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Job Summary
Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Controller leads accounting and financial reporting at the La Jolla Institute for Immunology (LJI). Functional areas include general accounting, audit and tax compliance, treasury and risk management, banking and cash flow management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll and internal controls. Collaborates with CFO in the overall financial management and strategic decision-making for LJI.
 
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
 
Accounting & Audit
●     Provides strategic leadership and direction for the accounting function at LJI. Provides appropriate management, coaching, mentoring, training and development of staff in support of general accounting, accounts payable and payroll.
●     Serves as the primary technical accounting resource for the organization. Stays abreast of relevant technical rules, as well as best practices, in accounting, payroll, and other relevant areas. Anticipates the need for changes to keep the organization current and makes recommendations for improvements.
●     Owns the general ledger, and is responsible for its overall design, structure, improvements, upgrades, integration with other systems, and the financial portion of overall business systems strategy.
●     Has overall responsibility for the organization’s internal controls, including design, documentation, implementation, testing, enforcement and ongoing monitoring.
●     Manages annual audit including developing the relationship with the audit firm, coordinating audit procedures, providing assistance to auditors, representing the organization’s position on technical accounting matters, and resolving issues. 
●     Responsible for the organization’s IRS Form 990 filing, including coordination with external preparers, preparation of organizer, review of document, and resolution of issues. Stays current on IRS regulations related to exempt organization compliance (including Unrelated Business Income Tax) and makes recommendations for improvements to compliance.
●     Initiates and/or reviews & approves new, or changes to existing, written Accounting Policies and Procedures.
●     Manages banking and investment relationships. Analyzes and forecasts need for operating liquidity and collaborates with CFO on treasury and investment strategy.
●     In collaboration with the CFO, manages special projects within the accounting function in support of improved efficiency, service to stakeholders, or other organization objectives.
 
​​Financial Reporting
●     Responsible for the preparation of financial statements, including those required by GAAP, Federal Uniform Guidance, internal and board reporting, and fundraising needs. Prepares footnotes to financial statements, and coordinates preparation of footnote support.
●     Monitors all reporting deadlines to ensure timely completion.
●     In collaboration with the CFO, develops new financial reporting tools that go beyond regulatory requirements and support analysis and strategic decision-making.
●     Prepares other financial reports as requests on an ad-hoc basis.
 
Leadership & Mentoring
●     Is a self-starter and is self-motivated. Anticipates needs of senior leadership and partners with them to achieve results.
●     Serves as an inspirational and motivational leader for all reports.
●     Builds and maintains mutually supportive relationships with all levels of management, faculty, staff, outside agencies, and vendors. Successfully navigates a decentralized, collaborative culture and builds consensus by projecting expertise, being inclusive and addressing needs and concerns.
●     Encourages close working relationships between Office of Sponsored Research, Grants & Contracts, and Accounting Department staff to ensure LJI goals and objectives are achieved.
●     Maintains a culture of customer service to appropriate stakeholders. 
●     Maintains relationships with colleagues in other organizations for the benefit of sharing ideas, best practices and other topics of common interest.
 
Other
●     Understands the unique nature of academic environments, and is sensitive to unique needs of faculty and scientific staff.
●     Approaches all tasks with a cordial demeanor and maintains a pleasant working environment. Has a positive attitude and approaches conflict with a “win-win” attitude.
●     Establishes a culture of compliance.
●     Has unquestioned ethics and integrity. Establishes a reputation as someone others can trust without reservation.
●     Has excellent communications skills, and invests the time to listen and fully understand circumstances before responding or initiating action.
●     Is a methodical problem solver. Carefully researches, considers fully the downstream effects of actions, and acts based on facts and data as opposed to personal preference or subjective factors. Does not overlook stakeholders.
 
 
Leveling Requirements
Education
●     Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance or related field of study.
●     Active Certified Public Accountant license
 
Experience
●     Total experience of at least ten years, including experience in public accounting, preferably with a national firm, as well as experience managing a team of professionals. Experience with not-for-profit financial statements highly desired.
●     Technical experience implementing new accounting guidance, and reviewing transactions for appropriate treatment under accounting guidance, especially related to revenue recognition.
●     Experience with accounting and ERP system upgrades, implementations, modifications and management.
●     Knowledge of applicable rules and regulations, including Federal Uniform Guidance, IRS rules relating to exempt organizations, payroll regulations including foreign nationals, and other relevant topics.