Senior Manager - Accounting and Business Operations

Description

This position is a leadership role responsible for financial management and accounting, financial reporting, and enterprise-wide financial planning and analysis (FP&A) for Central College. This highly complex and critical role ensures accurate, timely, and decision-useful financial information while strengthening financial controls, standard operating procedures (SOPs), and technology-enabled workflows across the organization. This role supervises key business office staff and plays a critical role in maintaining the general ledger, performing day-to-day treasury tasks, preparing financial reports, and supporting audits.

This position reports to the CFO & Controller and partners with other departments and functions across the College, to ensure consistency, compliance and provide operational leadership in advancing sound fiscal practices across the college.

• Manage daily accounting operations and ensure proper maintenance of the general ledger.
• Maintain ERP system for general ledger, fixed assets, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll coding.
• Oversee month-end and year-end close processes, including journal entries, reconciliations, and accruals.
• Ensure that all accounts are periodically reconciled to ensure completeness and accuracy.
• Ensure timely and accurate posting of transactions in compliance with GAAP and institutional policy.

• Manage daily cash operations, bank relationships, and cash flow projections.
• Assist CFO & Controller with monitoring liquidity needs.
• Manage debt service payments and schedules.

• Prepare internal financial reports and dashboards for departmental and institutional use.
• Assist the CFO & Controller by preparing the monthly financial statements, in both internal and external formats.
• Analyze variances and trends to support financial planning and decision-making.
• Develop financial reporting as requested by the Senior Leadership Team and to support the Board of Trustees.

• Monitor grant and donor-restricted fund activity to ensure compliance with restrictions and reporting requirements.
• Assist with indirect cost allocations and Uniform Guidance compliance.
• Coordinate reporting and support for federal and private grants in partnership with Sponsored Programs.

• Support tracking and reconciliation of endowment and investment activity.
• Maintain unitization schedules and ensure compliance with donor restrictions and spending policies.
• Collaborate with Advancement to ensure alignment between accounting and donor records.

• Develop business processes from end to end in collaboration with other functional areas and departments.
• Identify process improvements and enhancements to drive efficiency and effectiveness.
• Identify critical process risk areas and build mitigation strategies.

• Support the CFO & Controller in preparation for the annual audit by compiling work papers, schedules, and documentation.
• Assist in implementing and monitoring effective internal controls to safeguard assets and ensure financial accuracy.
• Address audit findings and recommend improvements as needed.

• Ensure adherence to institutional accounting policies and support ongoing training for departments.
• Stay current with regulatory and compliance changes affecting nonprofit and higher education accounting.
• Assist in updating accounting policies and procedures as needed.

• Lead, mentor, and evaluate accounting staff; promote a culture of accountability, service, and continuous improvement.
• Support professional development through training, cross-training, and clear performance expectations.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business management or related field.
• 8-10 years of progressive experience in financial management, reporting, FP&A, or business operations.
• Strong knowledge of financial regulations, internal controls, SOP development, and process improvement.
• Proficiency with financial software and student information systems.
• Excellent communication, customer service, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrates a strong sense of curiosity and seeks to understand problems, processes, and perspectives at a deeper level.
• Proactively asks questions to uncover root causes, opportunities, and new ideas.
• Learns quickly when facing new situations and can adapt knowledge to unfamiliar challenges.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and rapidly acquiring new skills, tools, or methods.

• Demonstrate a network of caring relationships by showing respect for others, being dependable and promoting cooperation with others in the work environment.
• Be your best self by being accountable for responsibilities, adapting well to change and maintaining the highest standards of…