Controller

The Controller will be responsible for managing the organization's financial activities, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulations, and providing financial guidance to support the organization's purpose. Oversight of accounting operations, financial reporting, and internal controls.

Essential Functions

• Responsible for all aspects of general accounting duties within the Finance department of the Rutgers University Foundation.
• Directs the financial affairs of the organization and prepares financial analyses of operations, including interim and final financial statements with supporting schedules.
• Responsible for the company's financial plans and policies, its accounting practices, the conduct of its relationships with lending institutions and the financial community, the maintenance of its fiscal records, and the preparation of financial reports.
• Ensures proper application of accounting principles and foundation policies.
• Ensures compliance with, reporting of, and filing of all federal, state, and local tax requirements applicable to nonprofit organizations, including the timely and accurate preparation and filing of IRS Form 990 and any related schedules.
• Sets and meets efficient and effective targets for the department while maintaining a focus on internal and external constituent relations.
• Coordinates the annual audit of the foundation's financial records with outside independent auditors in accordance with GASB (Governmental Accounting Standards Board) and GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles).
• Responsible for providing auditors with all documentation required within the required time frame.
• Ensures the annual receipt of an unqualified opinion on the financial statements for presentation to the Board of Directors.
• Works cooperatively with University Accounting to prepare a consolidated financial statement within the established deadlines.
• Lead and enhance multiple teams that provide enterprise-wide value-add shared services and strategy aimed towards improving overall success across the organization.
• Responsible for refining systems that remove barriers, burdens, and redundancies for employees, elevating the overall performance of everyone.
• Build upon an established infrastructure that ensures all employees will have the support they need to succeed within the assigned areas.
• Other duties as assigned

Leadership Attributes

This role requires a deep understanding of the institution and its various departments, demonstrating mastery in multiple functions. The incumbent will align donor intent with university priorities, showing a commitment to advancing University values. Effective communication will be key, simplifying complexity for others while displaying high emotional intelligence and political awareness. They will be proactive and strategic, excelling in prioritization and negotiation, and offering constructive feedback to shape the future of the organization.

Demonstrating critical thinking, they will challenge established ideas and consistently assert their voice. With confidence and competence, they will lead teams and ask insightful questions, while embodying a cross-functional, multiplier leadership approach. Their decisions will reflect a broad organizational perspective, considering impacts across departments. Through a coaching leadership style, they will effectively engage with staff, leaders, volunteers, and partners, while confidently partnering with university leadership to drive institutional success.

Competency Aptitudes

Leadership

• Lead a team effectively and execute comprehensive department/project/program strategy
• Serve as a member of the organization’s management team
• Present and represent projects to university leadership and work alongside university leaders on them
• Successfully lead team (and/or staff volunteers) in a way that maximizes the potential of each team member
• Lead, assess, reimagine, and drive initiatives

Autonomy

• Lead multiple pan-University initiatives
• Bring new best practices and innovation to the organization
• Lead a team, volunteers, relationships, or projects, with minimal oversight
• Set goals, manage budgets, and meet deadlines for themselves and the team
• Drives the area forward to achieve goals within their job purview
• Discernment on when to seek direction from supervisor, delegate, or act independently

Complexity

• Demonstrate specialized knowledge, experience, skill set
• Effectively collaborate with senior leadership, your supervisor and University partners across the enterprise
• Able to create, deploy and execute increasingly complex projects
• Set direction and approach in partnership with assigned RU leader’s vision
• Able to adapt and anticipate changing situations and serve as a thought partner on leadership changes
• Mastery of prioritization and balance in terms of people, projects, and budget/resources

Strategy

• Create and lead University-wide operational-related initiatives
• Develop strategy with input of cross-functional teams to negotiate and influence solutions
• Demonstrate an ability to set priorities and determine strategy for enterprise-wide , both Foundation and University, including staffing and budgets
• Elevate the employee experience for multiple departments/programs , leading to retention, innovation, and ownership
• Serve as the organization's thought leader/advisor on specific subjects

Education And/or Experience

Bachelor's degree and/or 10+ years of professional experience in fundraising, alumni relations, non-profit organizations, event planning, higher education, or related fields. CPA preferred.

Working Conditions

This position requires clarity of focus while juggling complex projects or deadlines with little physical effort. Will work evenings, weekends, or odd hours to meet organizational commitments. Typical working conditions with an absence of disagreeable elements. This position requires some early mornings and late evenings to accommodate meetings, travel, events, and external constituent’s schedules

Workplace Arrangements

This is classified as an office-centric hybrid position. Colleagues working under an office-centric hybrid arrangement have a primary workstation in a university or foundation location and are in the office between one and five days a week. The frequency with which they are present in the office depends on their role and function and the interdependency of other functions.

Compensation And Benefits

The position is budgeted at a starting salary of $150,000/ year. Final offers are based on various factors such as the candidate’s qualifications, skills, competencies, and other job-related reasons for the role. In addition to salary, Rutgers University Foundation offers:

• Office-centric hybrid work schedule
• Comprehensive medical
• Comprehensive no-cost dental, and no-cost vision insurance for employees and dependents
• 403(b) plan with matching employer contribution
• Accrual of three weeks of annual vacation time, in addition to five wellness days and fifteen sick days per year
• Nine holidays, as well as four floating holidays
• Significant tuition reductions
• Professional development is highly valued at the Rutgers University Foundation, where employees are encouraged to look across the organization to develop new skills and abilities for professional career progression.
• $40 monthly cell phone reimbursement

Equal Employment Opportunity

It is Foundation policy to provide equal employment opportunity to all its employees and applicants. The Foundation prohibits discrimination against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristics protected by applicable state, federal and/or local laws. Equal employment opportunity applies to hiring, placement,

transfer, promotion, demotion, recruitment, advertising or solicitation for employment, treatment during employment, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, selection for training, layoff, or termination.