| Bennington College invites applications and nominations for the position of Controller. Reporting to the Vice President for Finance and Administration/Chief Financial Officer, the Controller will lead a team charged with the financial stewardship of the College. The Controller serves as a strategic partner in the ongoing advancement of the College’s business operations and financial planning. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of and experience with a range of financial management operations and will be equally adept as both a hands-on manager and as a strategic thinker. The Controller will be responsible for planning and directing the College’s accounting operations and procedures in the following functional areas: accounting, general ledger, student billing/collections, accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets and inventories, payroll, tax reporting, cash management and the campus post office. The position is responsible for the preparation of financial statements and annual budgets as well as financial modeling in conjunction with multi-year projections. Knowledge of accounting for restricted funds is desirable. The Controller is expected to engage with all areas of the College to strengthen the overall effectiveness of the College’s financial operations, making recommendations and implementing improvements in operations and reporting where appropriate. To that end, strong organizational, analytical and communication skills are essential. The Controller is responsible for the direct supervision and ongoing development of a staff of 4 and has oversight for a total staff of 7. Candidates must have the ability to successfully collaborate and engage with individuals at all levels of the institution. Bennington serves a diverse student population - inclusive of ethnic/racial minorities, international and global constituents, sexual minorities, and various social classes, among other identities. Our staff and faculty also reflect diverse backgrounds and identities. All employees are expected to be respectful and responsive to these differences in the service of building community that promotes student and employee success. Each individual (faculty, staff and students) will be accountable for upholding these values. The College’s approach to pluralism and inclusivity—both as fields of inquiry and practice—is to prioritize flexible thought, and to invite the examination of access, value, and power through its institutional policies and areas of study. We encourage applicants from diverse realms of interest, backgrounds, experience, and accomplishments to apply. The position requires a minimum of 10 years’ related experience, preferably working within higher education or a large non-profit environment, and demonstrated knowledge of non-profit accounting standards and tax laws/regulations. Candidates must be technologically savvy with experience using financial management systems and have strong project management skills including demonstrated success in financial management systems implementation. A bachelor’s degree in accounting (or its equivalent) or CPA is required. The position requires successful completion and acceptable results of credit and background checks. The College Bennington College is a small residential liberal arts college in southern Vermont, long distinguished for its progressive approach to higher education. The College was founded in 1932 on the principle of active engagement in learning, which is manifest in individualized plans of study developed by students together with faculty. We serve a diverse student population, and our faculty and staff also reflect diverse backgrounds and identities. Our aim is to educate students towards self-fulfillment and constructive social purposes, and we believe that equity, diversity, and inclusivity--in community and in curriculum--are vital to achieving those aims. Nestled at the foot of the Green Mountains in Vermont, the campus consists of approximately 370 acres. The College was named one of ten with the best architecture by Architectural Digest. From campus, it is a short drive to the cultural offerings of the northern Berkshires in Massachusetts, Albany, New York, and many of Vermont’s top recreational centers. New York City, Boston, and Burlington, Vermont are all within three and a half hours by car. |
