Controller & Assistant Treasurer

About this role

If you are a current Barnard College employee, please use the internal career site to apply for this position.

Job: Controller & Assistant Treasurer

The Controller and Assistant Treasurer serves as the chief accounting officer of Barnard College and is responsible for the leadership and oversight of the College’s accounting operations, financial reporting, treasury activities, and related compliance functions.

Reporting to the Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer, the Controller and Assistant Treasurer ensures the integrity and reliability of the College’s financial reporting and supports sound financial stewardship across the institution. The position oversees key accounting and financial operations functions and works collaboratively with departments across the College to support effective financial management, compliance, and operational efficiency.

The Controller and Assistant Treasurer serves as a strategic advisor to the Vice President for Finance and Chief Financial Officer on accounting policy, financial operations, treasury management, and institutional financial stewardship. The key aspect of this role supports initiatives to leverage data, automation and emerging technologies to drive innovation across the financial enterprise, strengthen financial infrastructure, enhance operational effectiveness, and improve institutional financial transparency.

The successful candidate will combine strong technical expertise with sound judgment, intellectual curiosity, and a collaborative approach to leadership.

Job Description: Reporting Structure The Controller and Assistant Treasurer supervises key members of the accounting and financial operations team, including the Associate Controller, Accounting, Reporting, Treasury & Compliance; the Associate Controller, Restricted Funds and Sponsored Research; the Associate Controller, Operations; and the Finance Systems Analyst (either directly or indirectly through the Workday Support Team). The role works closely with the Budget & Planning team, Development & Alumnae Relations, Information Technology, the Office of the Provost, and other administrative and academic departments across the College.

Responsibilities • Manage the College’s general accounting, financial reporting, treasury, and compliance functions.

• Ensure that financial reporting, reconciliations, and account analyses are completed accurately and on a timely basis.

• Lead the preparation of the College’s audited financial statements and related disclosures in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

• Review accounting treatment for complex or non-routine transactions and ensure compliance with applicable accounting standards.

• Coordinate the monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes.

• Oversee institutional tax compliance activities, including Forms 990, 990-T, and other required filings.

• Serve as a primary liaison with external auditors, financial advisors, rating agencies, banks, and regulatory agencies.

• Oversee treasury operations, cash management activities, liquidity monitoring,  debt compliance reporting, banking relationships, and balance sheet reconciliations.

• Support financing activities, including coordination related to debt issuances, covenant compliance, and external financial reporting requirements.

• Support accounting and reporting for gifts, endowment activity, and sponsored projects.

• Partner with Finance and Information Technology staff to support Workday Finance operations, optimize financial systems and reporting capabilities, strengthen data integrity, and implement process improvements and automation initiatives.

• Develop, document, and maintain financial policies, procedures, and internal controls.

• Identify opportunities to strengthen financial operations, improve reporting processes, and enhance operational efficiency.

• Supervise, mentor, and develop accounting and financial operations staff.

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and service excellence within the Finance organization.

• Support financial reporting and presentations for senior leadership and the Board of Trustees.

• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Skills, Qualifications & Requirements: Required Qualifications • Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field CPA designation required

• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible accounting and financial leadership experience

• Experience in higher education, nonprofit, healthcare or similarly complex institutional environments

• Strong knowledge of GAAP, financial reporting, and internal controls

• Experience leading financial statement audits and managing complex accounting operations

•  Experience with nonprofit accounting, restricted funds, endowment accounting and sponsored programs administration

• Experience with Workday or other enterprise financial systems

•  Demonstrated experience supervising and developing professional staff

• Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively across departments

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet critical deadlines

• Ability to communicate complex financial and accounting matters clearly to a broad range of financial and non-financial stakeholders.

• Experience operating effectively within complex and decentralized organizations.

Preferred Qualifications • Experience supporting senior leadership and governing boards

• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in both strategic and hands-on capacities

• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity and a willingness to continuously learn and grow

• Demonstrated collaborative leadership style and commitment to supporting the mission and values of the College.

|Salary Range: $240,000 - $250,000

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmen

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