Controller

Harding Academy•Nashville, TN

7d•Onsite

About The Position

Harding Academy is a warm and caring school environment where respect is the key ingredient. Every child, parent, and colleague is a unique individual worthy of our understanding and greatest effort. Harding Academy employs outstanding faculty, staff, and administrators, provides technologically enhanced facilities, and offers a broad and challenging curriculum designed to develop the whole person. The mission of our school is to educate and inspire young people to become thoughtful, creative, lifelong learners and self-disciplined, responsible, caring citizens. Members of the staff are an important part of this effort. We strive and serve so that the students may become individuals who are able to make choices that will benefit themselves, our society, and our world. The Controller works with the Director of Finance to foster the financial sustainability of the school within a culture of excellence, accountability, integrity, teamwork, and customer service while facilitating the management of the school’s financial resources. This person will be expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner and customer services-oriented approach as a leader in the Business Office operations. This is a full-time 12-month exempt, salary position offering applicable full-time benefits which may include Medical, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability insurance. ANTICIPATED START DATE: Monday, January 5, 2026

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or relevant subject
Five to seven years of accounting and management experience preferred; experience working in independent schools or nonprofits (preferred)
Knowledge of unique financial accounting and reporting requirements of nonprofit education institutions
Fluency in Microsoft Excel and Word and familiarity with database concepts

Nice To Haves

Experience with Blackbaud Enterprise Solutions, including The Financial Edge accounting package, Tuition Management, and Raisers’ Edge development software is a plus

Responsibilities

Responsible for fostering the financial stewardship of the school by providing excellence in the Business Office department
Responsible for superior financial management of school’s financial resources via accurate and timely financial reporting and accounting
Work with all customers within the school (faculty, staff, families) to provide superior customer service relative to financial issues
Work to create a positive working environment that inspires and motivates others, communicate effectively with others and foster an environment of respect and teamwork
Write proficiently to communicate financial reports and other financial information
Maintain the highest level of integrity in all aspects of the job
Maintain, evaluate, and implement optimal and appropriate internal controls
Communicate accounting policies and ensure compliance
Use teamwork and creative thinking to problem solve and be solutions-oriented
Champion initiatives to review and streamline accounting policies/processes
Possess advanced skills in the Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Excel) and assist others with technology-based process improvements
Excellent at multi-tasking and managing deadlines
Create plans to meet departmental goals and objectives and monitor these plans to ensure success
Supervise the daily operations of the Business Office Operations related to Accounts Payable and Accounts Receivable activity
Assume primary responsibility for the general ledger and all organizational systems and processes that support it
Maintain general ledger in accordance with GAAP, donor restrictions and other regulatory requirements
Responsible for managing the accounting department entries, ensuring accurate and timely financial information
Ensure that the financial statements not only comply with reporting standards, but are also responsive to the evolving needs of financial statement users
Prepare/Review/Approve Payroll, Cash Disbursements and Fixed Assets
Prepare monthly financial statements, including quarterly variance analyses
Prepare financial statements for Finance Committee or Board review as directed by Director of Finance
Manage general accounting operations
Prepare and/or review account reconciliations monthly
Maintain, evaluate, and implement optimal and appropriate internal controls
Assist the Director of Finance in the preparation and monitoring of departmental budgets and forecasts, working with other administrators and department heads concerning budget performance
Communicate accounting policies to affected employees and ensure compliance with such policies
Handle sensitive and confidential information with the highest level of professionalism and care
Prepare all periodic surveys and reports for the school’s trade organizations (e.g., NAIS, MISBO, ACSI, CESA, NBOA)
Continually monitor, evaluate, implement, and document accounting policies and procedures to identify changes that would increase internal controls, efficiency, and the accuracy of financial records.
Closely monitor financial statements of the Operating Fund and, with the Director of Finance, prepare information for presentation to the Finance Committee of Board.
Oversee tracking of investment accounts and proper allocation into permanently and temporarily restricted funds.
Work with Director of Finance to ensure risk management policies and procedures are followed and maintained
Update, as necessary, Accounting Policies & Procedures manual
Other duties as assigned by the Director of Finance
Prepare and submit A/R- Student Billing
Monitor all incoming cash receipts and deposits; review daily bank account(s) activity
Review and approve bank adjustments
Review and approve bank reconciliations
Review the monthly aging report for past due accounts and actions required; monitor tuition receivable accounts more than 45 days past due and provide additional support in the collection of tuition receivables as necessary
Discuss any proposed payment plans for extremely past due accounts with Director of Finance
Reconcile financial aid monthly
Reconcile Raiser’s Edge activity monthly and issue the monthly reconciliation report to Director of Finance
Supervise Senior Staff Accountant
Monitor all outgoing accounts payable activity
Review and approve check voids, initiate the adjustments
Review and approve bank reconciliations
Work with the Senior Staff Accountant, review the monthly outstanding check report, and address stale dated checks greater than 180 days
Ensure 1099 and W9 reporting requirements are met as well as issue annual 1099 statements
Ensure appropriate approval rules are in place and followed, including checks that have appropriate approval before mailing.
Work closely with the Advancement Office to provide information for donor stewardship and ensure proper gift/endowment tracking.
Serve on the Financial Aid Committee with specific responsibility for the review of applications and establishment/enforcement of appropriate policies and procedures.
Meet regularly with families with financial needs or questions.
Work with other committee members to ensure that all information necessary for consideration of the application is available for review. Make recommendations for awards based on current school policy and/or guidelines and within budget constraints.
Primary person responsible for contacting families with significant billing concerns and making arrangements to clear outstanding accounts.
Implement, add, and maintain new assets in Fixed Assets Spreadsheet
Dispose of assets as directed
Generate estimated depreciation on monthly basis
Reconcile the Fixed Assets to the general ledger accounts
Prepare a year-end roll forward which reconciles additions, disposals, depreciation expense and gain and loss to the general ledger
Establish the capitalization policy and ensure compliance
Coordinate the budget process with each department/building level; includes dissemination and return of the budget spreadsheets, review for completeness and accuracy
Input/Import the budget worksheets into Financial Edge
Work with budget holders on variance issues and resolve discrepancies
Run monthly budget vs actual reports for Director of Finance review
Reconcile temporarily and permanently restricted contributions to the general ledger and Net Assets Schedule
Allocate interest and dividends earned from endowment to proper accounts
Prepare a year-end roll forward of the temporarily and permanently restricted net assets
Successfully manage and coordinate the annual audit – Financial and 403(b) Audits
Take lead position on preparation of schedules and work papers for annual audit
Communicate any issues to the Director of Finance
Ensure timely completion of the annual audit
Maintain permanent office files for all audit schedules prepared by school
Coordinate preparation of schedules and work papers for tax filings
All accounts are reconciled on a quarterly basis as well as all adjusting entries are recorded
Provide Director of Finance key indicator reports along with an analysis of significant variations
Attend all school meetings as requested
Maintain compliance with all recordkeeping of financial documents
Attend and participate in professional conferences, lectures or other educational events as requested – minimum of 40 hours per year if a CPA
Attain membership in appropriate educational organizations
Keep current on professional issues through research and study
Other Duties as assigned by the Director of Finance or Head of School