Details
Posted: 04-Aug-22
Location: Fairfax, Virginia
Salary: Open
Department: GMU Foundation-Inc
Web Announcement:
GMUF, Controller
George Mason University Foundation seeks an accomplished leader, collaborator, and subject-matter expert for the role of
GMUF, Controller. The
GMUF, Controller is responsible for managing all finance, accounting, and reporting activities for the Foundation to ensure a solid and sustainable future for George Mason University.
George Mason University has a strong institutional commitment to the achievement of excellence and diversity among its faculty and staff, and strongly encourages candidates to apply who will enrich Mason's academic and culturally inclusive environment.
About the Position:
Reporting to the Foundation Chief Financial Officer, the GMUF, Controller is pivotal in leading daily finance operations and creating an inclusive, positive professional environment. Supervising a team of 12 with responsibility for accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash and treasury management, and financial reporting, the GMUF, Controller will ensure the Foundation has the systems, procedures, team, and relationships to execute its business operations effectively and ultimately fulfill its mission.
The GMUF, Controller will work closely with the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations, Director of Real Estate and Investments, and University Fiscal Services colleagues to explore how the Foundation finance function can best support broader University operations and provide opportunities for colleagues across the institution to learn more about the important work of the Foundation. In partnership with the Foundation CFO and Foundation President, the GMUF, Controller will work to position the Foundation for growth and maximum operational effectiveness through strategic planning and initiatives.
Responsibilities:
Finance Operations Management
- Actively lead the Foundation's financial and accounting functions, including processing incoming gifts, pledge and pledge payments, and other deposits; disbursements of restricted (programmatic) and unrestricted (operational) funds; cash and investment management;
- Manage the Foundation's enterprise risk management process, establishing controls and procedures to ensure proper segregation of duties for all areas of Foundation operations;
- Oversee all financial reporting components of Foundation activity, including annual audited financial statements, reporting to external groups (NACUBO, VSE, CASE), IRS filings, and tax returns (IRS Forms 990, 990T and related filings, and trust tax returns), charitable registry filings, and all internal reporting to the Advancement and University community; ensure compliance with IRS, charitable solicitation registration, and other regulatory requirements;
- Prepare and evaluate the Foundation's annual operating budget and 5-year projections;
- Lead the external audit process, including all communication and engagement with the outside audit team in alignment with Foundation and University reporting deadlines;
- Maintain responsibility for the Foundation's financial systems, managing vendors and consultants to evaluate and solve issues and identify opportunities to position the Foundation for growth and better support the wider University community; and
- Partner with the Director of Real Estate and Investments to ensure cash and investment activities, including endowment and real estate activities, are correctly recorded, managed, monitored, and reported.
Team Leadership
- Lead a diverse team of highly accomplished professionals:
- In close collaboration with the Assistant Controller, oversee the financial reporting functions of the Foundation, including quarterly reporting to University Deans, Vice Presidents, and associated Advancement and Finance staff members;
- Oversee the Senior Accountant-Cash and the treasury function of the Foundation, ensuring gift importing and reconciliations meet reporting deadlines;
- Advise the Associate Director, Accounts Payable, and the Accounts Payable Team on disbursement-related issues, leading policy decisions and providing guidance on taxation and other regulatory issues;
- Work with the Senior Accountant-Investments and the Investments Accounting Team to ensure reconciliations meet reporting deadlines; coordinate review of activity with the Director of Real Estate and Investments and external consultants; and oversee banking relationships;
- Provide opportunities for growth and challenge the team to expand their capabilities through professional development; and
- Maintain internal communications with staff at all levels throughout the Foundation and actively work to create and promote an inclusive, positive, and supportive work environment.
University Collaboration
- Serve as the primary Foundation contact to the University's Financial Reporting Office and manages the preparation of materials (under GAAP guidance) for inclusion in university statements;
- Partner with colleagues in the University Controller's Office, Fiscal Services, and the Office of Sponsored Programs to ensure accurate and timely activity management and reporting; and
- Guide colleagues in the Office of Advancement and Alumni Relations (Alumni Relations, Donor Relations, Gifts and Records, and Development Officers) and serve as the primary contact for affiliated relationships across the University.
Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate will be an accomplished subject-matter expert and a collaborative leader. They will be expected to fulfill leadership and mentoring responsibilities that provide equitable and inclusive working environments to the staff they supervise and the staff they work with. Success in the role requires a range of qualities, experiences, and interpersonal skills that are essential enablers of effective performance. The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the following skills and qualifications:
- Master's degree in accounting or related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience; CPA license is strongly preferred;
- Considerable experience (generally 5+ years) in general accounting and/or auditing; recent experience in public higher education in the same or similar role is preferred;
- Demonstrated, effective decision-making skills as well as a solid understanding of GAAP and complex reconciliations; general ledger management, audit, budget, and financial statement preparation experience;
- Supervisory experience, effective leadership skills, and the ability to work effectively with colleagues;
- Effective interpersonal, organizational, analytical, financial, and communication skills; and
- Demonstrated ability to be forward-thinking, enthusiastic, and entrepreneurial.
Salary: Commensurate with education and experience.
Location: Fairfax, VA
Mason Ad Statement:
Great Careers Begin at Mason!
