Controller, Accounting, Financial Compliance

Job : 8974

Full/Part Time: Full Time

Regular/Temporary: Regular

Appointment: Regular, full-time (1.0 FTE) position.

Work Location: This position is based in Tacoma, WA, and is hybrid eligible (minimum of 3 days on‑site) after a successful evaluation period.

Please note that we generally do not sponsor applicants for work visas for staff positions. Therefore, we generally require applicants for staff positions to be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis.

The Controller is responsible for guiding, coordinating and monitoring the accounting, tax, treasury management and financial reporting for the university in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, regulations, and university policies and guidelines. Collaborative leadership is a critical component of this position.

Leadership, management, collaboration, and supervision

• Review work of staff to ensure understanding, high quality work, maximum effectiveness, and exceptional service.
• Provide supervision, leadership, mentoring, and professional development opportunities to staff. Emphasize contributions to the team. Realign staff assignments to meet team goals and deadlines. Keep staff informed, involved, and cross‑trained.
• Lead staff in taking the initiative to:
  • Understand the needs of constituents and implement solutions to meet their needs.
  • Plan, seek input from others, think creatively, and take action to streamline processes.
  • Maintain positive working relationships with both internal and external colleagues to develop resources for identifying best practices, effectively solving problems, and improving service delivery.
  • Demonstrate and promote high standards for quality, productivity, and service.

• Direct and supervise accounting team in monitoring the university’s financial and accounting activities in accordance with best business practices, generally accepted accounting principles and higher education standards and regulations including maintenance of the accounting activities in the university’s financial system.
• Proactively engage in appropriate and timely GAAP research and analysis, including determining implications for and application to Puget Sound. Prepare relevant executive summaries.
• Review and approve journal entries and review project and account reconciliations prepared by others.
• Coordinate timely and accurate preparation and detail review of Associated Student of University of Puget Sound (ASUPS) financial statements.
• Review financial surveys.
• Serve as the primary subject matter expert on federal grant compliance; oversee grant billing, ensure strict adherence to federal regulations and Uniform Guidance, and manage yearly and periodic indirect cost rate proposals.
• Oversee quarterly grant billing and yearly and periodic indirect cost rate proposals to ensure compliance with Office of Management and Budget (OMB) circulars.
• Continually assess the adequacy of and educate constituents on the importance of maintaining effective internal controls. Identify opportunities to strengthen internal controls and recommend/implement improvements.

• Review gift report reconciliations and gift reports.
• Review results of pledge audits, unconditional promise entries, conditional promise disclosures, and related audit schedules.
• Supervise and/or coordinate liquidation of non‑cash gifts and tracking and receipt of bequests.
• Review endowment and life income market values and reconciliations, ensuring compliance with GAAP.
• In coordination with Office of University Relations, oversee the third party planned giving administration of the life income trusts trusteed by the university,…