Job Description

The Controller reports to the Associate Vice President for Administration & Finance and serves as the university's senior financial accounting officer, coordinates financial audits, and leads accounting operations, financial reporting, internal controls, and financial compliance within the position's assigned scope. The Controller ensures accurate, timely, and reliable financial information in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applicable to public higher education, GASB standards, USM accounting and reporting requirements, and applicable laws, regulations, and university policies. The position requires strong technical judgment, effective staff leadership, timely resolution of accounting discrepancies, collaboration across the university, and a commitment to ethical financial stewardship and responsive service.

Scope and Authority

The Controller provides leadership and supervision for General Accounting, Payroll, and Accounts Payable through assigned managers and staff. The Controller is accountable for institutional general-ledger accounting, receivables, cash receipts and application, capital assets, and restricted-fund accounting, including grant, sponsored-program, and student financial aid funds. The Controller coordinates with the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs and other responsible offices on institutional accounting accuracy, payment application, and reconciliations.

The Controller exercises approval authority within documented delegations, maintains appropriate segregation of duties, and escalates material concerns through established BSU and USM reporting channels, including to the AVP and Vice President as appropriate.

Essential Responsibilities

Maintain the general ledger and accurate recording of university revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and fund activity.
Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes; ensure timely correction or escalation of outstanding transactions.
Prepare BSU year-end statements, schedules, disclosures, and reporting packages supporting USM consolidated financial statements and other required institutional, state, and federal financial reporting.
Establish and maintain accounting policies, procedures, documentation, and financial controls. Evaluate complex transactions, document accounting conclusions, and implement new applicable GASB standards and USM requirements.
Serve as the campus financial audit liaison in coordination with USM. Coordinate requests, schedules, records, and financial responses for external financial statement audits, Office of Legislative Audits examinations, internal audits, and applicable federal Single Audit work.
Identify and assess accounting and financial control risks. Promptly escalate material errors, overdue reconciliations, control failures, and suspected fiscal irregularities through established reporting channels, preserving supporting records.
Coordinate accounting for university receipts, transfers, and other foundation-related transactions with Advancement and foundation finance personnel; obtain information needed for university and USM reporting.
Monitor and report cash flows and liquidity in coordination with the AVP and VP.
Supervise and develop assigned managers and accounting staff. Set expectations, evaluate performance, provide training and cross-training, and maintain continuity of critical accounting operations.
Provide clear financial analysis and guidance to leadership and campus partners. Promote confidentiality, accountability, transparency, ethical stewardship, and timely service to students, faculty, and external stakeholders.

Required Knowledge and Skills

Demonstrated knowledge and application of governmental accounting and GASB standards, public higher education financial reporting, grants and sponsored-fund accounting, restricted-fund accounting, and relevant USM accounting and reporting requirements.
Advanced financial data analysis skills, with the ability to investigate discrepancies and communicate accounting conclusions clearly.
Strong analytical, organizational, communication, presentation, and problem-solving skills; sound judgment and the ability to collaborate across academic, administrative, and technical offices.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, economics, business administration, or a closely related field with relevant accounting preparation.
Active CPA license in good standing.
At least seven years of progressively responsible accounting and financial reporting experience, including at least three years supervising an accounting team.
Demonstrated experience with governmental accounting, GASB standards, financial reporting, audit coordination, internal controls, and accounting operations.
Demonstrated experience managing and developing professional accounting staff, improving processes, and working collaboratively with organizational leaders and stakeholders.
Demonstrated commitment to accuracy, confidentiality, integrity, and ethical financial stewardship.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in public higher education accounting and financial reporting.
Experience with grants, sponsored funds and financial aid accounting, including institutional financial reporting and reconciliation requirements in higher education.
Experience with Workday Financial Management and related reporting, workflows, and financial controls.
Master's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field.
Knowledge of FASB reporting relevant to affiliated foundation transactions and reporting coordination.

Additional Job Information

Benefits include medical, dental, prescription, long-term disability, accidental death and dismemberment insurance and life insurance; paid time for paid sick leave, annual leave, and personal leave; 12 paid holidays per year, tuition remission; employer-funded pension and supplemental retirement accounts.

Bowie State University shall not discriminate against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, age, ancestry or national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, marital status or veteran status. All policies, programs, and activities of Bowie State University are and shall be in conformity with all pertinent Federal and state laws of nondiscrimination including, but not limited to: Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Age Discrimination Act, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Federal Executive Order No. 11375, and Article 49B of the Annotated Code of Maryland. This commitment applies in all areas and embraces faculty, staff, and students.

Equal opportunity of access to academic and related programs shall be extended to all persons. Bowie State University shall have as its firm objective equal opportunity in recruitment and hiring, rate of pay, all other promotions, training, retention and dismissals, for all employees and applicants for employment. The University will stress equal access for employees and applicants for employment to all programs and services provided by the University both on and off campus. The University will also provide equal opportunity and an atmosphere of nondiscrimination with respect to women and members of minority groups in all its operations. In addition, the University shall promote equal opportunity and equal treatment through a positive and continuing Affirmative Action Program.

The University makes, and will continue to make, reasonable accommodations to promote the employment of qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans, unless such accommodations would impose an undue hardship on the University's business.

In addition, employees and applicants will not be subjected to harassment, intimidation, threats, coercion, or discrimination because they have engaged in, or may have engaged in, activities such as filing a complaint, assisting or participating in an investigation, compliance review or hearing, or opposing any act or practice made unlawful, or exercising any other right protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended or the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act of 1974, as amended.

Controller