Assistant Vice President of Finance and Administration, Controller

Assistant Vice President of Finance and Administration, Controller

The AVP of Finance and Administration, Controller, serves as the University's senior accounting and financial reporting leader and is a key member of the Finance and Administration leadership team. Reporting directly to the Vice President for Finance, Administration and Chief Financial Officer, the AVP of Finance and Administration, Controller is responsible for the integrity of the University's financial records, internal controls, monthly and annual financial close processes, audit preparation, tax reporting, cash management support, and accounting operations.

This position is intended to function as the CFO's primary financial operations partner and second-in-command within the finance function. The successful candidate will be technically strong, highly organized, intellectually curious, and capable of exercising sound independent judgment. The AVP of Finance and Administration, Controller must be both a hands-on accounting leader and a strategic thinker who can translate financial information into useful insight for academic, administrative, and executive leaders across the University.

The AVP of Finance and Administration, Controller, will lead and develop the accounting team, strengthen financial processes, support budget development and monitoring, and help ensure that Valparaiso University has timely, accurate, and actionable financial information to support mission-centered decision-making.

Essential duties and responsibilities include:

• Financial accounting, reporting, and close
• Leadership and team management
• Cash management and treasury support
• Budget preparation and financial planning support
• Audit, tax, and compliance
• Restricted funds, grants, gifts, and endowment accounting
• Internal controls, policies, and process improvement
• Campus partnership and strategic support

Required qualifications include:

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field.
• Minimum of seven to ten years of progressively responsible accounting, finance, audit, or controllership experience.
• Demonstrated technical knowledge of GAAP and financial reporting.
• Experience leading monthly and annual close processes.
• Experience preparing or supporting annual audits and working directly with external auditors.
• Strong understanding of internal controls, reconciliations, financial statement preparation, and accounting operations.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including supervision, staff development, project management, and process improvement.
• Ability to analyze complex financial information, identify issues, recommend solutions, and exercise independent judgment.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with senior leaders, academic leaders, staff, auditors, bankers, consultants, and other internal and external partners.
• High degree of integrity, discretion, accountability, and commitment to accuracy.

Preferred qualifications include:

• CPA strongly preferred.
• Master's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field preferred.
• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, healthcare, or another complex mission-driven organization preferred.
• Experience with Form 990 preparation, nonprofit tax reporting, unrelated business income, and restricted net asset accounting.
• Experience with restricted gifts, endowment accounting, grants accounting, and donor reporting.
• Experience with cash management, debt reporting, investment accounting, and liquidity forecasting.
• Experience supporting annual budget development and multi-year financial planning.
• Experience improving financial systems, reporting processes, chart of accounts structures, or accounting workflows.

Key competencies include:

• Technical accounting strength and attention to detail.
• Strategic and critical thinking.
• Ability to work independently and follow through without extensive direction.
• Leadership presence and credibility.
• Sound judgment and problem-solving ability.
• Strong commitment to deadlines and accountability.
• Collaborative style with a service orientation.
• Ability to communicate complex financial matters in clear, practical language.
• Commitment to continuous improvement.
• Ability to balance precision, practicality, and institutional mission.

Working relationships include:

The AVP of Finance and Administration, Controller, works closely with the CFO, President's Cabinet, Deans, academic and administrative leaders, Advancement, Human Resources, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Athletics, Facilities, Information Technology, grant administrators, external auditors, tax advisors, banks, investment advisors, and other University partners.

Measures of success include:

• Monthly financial statements are accurate, timely, and useful for decision-making.
• The annual audit is well prepared, well managed, and completed on schedule.
• The University's Form 990 and related tax filings are accurate, timely, and well supported.
• Cash reporting and liquidity analysis are reliable and…