Controller/ Associate Vice Chancellor, Financial Reporting and Operations #17000509

Controller/ Associate Vice Chancellor, Financial Reporting and Operations #17000509

Position Overview

Lone Star College --- a unified system of six comprehensive community campuses offering academic college education, continuing education, business and corporate training, online learning, transitional studies, special programs, and international educational partnerships, and serving 95,000 students --- is seeking a Controller/Associate Vice Chancellor for Financial Reporting and Operations, reporting to the Vice Chancellor and Chief Financial Officer for the College. The chosen professional will assist in leading the College’s pursuit of excellence in academics, student life, and community service in an environment of cultural and ethnic diversity.

Commitment to Mission

This job carries with it the obligation to uphold the Mission of Lone Star College (LSC) in carrying out the duties of the position. A commitment to positive interpersonal behaviors, professional communication, diversity, integrity, leadership, stewardship, respect and accountability to LSC students and employees is essential.

Cultural Beliefs

• Students Matter
• Inspire Excellence
• Act Intentionally
• Better Together
• No Fear!
• Trust!

Lone Star College-System Office

Lone Star College, located in the north metropolitan Houston area, is one of the largest and fastest growing community colleges in the country featuring six comprehensive colleges and 10 centers with over 95,000 credit and non-credit students each semester, an annual budget exceeding $500,000,000, and 7,300 employees spread over a 2100 square mile area.  

LSC adds $3.1 billion to the local and regional economy by providing educational opportunities across the north Houston region. 

Lone Star College-System Office employees are based at one of two System Office locations; The Woodlands and University Park.  Both are the site for multiple administrative departments and system-wide training programs.

This position is located at the LSC-System Office at 5000 Research Forest Drive.  The Woodlands, Texas 77381.

The selected Associate Vice Chancellor will serve as a leader for Finance and Administration and will fully support the System’s strategic priorities including academic and workforce priorities, student success, financial responsibility and accountability, educational partnerships, the establishment of a culture that values employees and students, the Lone Star College Foundation, a commitment to high ethical and professional standards, and full understanding and support of Lone Star College’s budgeting philosophies, allocation models and financial accountability. The chosen leader will combine character, integrity and trustworthiness of the highest order with an exceptional array of skills and abilities and the vision, initiative, passion and energy to make a decisive impact and to ensure and enhance the continued success of the College.

The selected candidate will discover an environment where professional satisfaction and career achievement are paired with optimal quality of life in an economically thriving and highly desirable metropolitan area. LSC’s location in vibrant, diverse Houston allows students, faculty and staff to draw on its wealth of resources. The city is rich in the arts and culture, thanks to its world-class performing arts organizations and renowned museum exhibitions, and is also a major economic and business hub. Family members of all ages will find the elements that contribute to a safe and enjoyable lifestyle.

Purpose and Scope

Provides strategic vision and operational leadership for Lone Star College’s (LSC) Financial Reporting and Operations departments. Holds direct authority and accountability to execute policies and operational initiatives for a group of departments, including Accounts Receivable, Financial Reporting and Accounting, Payroll, and Risk Management. The selected candidate will serve as a leader for Finance and Administration, fully understanding and supporting the System’s strategic priorities related to financial responsibility and accountability, budgeting philosophies, and allocation models. In addition, the candidate will fully support the System’s overall strategic priorities, including academic and workforce priorities, student success, educational partnerships, the establishment of a culture that values employees and students, the Lone Star College Foundation, and a commitment to high ethical and professional standards. The AVC/Controller serves as a key strategic advisor to the CFO/Vice Chancellor of Finance & Administration/Facilities & Construction, as well as other System executives and campus leaders.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Provides vision and direction in the formulation, recommendation, implementation and evaluation of LSC’s Financial Reporting & Operations department, which includes Accounts Receivable, Financial Reporting and Accounting, Payroll, and Risk Management:
2. Accounts Receivable is responsible for supporting student financial activities including maintaining student accounts receivable, processing student refunds, handling payment issues and administering the student payment plans. For student accounts and other accounts receivable, manages account details for non-payments, delayed payments, and other irregularities. Follows up on outstanding payments and manages the recovery of owed funds;
3. Financial Reporting & Accounting is responsible for all system accounting processes including maintaining the general ledger, monthly financial reporting to the Board, and preparing the Lone Star Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Manages internal controls;
4. Payroll is responsible for producing and distributing payroll for all LSC employees, tax reporting and compliance, and nonresident alien tax status evaluation;
5. Risk Management is responsible for forecasting and evaluating financial risks and identifying economical procedures to minimize, monitor, and control the probability and/or impact of the risk.
6. Responsible for hiring, training, evaluating and overseeing the Managers and Directors of each area within Financial Reporting & Operations. Provides leadership and strategic direction, assisting the leadership team in setting department goals that align with the System’s strategic plan.
7. Ensures compliance with all applicable federal, state and local laws, contracts, regulations and LSC policies related to all areas of Financial Reporting & Operations.
8. Researches and implements industry best practices related to all areas within the department. Identifies and directs business process improvement initiatives, which allow the System to anticipate and be proactive to student, campus, and employee needs.
9. Directs the preparation of accurate and timely monthly reports in compliance with state law and applicable standards, as well as periodic reports and analysis to assist the Vice Chancellor, Chancellor, or Board of Trustees on System financial decisions.
10. Directs the annual audit and preparation of the System’s comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) in accordance with applicable accounting standards and THECB guidelines. Directs the contract and scope of work of the external auditors.
11. Manages, monitors, and administers area budgets. Implements budget controls and performs needs assessments for development of annual budgeting recommendations.
12. Promotes a service-oriented approach to colleges and other business units.
13. Responsible for other reasonable related duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Business Administration or a related field and at least 10 years of related work experience, at least 5 of them in a Manager or Director-level position.
• Certified Public Accountant certification (CPA).

