Controller

Siena Catholic Schools of Racine is seeking an experienced Controller who operates with high integrity and who shares the same mission, vision and values as we do. Siena Catholic Schools of Racine comprises six elementary/middle schools and one high school, serving approximately 1,600 students. Sharing your skills will lead the organization toward its goal of ensuring excellence in academics, nurturing faith formation, and developing healthy students.

Siena's mission states, "Siena Catholic Schools of Racine ignites a spirit of excellence in faith, knowledge, and service, inspiring students to be who God created them to be."

Siena Catholic Schools of Racine share these values:

• Service: We serve God's children through Catholic education.
• Education: We educate the whole child in mind, body, and spirit.
• Tradition: We honor our Dominican roots through prayer, study, service, and community.
• Collaboration: We work with families, parishes, and partners to build and strengthen communities.
• Innovation: We develop innovative thinkers and problem solvers.
• Excellence: We strive for excellence in all we do.

Scope and Summary: The Controller is responsible for financial functions and operations of Siena Catholic Schools of Racine. The Controller works with the President, Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, and other key leaders to allocate resources aligned with meeting strategic and financial goals. The Controller is an integral leader of the Finance Committee, driving monthly meetings to address critical issues requiring input and approval from the Committee in a timely manner. The Controller is responsible for providing financial leadership and stability to the Senior Leadership Team and ultimately to the Board of Directors. The Controller ensures proper accounting rules are being followed to meet federal, state, and local financial compliance regulations. The Controller manages two staff members and ensures that they follow U.S. GAAP, internal controls, and other practices to ensure the integrity of and accuracy of financial processes and records in order to meet regulatory and audit standards. The Controller is part of the Senior Leadership Team reporting to the President, that informs and consults on key strategic goals, challenges, and approaches.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or greater in Finance, Accounting, or Business Administration. MBA preferred
• Certification in Public or Management Accounting (CPA or CMA)
• Administration of School Choice Wisconsin program or other similar state parental choice program and/or school accounting experience preferred
• 10+ years in a role within an accounting function with 5+ years in a management/leadership position
• Strong communication skills
• Excellent analytical abilities, robust knowledge of governance, risk, and controls
• Experience developing positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• Broad knowledge of cash flow forecasting, long-term financial planning skills and financial modeling with focus on accounting policies and procedures
• Banking experience desired, including loans, deposits, CD's and other processes/best practices
• Ability to find innovative ways to solve budgeting and capital improvement constraints, and identify high risks
• Experience with lease accounting software preferred
• Experience managing grants, foundation funding, and other revenue sources outside of the budget strongly preferred
• Public/nonprofit sector experience
• Practicing Catholic strongly preferred

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Accounting and Audit

• Manages overall accounting, budgeting and financial reporting systems, policies and procedures, which will provide effective control and satisfy the informational requirements of the President and Budget Managers, Principals, Boards, Committees, independent auditors and government agencies.
• Analyzes data/ project trends, and creates reports and presentations interpreting the results of financial operations for the President, Senior Leadership, Principals, Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, and Finance Committee.
• Manages, directs and participates in the evaluation and the development of appropriate accounting software programs and updates to assure clarity, completeness of reports and efficiency of input/output.
• Monitors all staff utilizing the budgeting software(s) through routine check-ins with budget managers and accounting staff.
• Oversees the accurate and consistent recording and reporting of financial and accounting data processed by the Staff Accountant, Accounting Analyst, Director of Admissions & Financial Aid, etc.
• Develops and implements financial policies.
• Critically evaluates and advises on relevant accounting standards, regulation and reporting frameworks.
• Enhances efficiency of accounting functions and ensures all aspects of the financial compliance, reporting, and accounting process are on track.
• Responsible for all aspects of financial audits. Performs financial risk assessments and internal audits.
• Coordinates public accounting firm's audits and filings for Wisconsin School Choice Department of Public Instruction reporting, including Enrollment and Internal Policy and Control Audit and ensures all deadlines for WIsconsin School Choice are met as pertaining to financial reporting throughout the year.

Budget and Financial Reports

• Develops and maintains dashboards with key performance indicators (KPIs) for President, Leadership Team, Principals, Board of Directors, Board of Trustees, and Finance Committee.
• Oversees annual budgeting process by:
  
  • developing assumptions;
  • assisting instructional and administrative departments by providing forms, assumptions, projections, and consultations;
  • assisting in generating projections for cash flow, income and expense accounts;
  • coordinating capital expenditures;
  • assisting in developing recommendations for tuition and fee scale;
  • assisting in developing recommendations for salary, benefit ranges and scales;
  • supporting budget managers by meeting quarterly and reviewing all budgets and practices for alignment to the financial policies of the system.
• Presents relevant budget and actual trends and deviations to the President, Principals, Boards and Committees with observations and recommendations via demonstrative graphics/charts on a routine basis. Recommends innovative ways to solve budgeting and capital improvement constraints, and identify high risks.
• Works with the schools' senior leadership/management team, and Director of Admissions, Development, Enrollment & Financial Aid to identify viable enrollment goals at the beginning of each fiscal year.
• Works with the Director of Human Resources to complete annual and ongoing compensation and benefit analysis including 403(b) plan management.
• Directs the preparation of appropriate monthly, quarterly and annual financial statements for Departments, President, Principals, Boards and Committees.
• Monthly, analyzes and compares financial performance of operations with operating plans and budgets; reports and interprets the financial results of operations; reports significant trends, policies and strategies that will enhance overall accountability and operating efficiency.
• Directs and assists staff in creating monthly checklists for complete monthly/annual close process and desk instructions for succession planning.
• Creates proformas representing projections for up to 4-5 years in the future and shares with the President, Boards, and Committees on a routine basis.

Building Relationships:

• Synthesizes relevant financial information from all seven schools plus administrative offices and communicates progress regularly to key stakeholders, including senior administration, staff and the Siena Catholic Schools of Racine Board of Directors and Board of Trustees.
• Acts as key leader of the Finance Committee, coordinating monthly agendas and collaborating with Committee members to review forth relevant financial reports and information, receiving consultation, feedback and/or approval from the Finance Committee in a timely manner.
• Serves as a public spokesperson for Siena Catholic Schools of Racine at school events, fundraising functions, principal meetings, Siena leadership meetings, parish functions, community meetings, etc.
• Acts as a member of our school system's leadership team, responsible for managing our accounting functions, as well as budget preparation, financial reporting, fiscal compliance, cash flow, and overseeing the Finance department staff.

Physical Requirements (The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

• Communicate verbally; audible speech and good hearing and eyesight
• Read/interpret digital and paper documents
• Physical dexterity to operate computer and other equipment
• Prolonged sitting (50% or more)
• Walking up and down stairs and on uneven surfaces
• Occasionally lifting (from ground and also overhead) and carrying up to 20 pounds

Work Relationships & Scope

Reports to the President. Supervises Accounting Analyst and Staff Accountant. Manages an annual budget of approximately $20M.

Work Environment (The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.)

Work is performed in a pleasant indoor office environment with regular travel to outside the office meetings and events. May be exposed to heat, cold, wetness and high humidity when traveling to, or at, events. Must have the ability to work longer hours, including evenings and weekends as needed.