Assistant Vice President of Finance, Controll

Westminster University•Salt Lake City, UT

19h•Onsite

About The Position

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, The Associate Vice President of Finance / Controller provides strategic leadership and operational oversight for the University’s financial operations. This position is responsible for ensuring the integrity, transparency, and efficiency of all financial processes, including accounting, financial reporting, budgeting support, grants accounting, and internal controls. Serving as a key member of the Finance leadership team, the AVP/Controller oversees the daily operations of the Finance Department and works collaboratively across the institution to support sound financial stewardship and compliance with federal, state, and institutional regulations. The role also leverages financial systems and analytics tools including Power BI and higher education ERP systems including Colleague or Banner to enhance reporting, data visibility, and decision-making.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field.
Minimum 7–10 years of progressive financial leadership experience, preferably in higher education or nonprofit organizations.
Demonstrated experience overseeing accounting operations and financial reporting.
Experience with Ellucian and higher education ERP systems including Colleague or Banner.
Advanced proficiency in Power BI or comparable financial data analytics tools.
Strong knowledge of financial controls, and audit processes.
Proven leadership, organizational, and strategic planning skills and people management.
Excellent communication and collaboration abilities.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field.
CPA or CMA certification strongly preferred.
Experience with higher education, financial operations and grants management.
Experience implementing financial reporting dashboards and analytics tools.
Familiarity with federal grant compliance and Uniform Guidance.
Financial reporting and compliance
Data analytics and business intelligence
Process improvement and operational efficiency
Collaborative leadership and team development
Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and oversight for all accounting and financial reporting functions of the University.
Ensure the accuracy and integrity of financial statements in accordance with applicable regulatory requirements.
Support the CFO in strategic financial planning, forecasting, and institutional financial initiatives.
Develop and maintain financial policies, procedures, and internal controls to safeguard University assets.
Oversee the University’s general accounting operations including: General ledger Accounts payable Accounts receivable Cash management Fixed assets Financial reporting
Manage month-end and year-end closing processes.
Coordinate the annual external audit and preparation of required financial reports.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and regulatory financial reporting requirements.
Coordinates the compilation and development of the institution’s Annual Financial Statements and related reports, 990 Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax and 990-T Unrelated Business Income Tax Report (UBIT), and compliance with Bond Covenants.
Manage the employees in the accounting services area. Carry out supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies and applicable laws.
Responsibilities include: Interviewing, hiring, and training accounting employees Planning, assigning, and directing work
Performance reviews, creating Performance Improvement Plans
Addressing complaints and resolving problems.