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Description
Department: Office of Financial Operations
Salary/Grade: EXS/16
Job Summary:
The Office of the Controller is responsible for the accounting and financial reporting of Northwestern University, providing a wide range of financial services on behalf of and for the University community. Financial accounting and reporting duties at the University are complex and significant. Northwestern operates with annual expenses exceeding $3.0 billion, total investments in excess of $14.0 billion (representing one of the largest endowments in the country), more than $1.0 billion in research awards, and total long-term debt outstanding of $2.4 billion. The University has more than 23,000 students enrolled in 12 colleges and schools on three campuses. Its fiscal year ends August 31.
The Controller's Office works diligently as a team to cultivate a positive culture and mindful work environment. Its scope of work directly supports the education and research mission of the University, while also ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. A mindset of stewardship, professional excellence, and a customer-service orientation are valued across the team. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Finance, the Controller oversees key accounting and reporting functions. The Controller supervises the following units, which altogether employ 19 professionals and staff:
Accounting Services - performs the central accounting and financial reporting functions and transaction management across all expense and revenue categories within the University's PeopleSoft financial system. Duties also include contributions to develop, prepare, and review planned and ad hoc analyses and forecasts provided to senior leadership and the Board of Trustees
Depository Services - provides general oversight of departmental bank deposits, cash receipt ticket creation, and credit card use in 100+ campus locations. It also manages the stored value card program, allocates electronic payments received university-wide, and oversees all petty cash accounts
Financial Operations IT - provisions access for the University's administrative systems and provides other support functions including bank access administration, chart of accounts processing, etc.
The Controller serves as the principal deputy to the Assistant Vice President for Finance (AVP), representing the AVP as necessary, and contributes to several cross-functional initiatives to enhance the delivery of financial services across the University. These initiatives involve collaborations with other central units, including Northwestern Information Technology, Facilities Management, Alumni Relations and Development, and the Office of Budget and Planning, and with school-based financial leaders. The Controller shall also anticipate changes in regulations and standards impacting higher education and be well-versed in current accounting rules and sensitive to trends. She or he will engage as an active participant in networks of Controller colleagues at other universities.
While reporting directly to the AVP, the Controller will work with the University's Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and others in the ongoing development of a best-in-class central administration to support Northwestern's pursuit of excellence.
Budget:
Target hiring range for this position will be between $177,589-$260,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.
Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at to learn more.
Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at to learn more.
Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at to learn more.
Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.
The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.
#LI-GS1
Salary/Grade: EXS/16
Job Summary:
The Office of the Controller is responsible for the accounting and financial reporting of Northwestern University, providing a wide range of financial services on behalf of and for the University community. Financial accounting and reporting duties at the University are complex and significant. Northwestern operates with annual expenses exceeding $3.0 billion, total investments in excess of $14.0 billion (representing one of the largest endowments in the country), more than $1.0 billion in research awards, and total long-term debt outstanding of $2.4 billion. The University has more than 23,000 students enrolled in 12 colleges and schools on three campuses. Its fiscal year ends August 31.
The Controller's Office works diligently as a team to cultivate a positive culture and mindful work environment. Its scope of work directly supports the education and research mission of the University, while also ensuring compliance with local, state, and federal regulations. A mindset of stewardship, professional excellence, and a customer-service orientation are valued across the team. Reporting to the Assistant Vice President for Finance, the Controller oversees key accounting and reporting functions. The Controller supervises the following units, which altogether employ 19 professionals and staff:
Accounting Services - performs the central accounting and financial reporting functions and transaction management across all expense and revenue categories within the University's PeopleSoft financial system. Duties also include contributions to develop, prepare, and review planned and ad hoc analyses and forecasts provided to senior leadership and the Board of Trustees
Depository Services - provides general oversight of departmental bank deposits, cash receipt ticket creation, and credit card use in 100+ campus locations. It also manages the stored value card program, allocates electronic payments received university-wide, and oversees all petty cash accounts
Financial Operations IT - provisions access for the University's administrative systems and provides other support functions including bank access administration, chart of accounts processing, etc.
The Controller serves as the principal deputy to the Assistant Vice President for Finance (AVP), representing the AVP as necessary, and contributes to several cross-functional initiatives to enhance the delivery of financial services across the University. These initiatives involve collaborations with other central units, including Northwestern Information Technology, Facilities Management, Alumni Relations and Development, and the Office of Budget and Planning, and with school-based financial leaders. The Controller shall also anticipate changes in regulations and standards impacting higher education and be well-versed in current accounting rules and sensitive to trends. She or he will engage as an active participant in networks of Controller colleagues at other universities.
