaud Enterprise Solutions, including The Financial Edge accounting package, Tuition Management, and Raisers’ Edge development software is a plus
4. Knowledge of unique financial accounting and reporting requirements of nonprofit education institutions
5. Fluency in Microsoft Excel and Word and familiarity with database concepts

About Harding Academy

Harding Academy is a coeducational, nonsectarian day school serving pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. With a focus on rigorous academics taught by nurturing teachers, Harding Academy students thrive within a uniquely balanced and motivating environment. At the heart of the Harding Academy advantages is our fundamental commitment to the PreK-8 structure, which supports every student’s social, emotional, and academic needs in a developmentally appropriate manner. We seek to serve a diverse community of families searching for the optimal pathways to some of the nation’s most challenging public and independent high schools, and who share our mission to foster thoughtful, lifelong learners and responsible, caring citizens. Harding Academy strives to inspire the mind and nurture the spirit in all we do. Our PreK-8 model provides the optimal environment in which to strike this balance. We serve each and every student with a whole-child approach and through challenging and developmentally appropriate curriculum, character education, and extracurricular activities.

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