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Business, Accounting, Finance or related field.
• Experience in Higher Education finance or accounting, or a related area.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities:

• Experience in effectively managing operational departments and leadership of work teams.
• Knowledge of laws, regulations, and policies governing the fiscal requirements of various state and federal agencies, and the ability to interpret them and effectively communicate them as needed
• Ability to develop strong, productive and collaborative teams
• Ability to identify relevant data and use it appropriately in decision-making
• Strong interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to establish strategy and direction for department
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude in demanding work environment
• Ability to set priorities and successfully manage multiple tasks with overlapping time-frames and deadlines
• Strong skills in utilization of computer systems to extract and report information.

Physical Abilities:

Minimal physical effort is required

Organizational Chart

• Chancellor Stephen C. Head
  • Chief Financial Officer/ Vice Chancellor Finance & Administration, Facilities & Construction
    • Associate Vice Chancellor, Budget and Treasury
      • Budget Management
      • Financial Planning & Analysis
      • Treasury
    • Associate Vice Chancellor, Facilities & Construction
      • Construction Management
      • Real Estate & Strategic Planning
      • System Facilities Operations & Maintenance
    • Controller/ Associate Vice Chancellor, Financial Reporting and Operations
      • Accounts Receivable
      • Financial Reporting & Accounting
      • Payroll
      • Risk Management
    • Associate Vice Chancellor, Supply Management
      • Accounts Payable and Fixed Assets
      • Contract & Supplier Management
      • Procurement
      • Supplier Diversity Program

Application Process

This is a confidential search process guided by an external search consultant, Dr. Dennis Michaelis, who is the ONLY recipient of your materials. The following four items are required to be submitted directly and only to the search consultant via e-mail attachments:

1. COVER LETTER, limited to no more than 4 typed pages, detailing how your education experiences/background align with this Position Profile.
2. RESUME, limited to no more than 6 typed pages.
3. REFERENCES, limited to 1 typed page, and including two supervisors, two direct reports, two full-time faculty members, and one community reference. The references must include names, titles, business and personal phone numbers, and e-mail addresses. References will not be contacted without the consultant’s prior notification to the applicant.
4. TRANSCRIPT OF ALL DEGREES

Important Note: All attachments are to be in Microsoft Word format, and file names must begin with applicant’s initials (example: SBKcover, SBKres, SBKref, SBKtrans).

Review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. It is preferred, however, that application materials be submitted by August 18, 2017 and no later than August 23, 2017.

For questions related to the search process, calendar, and Position Profile contact Search Liaison Helen Clougherty, Vice Chancellor, Chief of Staff/Board Liaison at Helen.Clougherty@LoneStar.edu  

For other questions, contact the Search Consultant via e-mail noted below (including requests for phone conversation, in which you should also list times and number at which you may be reached).

Search Consultant

Dr. Dennis Michaelis

Gold Hill Associates

DMichaelis.GoldHillAssociates@gmail.com