While reporting directly to the AVP, the Controller will work with the University's Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and others in the ongoing development of a best-in-class central administration to support Northwestern's pursuit of excellence.
- Manages more than one university accounting-related area or program
- Directs the development of & manages a school's/dept's budget & financial operations including the development & implementation of strategies for: budgeting; forecasting, modeling & projecting; identifying & explaining variances; financial reporting; internal controls; expense reductions; cost containment; & revenue enhancements.
- Manages a portfolio of multiple schools/depts' financial operations comprised of very complex financial work such as internal & external organizations, international situations, and very large dollar volumes.
- Manages daily, monthly, quarterly and annual financial processes for the area or program.
- Applies industry and professional standards, interprets university policy and procedure, federal and state laws and other regulations; recommends accounting policy for the university.
- Represents &/or guides business area on internal & external financial affairs & is viewed as an expert resource regarding area's financial affairs.
Budget:
- Reviews & partners with senior staff from all areas/units to finalize proposed budgets ensuring compliance with established budget parameters as well as a consolidated school/dept balanced budget.
- Oversees routine budget reconciliation & analyzes budget position.
- Measures individual net performance of all areas/units as well as consolidated area/unit income statement & balance sheet with the use of pre-defined analytical financial tools.
- Recommends changes to tools to improve analysis, forecasting, modeling & reporting & ultimately quality of financial information & analyses provided to management for planning, evaluating & controlling operations.
- Establishes proper accounting & audit trails for revenue & expenses related to programs & initiatives.
- Oversees monthly reconciliation & reports on current financial performance, impact on year-end forecast & opportunities & risks.
- Prepares area or program financial statements and regulatory reports.
- Acts as the key contact for external auditors; prepares financial statement and audit work papers.
- Prepares sections of the university's annual financial report.
- Performs complex financial account reconciliations, statement analysis, and transaction research
- Establishes and communicates the University calendar for daily, monthly, quarterly and annual accounting and financial processes for the areas or programs.
- Lead within the Finance group to provide rigorous analysis to inform a range of executive decisions.
- Ensures compliance of financial processes & systems including the implementation & monitoring of financial controls & training of managers with financial responsibilities in accordance with all associated NU, local, state & federal rules & regulations.
- Manages completion of annual fiscal year-end close.
- Coordinates with Budget Office & other schools/depts for proper recording of cross school/dept transactions.
- Prepares consolidated financial statement to report final net position;
- Oversees processing of all daily financial transactional activity.
- Reviews status of related university unit accounts and processes; troubleshoots issues as needed.
- Manages overall University general ledger chart field maintenance
- Identifies current & future resource planning & allocation issues & develops, leads, & supervises complex studies & analyses that will assist senior staff in reaching resource planning and allocation decisions.
- Processes & presents associated data & information through the application of sophisticated database, graphic & spreadsheet tools.
- Acts as project manager for design and implementation of regulatory and system changes.
- Manages operation of a computer system or system processes that support the area or program.
- Ensures that service level goals are met.
- Strategically builds capacity in tax-reporting to manage increasing complexity related to unrelated business income generated by investments, University operations and international activities.
- Support the Associate Vice President for Finance by carrying out special projects and by providing tactical and strategic advice.
- Supervises employees
- Trains employees
- Hires employees
- Evaluates employees' performance
- Provides work direction to other employees
- Mentor individuals within the organization and assist direct reports in a hands-on manner with the accounting for complex transactions
Target hiring range for this position will be between $177,589-$260,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant's education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.
Benefits:
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at to learn more.
Work-Life and Wellness:
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life's challenges and opportunities and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at to learn more.
Professional Growth & Development:
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you're interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at to learn more.
Northwestern strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters for people who can obtain them as a critical tool for minimizing severe illness. More information can be found on the COVID-19 and Campus Updates webpage.
The Northwestern campus sits on the traditional homelands of the people of the Council of Three Fires, the Ojibwe, Potawatomi, and Odawa as well as the Menominee, Miami and Ho-Chunk nations. We acknowledge and honor the original people of the land upon which Northwestern University stands, and the Native people who remain on this land today.
Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer of all protected classes, including veterans and individuals with disabilities. Women, racial and ethnic minorities, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply. Click for information on EEO is the Law.
#LI-GS1
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