George Mason University is an innovative, entrepreneurial institution with national distinction in both academics and research. Mason holds a top
U.S. News and World Report
About George Mason University
George Mason University is a public, comprehensive, research university established by the Commonwealth of Virginia located in Northern Virginia, outside of Washington, D.C. Mason was initially founded as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1949, and became an independent institution in 1972. George Mason University is an innovative and inclusive academic community committed to creating a more just, free, and prosperous world.
George Mason University has 37,000 students from all 50 states and 130 countries and a residential population of more than 6,000 students. Mason is a vibrant and dynamic community of scholars. 80% of our students are employed within six months of graduation. Nearly two-thirds of the 140,000 Mason alumni live and work in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Mason is a young university that, in just a short time, has made impressive strides in size, stature and influence. Today, as Virginia’s largest public research university, we are setting the benchmark for a bold, progressive education that serves the needs of our students and communities. To that end, we have 10 schools and colleges devoted to a variety of study.
Mission.
We prepa
...re Mason students for the demands of work, social responsibility, and life in an ever-changing global society. University Life's mission statement is core to our work. We support every student at Mason, from orientation through graduation.
George Mason: Patriotism Personified.
George Mason, for whom our university is named, was one of the greatest of the founding fathers of the United States. Mason drafted the Virginia Declaration of Rights, which became a model for the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights.
We Are in Virginia. But We Serve the World.
Mason is committed to creating a more just, free and prosperous world. Located in one of the most important political, economic and intellectual hubs in the world, we accept our responsibility to serve others: to help our students succeed, enrich the life of our community, and contribute to solving some of the most complex global problems of our time.
Washington, D.C.: Land of Opportunity.
Mason’s main campus is in Fairfax, Virginia, just 15 miles outside of Washington, D.C. The nation’s capital is easily accessible by car or public transportation.
At Mason, you can enjoy the best of both worlds: a beautiful wooded residential campus and outstanding college experience, as well as numerous internship and recreational opportunities that only a world-class urban setting like D.C. can offer.
You can intern with National Geographic or the Justice Department, visit the numerous museums with your Art History classmates, take a selfie in front of Lincoln Memorial, catch a Nationals baseball game, kayak along the Potomac, or check out the many neighborhoods where you’ll discover lots of great shopping, places to eat, art galleries, music venues, and much more. You can attend events and hear nationally recognized speakers. You’ll run out of time before you run out of things to do.
There’s more to explore. Students participate in a field trip to the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., organized by the Office of International Programs and Services.
In just a short drive, you can be hiking in the Shenandoah Mountains or walking the boardwalk in either Ocean City, Maryland, or Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Our closest airports are Dulles International Airport and Ronald Reagan National Airport, and Mason is easily accessible by public transportation. Free shuttle buses help you get to the nearest Metro station in Vienna, Virginia, just a short distance from our Fairfax Campus. The Arlington Campus is within walking distance of the Virginia Square-GMU stop on the Orange Line.
Enriching Work Environment.
We will invest in recruiting, retaining, and developing talented and diverse faculty and academic and professional staff. We will create a vibrant campus life in which all members can grow and thrive.
Diversity.
Diversity is one of our core values; everyone is welcome here. Mason was recently named the most diverse university in Virginia by U.S. News & World Report.
We bring together a multitude of people and ideas in everything that we do. Our culture of inclusion, our multidisciplinary approach, and our global perspective makes us more effective educators and scholars.
While at Mason, you’ll be making your own decisions and forming your own view of the world. Engaging with diverse groups of individuals, including students, faculty, and staff, will enrich this experience. You will learn from them, and they will learn from you.
We have a variety of communities here, and you're sure to find a group of people who are like you. The great thing is you'll also be embraced by communities of people who are not like you. At Mason, you'll be in a place where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.
Interacting with people from a variety of backgrounds will:
•Widen your outlook of the world,
•Show you how to work and collaborate with people of differing views,
•Expose you to new perspectives from people with disparate life experiences, and
•Give you the social skills to interact with all kinds of people.
Diversity also enhances learning and creative thinking by prompting the study of new material and the awareness of fresh viewpoints. The power of many perspectives will boost your capacity to explore original ideas and solutions. Seeing issues in a new way heightens your creativity and problem-solving abilities.
Another benefit: As our nation becomes more diverse, students who learn in a diverse environment will be more competitive in an increasingly global economy. You’ll enhance your critical thinking skills and improve your ability to develop nuanced solutions to real-world problems.
Campus-Wide Accessibility.
Accessibility @ mason provide information regarding the physical access of all campuses and online accessibility of programs and services. Information for disability related services and resources available to all employee, students, and visitors the entire university include physical access to buildings, parking policies, and emergency evacuation procedures.
Accessible.
We are an open and welcoming community. We partner with public and private organizations in our region and around the world. We proactively engage with our community. We define our success by how many talented students with potential we serve, not how many we leave out.
Social and Cultural Venues.
Our venues bring world-class performances to the community through vibrant concerts and events. Community members are invited to take part in many artistic and cultural offerings at Mason. Spaces are also available to rent for your next event.
Show more
Show less
Connections working at George Mason University
https://jobs.nicsa.org/jobs/17230704/gmuf-controller