Job Description
Job Description
The Assistant Controller is a leadership role, responsible for supporting the financial management and reporting functions of Sarah Lawrence College. This position works in close partnership with the College’s Controller in overseeing accounting operations, conducting financial analysis, and ensuring regulatory compliance. The Assistant Controller produces accurate financial records, prepares financial statements, and provides leadership in cash management. This role also contributes to strategic financial planning, implements process improvement initiatives, and supports the institution’s annual audit.
Essential Duties Summary
Essential Functions
- Assist the Controller with management of all accounting operations.
- Monitor and analyze daily cash activities, ensuring effective liquidity management and funding strategies.
- Manage relationships with banking partners, ensuring seamless cash flow operations and optimizing funding options.
- Prepare and file Form 990 and other required reports, ensuring compliance with IRS and institutional regulations.
- Track and reconcile endowment activities to maintain accurate records of fund performance and distributions.
- Prepare, review, and post journal entries for institutional transactions with appropriate supporting documentation.
- Support the month end and quarter end close process.
- Provide essential support during the annual financial audit by coordinating documentation and responding to auditor inquiries.
- Ensure timely submission of regulatory filings and institutional surveys, including IPEDS and FISAP.
- Offer guidance and support to accounting staff, fostering a collaborative and professional working environment.
- Proactively identify opportunities for improved financial operations, and lead initiatives to enhance internal processes, improve transparency and strengthen internal controls.
- Stay current with new financial technologies and integrate them into existing processes.
- Collaborate with the IT department to maintain accurate financial records and system processes.
- Partner with colleagues across campus, including Student Accounts, Campus Safety, Information Technology and Advancement to support operational needs.
Additional Responsibilities
- Identify opportunities for cross-training to ensure coverage and maintain high service standards within the department.
- Assist the Office of Student Accounts during peak periods to ensure smooth financial operations.
- When needed, provide backup coverage of the duties of the Controller.
- Other duties as assigned by supervisor.
Required Qualifications
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required, preferably in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
- A minimum of 5 – 7 years of experience in accounting or financial management, preferably in higher education or nonprofit environments.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret financial data and develop actionable insights.
- Experience managing cash flow and banking operations.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, and familiarity with financial software systems.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills for collaborating with internal and external stakeholders.
- Ability to handle confidential information with professionalism and discretion.
- Ability to work occasional nights and weekends as required.
Physical and Cognitive Requirements
- Primarily sedentary, involving extended periods of sitting and significant computer use.
- Frequent verbal and written communication required.
- Capacity to organize and synthesize detailed information.
- Occasional walking/standing required.
Preferred Qualifications
Preferred Qualifications
- CPA certification or equivalent financial qualification.
- Familiarity with endowment accounting and fund management practices.
EEO Statement
Sarah Lawrence seeks to recruit and retain a diverse administration, staff, and faculty. Every job opening is seen as an opportunity to increase diversity, and every effort will be made to expand the applicant pool in accordance with these goals. (Please see our Nondiscrimination Policy.) For information on Sarah Lawrence College, our curriculum, teaching methods, and philosophy of education, please see our website at: https://www.sarahlawrence.edu/.
Salary
$100K - $110K
Position Type
Full Time
Open Until Filled
Yes
Supplemental Questions
Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).
-
How many years of experience do you have in this type of position?
- 0-1
- 1-3
- 3-5
- 5-7
- 7+
-
Do you have a bachelor's degree?
- Yes
- No
Documents Needed To Apply
Required Documents
- CV/Resume
- Cover Letter
Sarah Lawrence College is committed to sustaining a diverse and inclusive learning, working, and living community. This requires students, faculty, administration, and staff who reflect the diversity of our society; that people from different backgrounds and with different views be prepared to treat one another with mutual respect and honest curiosity so that they can engage and learn from one another; and that diversity infuse all aspects of the life and mission of the College. These conditions enable a genuine liberal arts education, in which the presence of people with different experiences and ideas, engaged in critical dialogue, overcomes ignorance and builds trust and knowledge.
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