Assistant Vice President Business Services, Controller

Assistant Vice President for Business Services, Controller

Job Category: Accounting/Finance

Requisition Number: ASSIS
001381

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• Full‑Time

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Cornell College invites applications for an Assistant Vice President for Business Services / Controller
, a key leadership role responsible for advancing the college’s financial operations and supporting sound institutional decision‑making. This position offers an exciting opportunity to lead a critical function, strengthen financial processes, and partner with senior leadership to support the long‑term success of the college.

The AVP/Controller plays a vital role in ensuring financial integrity, developing strong internal controls, and fostering a collaborative, service‑oriented business office that supports the broader campus community.

• Lead all accounting and financial reporting functions for the college
• Establish and maintain a strong internal control environment to safeguard financial, physical, and reputational assets
• Ensure accurate and timely recording of financial activity in compliance with GAAP, regulatory requirements, and donor restrictions
• Manage the annual external audit and oversee the preparation and submission of federal and state financial reports
• Direct business office operations, including billing, collections, and disbursements
• Partner with the Vice President and Chief Financial Officer to lead the annual budgeting process and support financial planning efforts
• Provide meaningful financial analyses and reporting to support senior leadership decision‑making
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and effectiveness
• Build, mentor, and lead a high‑performing, service‑oriented team

Cornell College is a selective liberal arts college distinguished by our Ingenuity curriculum that builds on the strengths of our One Course At A Time schedule. This combination encourages the qualities of being thoughtful, original, and inventive, using the strengths of a liberal arts education to apply ideas to solve problems and meet challenges through hands‑on experience in learning. Academic immersion, Division III NCAA athletic teams, and unparalleled flexibility attract an ambitious student body from across the U.S. and worldwide.

We are located in Mount Vernon, Iowa, an urban fringe community located in the heart of the ICR Iowa region.

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting / Finance required (CPA preferred). Minimum of six years of supervisory experience in a not-for-profit accounting environment with a minimum of $20 million in annual revenue preferred.

• Knowledge of fund accounting, endowment accounting, payroll, and accounts payable
• Experience with financial systems (Microsoft Dynamics or Power CAMPUS preferred)
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and familiarity with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace

• Proven ability to lead, develop, and mentor teams
• Experience in building strong working relationships across an organization
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and drive projects to completion

• Ability to translate financial data into actionable insights
• Experience in improving processes and strengthening internal controls
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem‑solving skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• A collaborative, service‑oriented mindset with the ability to work effectively across campus

Reports to the Vice President, Chief Financial Officer; supervises the team within the business office. Daily contact with college faculty, staff, and students, and has regular contact with financial institutions, attorneys, brokers, donors, governmental officials, suppliers, trustees, and the general public. This position is expected to work on campus with the option for 1‑2 days per week of remote work
.

Cornell employees enjoy a fantastic benefits package that includes health, dental, vision, HSA & FSA accounts, a TIAA 403(b) retirement account, and tuition remission…