Controller

29-Mar-2024

Harvard Graduate School of Design

65254BR

Position Description

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY:

The Harvard Graduate School of Design (GSD) educates design, research, and scholarship leaders to make a resilient, just, and beautiful world. The GSD offers degree programs across a range of design disciplines—architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, urban design, design engineering, and real estate—as well as advanced research programs that cut across these disciplines and a robust public program of lectures, exhibitions, and publications. The immense variety of people, programs, and ideas at the School sustains a vibrant and rich environment for learning, inquiry, and collaboration, unlike any other design school.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Graduate School of Design (GSD) is seeking an experienced and ambitious financial professional, ready to provide financial leadership to the GSD community.  The Controller is responsible for the strategic direction of accounting, payroll and control activities within the Finance Office at the GSD.  They will assist in the four general areas of internal controls, operational management, compliance, and by participating in strategic planning discussions as a member of the senior leadership team in the Finance Office. The successful candidate has a strong understanding of generally accepted accounting principles, has a passion for innovation and continuous improvement, and is a strong manager of people. With a keen eye for efficiency, the Controller will be an effective communicator, creating and advocating for streamlined financial processes while maintaining effective controls.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Works with finance colleagues across the School and University to ensure high levels of customer service by providing professional, timely, and accurate financial services.
• Manages and develops a staff of three responsible for accounts payable, payroll, chart of accounts, capital project tracking, general accounting, quarterly closing and reporting.
• Develops, implements and monitors accounting control processes and procedures that ensure compliance with University and GSD.
• Ensures accurate and timely financial reporting and adherence to GAAP, including quarterly and annual close reporting. Adheres to University interim reporting requirements and approves year end and quarterly flux analysis.
• Advises GSD leadership on all aspects of financial matters including regulatory and compliance issues.
• Manages administration of GSD payroll and accounts payable, accounts receivable, expense report and other reimbursement processing.  Establishes protocols to ensure Departments and Units process financial transactions in a timely and accurate manner.
• Leverages reporting and process to routinely audit financial condition and provides information to internal and external auditors.
• Revises and updates internal reports to be more useful and efficient as necessary.  Serves as a resource within the GSD in the extraction of data and in the development of useful management reports.
• Administers the GSD chart of accounts.
• Represents the GSD at the University level in development of new financial systems and reporting capabilities and designs and manages their local implementation.
• Protects assets by establishing, monitoring, and enforcing internal controls.
• Maintains equipment inventories and fixed asset subsidiary ledgers.
• Guides and trains faculty and staff across the GSD with regard to financial policies and procedures
• Works closely with the GSD Financial Planning and Analysis team to share information about revenue sources and spending including funding from tuition, endowments, gifts, sponsored research, publications, and Executive Education.
• Supports financial systems evolution and implementation, collaborating with colleagues at other Schools and in Central Administration.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or equivalent work experience required
• Minimum of 8 years’ relevant work experience
• Supervisory experience

Additional Qualifications and Skills

SPECIFIC BASIC QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree required
• Minimum of 8 years of financial administration experience working in a complex organization
• Supervisory experience

• CPA and/or MBA highly desirable but not required
• Direct experience in University accounting and reporting preferred
• Direct experience with Oracle and PeopleSoft systems preferred
• Understanding of GAAP reporting and regulatory requirements with knowledge of how these relate to a higher education environment preferred
• Strong quantitative and financial reporting skills, and expertise in data extraction, analysis, and report presentation
• Ability to effectively communicate at all levels and with multiple constituents and to deliver difficult messages with tact and diplomacy
• Organized, flexible and able to manage multiple, challenging projects simultaneously in a fast-paced work setting
• Customer service orientation, with emphasis on collaboration and creative problem solving while balancing the need for internal control

Certificates and Licenses

Working Conditions

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This position will be based in Cambridge, MA. The work is mainly performed in an office setting. Flexible work options for this role will be discussed during the interview process.  

This position requires frequent in-person work at the GSD throughout the academic year. Applications are accepted and encouraged from candidates not based in the Boston-Cambridge area, so long as they are able to commute to campus regularly during the academic year and reside in one of our approved work states. Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, California, New Jersey, Georgia, Virginia, Illinois, Washington, and Maryland.
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Additional Information

The health of our workforce is a priority for Harvard University. With that in mind, we strongly encourage all employees to be up-to-date on CDC-recommended vaccines.

Work Format Details

This is a hybrid position that is based in Massachusetts. Additional details will be discussed during the interview process. All remote work must be performed within one of the Harvard Registered Payroll States, which currently includes Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, Georgia, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Washington, and California (CA for exempt positions only). Certain visa types and funding sources may limit work location. Individuals must meet work location sponsorship requirements prior to employment.

Benefits

We invite you to visit Harvard's Total Rewards website (https://hr.harvard.edu/totalrewards ) to learn more about our outstanding benefits package, which may include:

• Paid Time Off: 3-4 weeks of accrued vacation time per year (3 weeks for support staff and 4 weeks for administrative/professional staff), 12 accrued sick days per year, 12.5 holidays plus a Winter Recess in December/January, 3 personal days per year (prorated based on date of hire), and up to 12 weeks of paid leave for new parents who are primary care givers.
• Health and Welfare: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefits, disability and life insurance programs, along with voluntary benefits. Most coverage begins as of your start date.
• Work/Life and Wellness: Child and elder/adult care resources including on campus childcare centers, Employee Assistance Program, and wellness programs related to stress management, nutrition, meditation, and more.
• Retirement: University-funded retirement plan with contributions from 5% to 15% of eligible compensation, based on age and earnings with full vesting after 3 years of service.
• Tuition Assistance Program: Competitive program including $40 per class at the Harvard Extension School and reduced tuition through other participating Harvard graduate schools.
• Tuition Reimbursement: Program that provides 75% to 90% reimbursement up to $5,250 per calendar year for eligible courses taken at other accredited institutions.
• Professional Development: Programs and classes at little or no cost, including through the Harvard Center for Workplace Development and LinkedIn Learning.
• Commuting and Transportation: Various commuter options handled through the Parking Office, including discounted parking, half-priced public transportation passes and pre-tax transit passes, biking benefits, and more.
• Harvard Facilities Access, Discounts and Perks: Access to Harvard athletic and fitness facilities, libraries, campus events, credit union, and more, as well as discounts to various types of services (legal, financial, etc.) and cultural and leisure activities throughout metro-Boston.

Job Function

Finance, General Administration

Department Office Location

USA - MA - Cambridge

Job Code

F0159M Controller Mgt V

Work Format

Hybrid (partially on-site, partially remote)

Union

00 - Non Union, Exempt or Temporary

Pre-Employment Screening

Identity

Commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging

Harvard University views equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging as the pathway to achieving inclusive excellence and fostering a campus culture where everyone can thrive. We strive to create a community that draws upon the widest possible pool of talent to unify excellence and diversity while fully embracing individuals from varied backgrounds, cultures, races, identities, life experiences, perspectives, beliefs, and values.

EEO Statement

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.

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