Controller

Position Title: Controller

Department: Accounting / Finance

Reports To: Associate Vice President for Financial Operations

FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary

The Controller provides leadership and hands-on management of the University's accounting operations and financial reporting. This role ensures timely, accurate, and GAAP-compliant financial statements for a not-for-profit higher education institution, maintains strong internal controls, oversees key accounting functions (including Accounts Payable), and partners across campus to strengthen financial processes, reporting, and system effectiveness.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Close

• Lead the month-end, quarter-end, and year-end close processes; ensure accurate reconciliations, journal entries, and supporting schedules.
• Prepare and distribute a monthly financial reporting package (e.g., consolidating P&L, balance sheet, cash activity, budget-to-actual variance summaries, and key metrics).
• Prepare consolidated financial statements (including footnotes/supporting schedules, as applicable) and required debt covenant reporting.
• Provide analytical review of revenue, expense, and balance sheet activity; identify trends, risks, and actionable recommendations.

Audit, Compliance, and Governance

• Coordinate the annual financial statement audit and any required program/other audits; serve as primary liaison with external auditors.
• Maintain and enhance internal controls and accounting policies/procedures to safeguard University assets (including restricted funds, endowment, grants, and capital activity).
• Support regulatory and compliance reporting (e.g., surveys, institutional reporting, and other required filings as applicable).

Accounting Operations Oversight

• Direct and oversee Accounts Payable functions to ensure accurate, timely processing and compliance with policy.
• Oversee general accounting operations and services, including the integrity of accounting records, chart of accounts, fixed assets, and applicable reconciliations.
• Partner with campus stakeholders to ensure correct accounting treatment and consistent processes.

Endowment, Investments, Debt, and Specialized Accounting

• Oversee recording and reporting of endowment and investment activity, including fair value / market-to-market accounting and related reporting.
• Maintain schedules and accounting support for debt, debt compliance, and related reporting.
• Support accounting for auxiliary enterprises and any University-related entities (including commercial real estate interests, where applicable).

Financial Systems & Process Improvement

• Serve as a functional leader for the financial system environment; coordinate assessment of financial system needs and recommend/implement improvements (e.g., Banner Finance configurations, reporting tools, workflow enhancements).
• Establish and maintain accounting operations procedures, user guidance, and training to promote consistent practices and data integrity.

Leadership & Management

• Supervise, coach, and develop accounting staff; plan and schedule work to ensure coverage, appropriate workload distribution, and cross-training.
• Support hiring, performance management, professional development, and succession planning for the accounting team.
• Serve on University committees and project teams as assigned; perform other related duties as required

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance (Master's preferred).
• CPA strongly preferred.
• 10-12 years of progressive accounting experience; not-for-profit and/or higher education experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience preparing GAAP financial statements; experience with not-for-profit GAAP strongly preferred.
• Experience preparing consolidated statements and supporting audit engagements.
• Experience with investment accounting and fair value concepts; experience with debt compliance reporting preferred.
• ERP experience required; Ellucian Banner Finance experience preferred.
• Strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate effectively across campus; able to manage multiple deadlines.

Additional Information:

Houston Christian University is an independent, private Christian liberal arts institution with a diverse student body. It has access to all the cultural advantages of one of the largest metropolitan centers in the country. For more information about the University, visit hc.edu.

The University has implemented its Ten Pillars vision (hc.edu/vision) and anticipates significant growth in student enrollment and university programs. The successful candidate will also be able to articulate a vision for the role of his or her discipline at HCU that is supportive of the Ten Pillars vision statement.

Houston Christian University is committed to maintaining a teaching faculty and staff who share an active Christian faith. The Preamble to the By-Laws of the University sets forth a statement of belief which each University employee is expected to support and personify. Your submittal of an application for employment indicates your acceptance and affirmation of these statements.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and requirements of personnel.