Controller

Controller

Position Description

Castilleja is a dynamic, diverse, and intentional educational community for students in grades 6–12 that believes in the power of women learning and women leading. Founded in 1907, Castilleja fulfills its mission to educate young women to become confident thinkers and compassionate leaders with a sense of purpose to effect change in the world. Every member of the Castilleja community is responsible for fostering an equitable, respectful, and just community. We value building and sustaining authentic relationships and work together to create a collaborative learning and working environment. We are dedicated to a program that is responsive to students’ needs and identities and demonstrates a commitment to antiracist values and pedagogy.

We are seeking a strong and seasoned Controller to join our school.

In this role, your accounting and financial expertise will manage accounting, audit, and budgeting as well as oversee tuition and investments. The role supervises two direct reports, reports to the Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations, and serves on the Finance and Operations Team. Our Controller is a key part of our organization and provides senior leadership within the accounting and finance area. This position is critical to providing the Finance, Buildings & Grounds, and Audit Board Committees with accurate and timely financial and accounting information, financial strategy suggestions, key finance-related operations oversight, and the provision of timely information necessary to meet financial short- and long-range goals, objectives and plans.

In this position you will:

Oversee a strong internal control structure as it relates to the policies, procedures and documentation of all accounting and financial reporting activities. Make recommendations to the Associate Head of School for Finance and Operations for process improvement.

Manage general ledger accuracy, cash flow projections and the full calendar of accounting-related activities. Oversee all cash receipts and payments, payroll, company credit cards, banking and investment accounts.

Work closely with the Advancement team to maintain a financial system that properly recognizes gifts and monitors that gifts are released according to donor imposed restrictions.

Conduct financial analysis and prepare documentation in support of the monthly financial statements, statement of activities, annual budgets and budget adjustments with strategic financial planning projections.

Oversee the management of the school’s short-term investments.

Prepare and monitor departmental budgets and forecasts. Generate monthly budget reports and communicate with key budget managers.

Prepare a timely monthly close, review and prepare financial reports ensuring budget variances are properly investigated.

Serve as expert on generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), from the proper recording of transactions to the preparation of the annual financial statements with accompanying footnotes.

Ensure proper reporting of the investment accounts.

Ensure accounting systems and processes that support proper, timely, and accurate management and financial reporting to employees, administrators, Finance Committee, Board of Directors, and community.

Prepare fiscal year-end financial statements in accordance with all accounting rules and regulations and oversee the audit process, working closely with the school’s independent auditing firm, including preparation of audit worksheets and PBC’s at the request of the auditors.

Prepare financial statements and footnotes for the audit

Prepare the form 990 after the audit is complete

Manage the annual audit of the 5500 for the 403(b) plan

Support Associate Head in creating presentations for the Finance Committee and Buildings & Grounds Committee meetings.

Oversee and analyze the endowment portfolio on a quarterly basis to ensure all endowment funds are properly accounted for and donor restrictions are adhered to.

Analyze, reconcile and record all development transactions for pledges, contributions and other types of giving on a monthly basis to the general ledger.

Manage all aspects of the school’s public bond including submitting qualifying spending for reimbursement, short term investment of bond proceeds, and accounting for debt related activity.

Partner with Castilleja’s parent association on budget and spending.

Manage the affairs of the Castilleja investment company including annual distribution of K1s and unaudited financial statements.

Identify and mitigate financial risks, recommend improvements to minimize potential liabilities.

Organize and gather data for input in surveys for various organizations to support benchmarking.

Attend Board Committee meetingsSkills and Abilities:

Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate widely with various constituencies throughout the School’s community including students, faculty, staff, parents and trustee members.

Ability to learn and teach others established processes - Recognizes the importance of learning and motivates others by own enthusiasm. Is able to learn and reproduce the current processes and recommend best practices to streamline them.

Strong systems and strategic thinking capabilities; identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner and gathers and analyzes information skillfully.

Superior written and oral communication skills

Ability to display the highest level of moral and ethical conduct.

Meticulous attention to detail; continually looks for ways to improve and promote quality and demonstrates accuracy and thoroughness.

Ability to prioritize and plan work activities, use time efficiently and develop realistic action plans; ability to multitask, to handle multiple projects, and to work quickly and with accuracy while maintaining composure and flexibility.

Extensive knowledge of MS Office and Google Drive; spreadsheets; and Accounting Systems for independent school. Experience with Veracross preferred..Qualifications:

Our ideal candidate would have ten years of progressive accounting and financial management leadership experience with the most recent years being in a position with managerial responsibility for both accounting and finance. MBA or CPA preferred. Working knowledge of non-profit accounting is essential

Physical qualifications:

Regularly sit, talk, move equipment, hear, and visually interact with individuals from school-aged children to adults.

Be able to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs

Regularly use close and distance vision

Work at a desk and computer screen

Turn, bend, and reach

Work in a traditional, climate-controlled office environment.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Comprehensive Health and Wellness plans including: Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, LTD, FSA

• 403(b) Retirement plan with an outstanding employer match

• Castilleja uses a competitive salary scale which takes into account the range of experience, education and skill level. The Salary range for this position is $165,000-190,000 annually.

Equal Opportunity Employment:Castilleja School is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions based on merit, qualifications, and competence - regardless of race, color, creed, gender, religion, national origin or ancestry, disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. This Equal Employment Opportunity applies to all areas of employment.