Job Description

• Client: VSAC
• Website: 
• Job Title:  Controller
• Location:  Winooski, Vermont

About VSAC

VSAC helps Vermont students of all ages save, plan, and pay for college or career training. Established by the Vermont Legislature in 1965 as a public nonprofit agency, we champion the cause of students and their families, ensuring they receive the necessary information, counseling, and financial aid to reach their educational aspirations.

VSAC's commitment starts with assisting families in saving for education. Counselors work with students in nearly every Vermont middle school and high school, and again as adults. Our financial aid programs attract national recognition, and our loan programs and loan forgiveness programs are saving Vermont families thousands of dollars in interest. VSAC is committed to creating opportunities for all Vermont Students, but particularly for those -of any age- who believe that the doors to higher education are closed to them.

By the Numbers in FY'23

• VSAC Staff counseled 5,380 Vermont students
• Awarded $34,100,000 in grants and scholarships
• Serviced $464 Million in federal and private loans
• Assisted over 42,000 Vermonters and other borrowers

Position Summary

VSAC is seeking a dynamic Controller to direct our Finance Department. Reporting to the CFO, this role will oversee all accounting functions, including program accounting, federal reporting, cash and investment management, budgeting, purchasing, and payroll.

As a key leader, you will manage and mentor a talented team, fostering financial excellence and supporting VSAC's mission to empower students to achieve their educational goals.

Position Responsibilities

Oversee program and financial accounting

• Formulates and implements financial accounting and management policies and procedures; develops common chart of accounts and standardized budgets and financial reporting
• Investigates, recommends and implements financial and cost accounting, financial management and planning systems
• Prepares financial statements, analyzes and reports on financial results; conducts month-end and year-end closing; generates ad hoc reports and data analyses as needed

Responsible for the integrity and sound internal control of all corporate financial management systems which support internal and external reporting prepared for corporate management, board of directors, as well as federal and state statutory reporting requirements

• Coordinates risk management and internal audit activities with Director of Risk Management/Internal Audit
• Oversees annual financial statement audits
• Responsible for Lender, VSF, State Grant program, Federal and State grants accounting and reporting, bond accounting and reconciliation, grant/contract drawdowns and federal financial reporting for grants (i.e. GEAR UP) 

Oversee and manage corporate financial services

This will include but not be limited to:

• Corporate budgeting process including analytics
• Payroll
• Fixed asset accounting and management
• Accounts payable

 Responsible for the accounting, compliance and reporting for VSAC’s bond programs. This includes working with senior management on bond issuance, performing accounting functions for bonds, and managing the periodic bond settlement processes to ensure the bonds’ utility and profitability are maximized.

 Compliance

• Ensures all financial reporting is in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles as established by the GASB, SEC, etc.

• Arbitrage requirements and regulations and reporting
• Periodic reporting to ratings agencies and investors

 Cash and investment management

• Projections, investment, transfers, disbursement and receipt
• Short term investment and cash investment
• Endowment and other investment management and reporting

 Hiring and direct supervision of Accounting Manager

• Routinely evaluates and guides continued professional development of staff including preparing for continuance of operations when promotions or staff vacancies occur

 Establish and manage operating budget for Finance department

 Perform other related duties as required

Required Experience and Skills

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Finance, or Accounting
• Ten years of accounting experience with five of those years spent in a supervisory capacity.
• Significant experience with debt financing, cash flow analysis, and endowments.
• Strong computers skills including Excel, Access, and Word.
• Ability to communicate in writing and verbally, with high level individuals within VSAC and externally

Preferred Education:

• Masters in appropriate discipline desirable
• CPA strongly preferred

#VSAC

VSAC offers a comprehensive benefits package

• Two options for Medical, Dental & Prescription Drug Plans
• Employer contribution to either a Flexible Spending Account or Health Savings Account depending on your medical plan selection
• Paid Time Off, 12 Medical (Sick) days and 11 paid holidays
• Employer contribution of 10% of employee’s base salary rate to their 403(b)-retirement plan with no matching requirement
• Tuition Assistance
• Short term and long-term disability insurance
• Free access to onsite fitness center

VSAC values employees’ work-life balance, proven by its hybrid work model combining remote and in-office work. VSAC is also committed to staff well-being, demonstrated by its wellness offerings, onsite gym, and partnership with Marathon Health’s South Burlington clinic to provide opportunities for staff to improve and maintain their physical and behavioral health for free or low cost depending on the employee’s benefit plan.

Gallagher, Flynn, & Company, LLP has been retained to conduct this search. Interested candidates may apply by sending a resume and cover letter to Samantha Leveston, Strategic Talent Advisor. While we appreciate all interest in this opportunity, only candidates most closely aligned with our search will be contacted.

Disclaimer: What's listed above is representative of the responsibilities of the position but is not meant to be an exhaustive list. Responsibilities may change during employment at the company's discretion. Gallagher, Flynn and Company and our clients do not discriminate in employment based on race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.

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