Director of Finance/Controller

Salary:

Depends on

Qualifications Location:

Alma Job Type:

Staff -

Full-Time Job Number:

2026-00013

Division:

Business Affairs Department:

Finance Closing Date:

5/11/2026 11:59

PM Eastern FLSA:

Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY

The Controller/Director of Finance is responsible for all accounting related functions of the College including (but not limited to): payroll, cash receipts, accounts payable, student billing and accounts receivable, student loan collection, investments and endowment accounting, accounting for multiple entities, fixed assets, and ensuring a strong system of internal controls. Other responsibilities include oversight of College's property/casualty insurance and preparing/overseeing a multitude of financial analyses.

Supervision Received/Exercised:

This position works with and reports to the Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Business Affairs and supervisors financial services employees.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

. Maintain accounting systems . Manage effective customer service-oriented operations . Recommend policies and procedures for the various aspects of the operation . Manage periodic reporting of financial data for internal and external use . Oversee the annual budgeting process through collaboration with College leadership . Maintain and oversee ongoing adherence to approved budgets and College budget policies . Oversee the collection of funds due to the College from active and non-active students, as well as other external parties . Oversee the College Bookstore and Mail & Print Center . Manage short-term cash needs through ongoing forecasting and analysis . Reconcile accounting for grants received from various funding sources . Collaborate with the College's Advancement team to ensure proper accounting for donor gifts and pledges . Perform monthly bank reconciliations for the College's more complex accounts . Maintain budgets and accounting records related to Spring Term travel courses . Oversee the annual renewal of the College's property/casualty insurance policies, and coordinate the administration of claims and other questions related to insurance and risk management. . Handle debt service reporting and loan draws . Consistently monitor and improve internal controls . Oversee accounting for construction projects (and related debt financing) when necessary . Prepare annual tax returns . Prepare financial and accounting analyses as appropriate . Account for and make appropriate calculations in trusts and annuities . Schedule and manage the year end audit, which includes writing of annual financial statements and SEFA, plus related footnotes . Approve vendor payables as necessary . Oversee the accounting of investments and the College's endowment . Perform reconciliations of complex activities such as financial aid programs. . Serve on various committees

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

. Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance . Minimum of five years progressively responsible management experience in an accounting operation, with demonstrated knowledge of non-profit accounting under FASB . Significant skills and experience in the use of spreadsheet applications as well as organization-wide accounting and administrative software systems . Strong organizational, communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills Physical Requirements . Ability to sit at a desk and use a computer most of the work day

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

. Certified Public Accountant . Masters' degree in Accounting, Finance or Business Administration . Experience managing accounting functions or auditing in higher education . Experience working with underrepresented, first-generation, Pell-eligible, and diverse populations Alma College is classified as a selective

Baccalaureate College:

Diverse Fields by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Alma is committed to academic excellence and the development of responsible leaders; our students thrive on challenging academic programs in a supportive, small-college environment emphasizing active, collaborative learning and close student-faculty interaction. Alma is a private Phi Beta Kappa institution located in the center of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Alma College is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse faculty, staff, and student body. Alma College recognizes that we are all transformed when we celebrate and value the varied identities, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives in our campus community. We are committed to recognizing and removing barriers to success and providing equitable access to opportunities through education and advocacy. In our increasingly diverse campus and world, we pledge to create a climate where everyone is safe and free to grow intellectually, spiritually, and emotionally.