Assistant Controller - Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community

Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community (SMSC)•Prior Lake, MN

19h•Onsite

About The Position

The Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community is seeking an Assistant Controller to provide strategic leadership and oversight of core accounting operations. This role ensures the integrity of financial processes, a strong internal control environment, and operational excellence as Tribal Operations continues to grow. The Assistant Controller will lead and develop the accounting team, partner with the Controller to drive process improvements, support strategic initiatives, and strengthen organizational capacity for future growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required.
Five or more years of progressively responsible accounting experience, including at least two years of accounting leadership, supervisory, or people-management experience.
Advanced knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles and experience researching, interpreting, and applying Governmental Accounting Standards Board requirements to complex financial transactions.
Demonstrated experience leading monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes.
Experience preparing, reviewing, and analyzing financial statements, account reconciliations, management reports, financial variances, and related financial information.
Experience establishing and maintaining internal controls, accounting policies, financial procedures, and financial reporting best practices.
Experience supporting annual financial audits, grant audits, regulatory reviews, or other external examinations.
Experience with accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash management, fixed assets, payroll accounting, fund accounting, grants accounting, or related financial functions.
Experience working with enterprise resource planning systems and supporting financial system improvements or implementations. NetSuite strongly preferred.
Experience leading an ERP implementation, financial-system transformation, or significant accounting-process improvement initiative.
Proven ability to lead, coach, develop, and hold accounting professionals accountable while building an engaged, high-performing accounting function.
Strong analytical, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills with a high level of attention to detail.
Excellent written and verbal communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to explain financial information to nonfinancial audiences.
Demonstrated integrity, professional judgment, and confidentiality.
Ability to thrive in a dynamic, growing organization.
This position is subject to testing for drugs (THC included) & alcohol in accordance with the Federal Department of Transportation Regulations as well as the SMSC’s Drug / THC and Alcohol Policy

Nice To Haves

NetSuite strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Leads the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, ensuring journal entries, reconciliations, accruals, allocations, and supporting schedules are accurate, complete, appropriately classified, and completed within established deadlines.
Reviews financial transactions and accounting records for accuracy, completeness, proper classification, and compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) requirements, Tribal policies, and applicable regulatory standards.
Oversees the preparation and distribution of timely and accurate financial reports for leadership, applying a strong understanding of organizational operations to provide meaningful financial insights and support informed decision-making.
Analyzes financial results, budget-to-actual performance, account activity, and significant variances. Prepares monthly and quarterly variance analyses and presents findings, trends, risks, and recommendations to Finance leadership.
Maintains the integrity of the organization's financial records, including the general ledger, chart of accounts, fund accounting, fixed assets, capital asset reporting, and supporting accounting documentation.
Oversees accounting for lease and subscription-based information technology arrangements, including compliance with GASB Statement No. 87 (Leases) and GASB Statement No. 96 (Subscription-Based Information Technology Arrangements).
Designs, implements, monitors, and continuously improves internal controls over financial reporting and accounting operations. Identifies control deficiencies, recommends corrective actions, and safeguards organizational assets while minimizing financial and operational risk.
Provides accounting oversight for payroll-related transactions and reconciliations, partnering with Payroll to ensure timely and accurate financial reporting and resolution of accounting discrepancies.
Oversees accounting, financial reporting, and compliance activities for Tribal government funds, grants, enterprise operations, capital projects, and other designated financial programs.
Coordinates accounting support for annual financial statement audits, Single Audits, grant audits, internal reviews, and other regulatory or external examinations. Ensures requested schedules, reconciliations, supporting documentation, and corrective action plans are completed accurately and within required timelines.
Develops, documents, and maintains accounting policies, procedures, workflows, and internal control documentation to promote consistency, compliance, cross-functional collaboration, operational continuity, and knowledge transfer.
Leads financial process improvement initiatives and supports organizational transformation efforts, including ERP implementation, system enhancements, automation opportunities, and continuous improvement initiatives that improve efficiency, accuracy, and scalability.
Recruits, interviews, selects, and develops accounting team members. Provides ongoing coaching, mentoring, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities to build a highly engaged, high-performing Finance team.
Establishes clear performance expectations, conducts annual performance evaluations, proactively addresses performance concerns, and fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and exceptional customer service.
Provides strategic leadership and day-to-day operational direction for the accounting function by establishing priorities, managing workloads, allocating resources, and ensuring departmental goals align with organizational objectives.
Serves as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the Controller, providing leadership on complex accounting matters, operational initiatives, financial strategy, and organizational priorities. Assumes delegated decision-making authority and departmental leadership responsibilities in the Controller's absence.
Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of the Finance Department and the strategic objectives of Tribal Operations.