Controller

Museum of Fine Arts, Houston•Houston, TX

33d•Onsite

About The Position

The Museum is seeking a senior internal finance leader, responsible for organizing, directing, and managing all accounting activities of the organization. As the organization’s Controller, this includes oversight over the general ledger, accounts payable, payroll, capital asset and construction accounting, investment accounting, financial and tax reporting, regulatory and compliance areas. The Controller will ensure that the museum has in place the proper internal controls over all financial assets. The ideal candidate is a hands-on accounting leader with strong technical expertise, particularly within nonprofit organizations, who enjoys building scalable processes and improving financial operations. This individual is highly organized, proactive, and solutions-oriented, capable of identifying issues early and recommending improvements to financial processes and reporting. They embrace technology and modern tools to improve efficiency and reduce manual financial workflows. This opportunity is best suited for a detail-oriented Controller who takes pride in running a disciplined accounting operation and enjoys improving systems, processes, and reporting structures within an evolving organization.

Requirements

Strong interpersonal, planning, consulting and conflict resolution skills
Must possess maximum integrity and honesty and the highest ethical values. The ability to keep information confidential is imperative.
Must possess leadership, vision and energy, with the presence to quickly build credibility among employees and management. Must have a hands-on management style, and exhibit superior judgment, negotiation and analytical skills.
Strong strategic and conceptual thinking capabilities.
Capacity to work independently with minimal supervision, yet exercise outstanding judgment in determining when to approach staff with questions and information.
Exceptional oral and written communication skills. Must be capable of developing written presentations for a high-level audience of officers or trustees and be comfortable and successful at making verbal presentations to such groups.
Must have a positive outlook and be collegial, innovative, flexible, strategic-minded, professional, well-organized and able to engender the trust and respect of peers, subordinates and superiors.
Proven track record as an outstanding leader and motivator. Must enjoy significant operational interaction with individuals at all levels within the organization and treat them with respect.
Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible accounting and financial management experience in a museum, higher education or other large not-for-profit. Experience with endowments preferred.
Bachelor’s degree in related field, MBA or master degree in accountancy highly preferred. CPA certification required.
Supervisory experience related to finance and accounting
Experience with automated financial systems, complex spreadsheets, database query tools.

Nice To Haves

Sharp, Strategic Thinking, & Problem Solving – Candidates should describe themselves as sharp, hardworking, and capable of quickly noticing issues, trends, or opportunities.
Able to work in varied directions (to Director, CFO, COO, Museum Senior Leadership Team) and across the organization (interdepartmental, vendors, etc.); can “see around the corners” to add value to the business and be a strong strategic thinker.
Technical Accounting & Financial Expertise – Acts as the organization's go-to accounting expert, with the ability to research complex financial topics, conduct root cause analysis, synthesize key information, and critically evaluate findings to provide clear, professional, and logical insights to a non-accounting audience. Demonstrates proficiency in treasury management, cash flow optimization, and payroll oversight, ensuring financial stability and operational efficiency. Experience with systems that manage inventory at a high level of detail is essential.
The organization values leaders who take ownership of their roles and operate with a high degree of accountability and collegiality combined with an open, curious, and transparent communication style.

Responsibilities

Payroll (processes payroll checks for all employees and payroll related tax filings)
Accounts Payable (processes payments to vendors)
Accounts Receivable and Cash Receipts (oversees deposits by students, Museum Shop, Admissions, Membership, Development and other departments)
General Ledger (oversees the recording of all transactions into the general ledger)
Grant Accounting (records grants in the general ledger and coordinates required reports for public and private grants)
Financial Reporting and Analysis (prepares internal and external financial reports for the museum, ensures that all cash and investment accounts are reconciled to the general ledger on a timely basis)
Directs the establishment and documentation of accounting policies and procedures as required. Exercises policy direction over the conduct of accounting operations throughout the museum.
Ensures the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Ensures timely closing of the general ledger on a monthly basis.
Establishes an appropriate system of internal controls so that assets of the museum are safeguarded. Works with the CFO and other senior management on managing the museum’s risk exposure.
Timely prepares and distributes accurate internal financial reports including monthly financial statements to appropriate museum departments and personnel.
Prepares the external financial statements of the museum (including the footnotes and any supplemental schedules). Manages, coordinates and oversees the various external audits of the museum including the financial and benefit audits. Ensures that museum’s management is aware of any issues that may result in disagreements with the independent accountant, or that may result in a qualified audit opinion, a reportable condition, or any other matter of reporting consequence. Coordinates the museum’s response to the external auditor's recommendations to management.
Manages and coordinates the preparation of the museum’s Form 990, Form 990 T and related tax and information returns. Works in consultation with external tax consultants to ensure that management is aware of new and proposed changes in tax regulations that affect the museum. Ensures the timely posting of the Form 990 on the museum’s web site and provides copies to interested parties upon request.
Responsible for all other tax reporting to the applicable government agencies.
Responsible for state charitable solicitation registrations and annual reporting
Manages the development and implementation and provides detailed support for evaluation and selection of computerized general ledger, financial accounting and financial reporting systems.
Manages accounting for capital construction projects, preparing accurate progress reports, budget variance reports, and other reports as required on a timely basis.
Ensures that the museum properly records restricted and unrestricted gifts, provides periodic financial reports to donors and grantees as required by gift and grant agreements. Ensures that the terms of the gifts are being properly followed and reported.
Responsible for the recording and reconciling of the investment activity of the museum’s endowment fund. Ensures that the valuation and reporting on the endowment’s alternative assets is appropriate.
Manages the renewal of the museum’s general liability, property, and workers compensation insurance policies.
Support the CFO on various special projects and by providing tactical and strategic advice.

Benefits

Medical Insurance: Employee and dependent coverage through a choice of managed health care programs
Dental Insurance: Employee and dependent coverage through two plan choices
Vision Insurance: Employee and dependent coverage through a vision program
Group health, dental and vision insurance coverage available and effective the first of the month following employment with the MFAH for this role.
Life Insurance & AD&D: Employee coverage at no cost to the employee
Long Term Disability: Employee coverage at no cost to the employee
Paid Time Off - Used for absences from work such as vacation, illness of short duration, and personal reasons. Hours are accrued biweekly, based on employment status, length of service, and hours worked
Reserve Time Off - Used for extended illnesses. Employees accrue up to 6 days per year, up to a maximum of 120 days
Holidays - Full-time employees receive eleven paid holidays per year
Volunteer Time Off - The MFAH supports activities that enhance and serve the communities in which we live and work. Employees receive up to 40 hours of paid time off annually to give back and volunteer.
Staff may contribute to the MFAH Retirement Savings Plan. Eligible staff contributing to the plan may receive up to a 5% matching contribution from the MFAH after one year of service. (We also recognize prior nonprofit service which will provide for an accelerated employer match!)
Roth IRA also available!
MFAH Membership – Staff receive a free Family-level membership
Discounts – Staff receive discounts on purchases at the Museum shop and all on campus eateries and courses for you or your family at the Glassell School of Art.
Metro commuter subsidy available upon request