Controller - Casino Finance

Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino•Airway Heights, WA

13d

About The Position

The Controller directs and oversees all casino accounting and revenue audit operations in accordance with company policy and regulatory requirements. This role ensures the overall care, custody, and management of STRC funds and financial records while serving as the primary authority on internal controls, internal control remediation, and continuous audit readiness. The Controller ensures accurate and timely financial reporting, supervises daily revenue audit processes, enforces segregation of duties, leads fraud-prevention and vendor-verification standards, and prepares the organization for internal, external, and regulatory audits. This position requires strong technical accounting knowledge, hands-on casino operational experience, leadership capabilities, and an expert understanding of MICS, GAAP, Title 31, and the financial systems supporting gaming operations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a closely related field.
Seven (7) years of progressive accounting or finance experience, with significant responsibility for financial reporting, internal controls, and audit oversight.
Three (3) years in a leadership or management role, preferably within a casino, gaming, hospitality, or other highly regulated environment.
Demonstrated experience overseeing gaming operations accounting, including cage, count room, slots, table games, and revenue audit functions.
Direct experience with internal control systems, regulatory compliance, and external audits, including interaction with gaming regulators and auditors.
Experience managing month-end close, balance sheet reconciliations, cash management, and financial statement preparation.
Communicate effectively with all levels of team members and guests. Read, write and speak English fluently.
Advanced knowledge of GAAP, gaming industry accounting standards, and cash-intensive financial operations.
Strong command of internal control design, testing, documentation, and remediation within a regulated gaming environment.
Proven financial analysis capability, including identification of variances, irregular transactions, trends, risks, and control gaps.
Demonstrated expertise in cash management, liquidity forecasting, and treasury oversight for high-volume operations.
Working knowledge of gaming regulations, internal control systems, and audit requirements, including coordination with regulators and external auditors.
Effective leadership and people management skills, including performance accountability, coaching, and professional development.
Sound judgment and discretion when managing confidential financial, regulatory, and personnel matters.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with experience presenting financial information to executive leadership and regulatory stakeholders.
High level of organizational effectiveness, including prioritization, deadline management, and execution in a fast-paced environment.
Technical proficiency with ERP systems, accounting platforms, reporting tools, and advanced spreadsheet applications.
Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills in complex operational and compliance scenarios.
High ethical standards and demonstrated commitment to fiduciary responsibility and organizational integrity.
Move around all work areas effectively and efficiently.
Obtain and maintain a valid gaming license.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within a tribal government or tribal enterprise environment preferred.
CPA, CMA, or other relevant professional certification preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Promote and support a culture of excellence at Spokane Tribe Resort & Casino by modeling STRC values, delivering exceptional guest service, and upholding the highest standards of professionalism and ethics.
Provide exceptional guest service throughout all interactions.
Create, maintain, and facilitate a positive and safe work environment; promote healthy team member relations and report concerns to appropriate personnel.
Conduct periodic internal control testing and document control design and operating effectiveness.
Lead corrective action plans when control failures, audit findings, or compliance exceptions occur.
Review and enforce adherence to the Internal Control System and Policy Manuals and promptly identify and communicate compliance gaps.
Ensure timely calculation, reporting, and payment of all gaming taxes and regulatory fees.
Oversee operational audits of cage, count room, slots, table games, food and beverage, and other departments as required.
Review all monthly balance sheet reconciliations and ensure timely and accurate close of accounting records.
Manage preparation, review, and release of financial statements and management reports to ensure accuracy, completeness, and reasonableness.
Evaluate and interpret unusual transactions, adjustments, and variances to determine appropriate accounting treatment.
Ensure all journal entries include appropriate supporting documentation and evidence of timely review and approval.
Analyze daily casino cash flow, forecast sources and uses of cash, and initiate cash management activities to optimize liquidity and financial positioning.
Evaluate statistical, operational, and gaming reports to identify financial trends, risks, and opportunities.
Identify financial, operational, and compliance risks and ensure timely escalation and communication to appropriate leadership.
Assess strengths and weaknesses of accounting, cage, and cash-handling operations and recommend improvements to controls, policies, and procedures.
Collaborate with IT, Cage, Count Room, and Revenue Audit to resolve system, process, and data integrity issues affecting gaming and financial reporting.
Implement and enforce fraud-prevention controls, including vendor verification, cash handling standards, segregation of duties, and layered approval structures.
Lead the accounting team through clear expectations, accountability, and performance management while promoting professional growth.
Coach and develop team members to build technical competence and leadership capacity within the department.
Evaluate existing processes and systems before initiating changes and present recommended improvements through established governance channels.
Maintain proficiency in ERP systems, accounting applications, and financial processes to ensure data integrity and effective system utilization.
Coordinate confidential accounting record retention, storage, retrieval, and destruction in accordance with regulatory and internal requirements.
Perform other related duties as assigned.