Associate Controller, Operations

The Associate Controller, Operations is responsible for the leadership and oversight of the College's core financial operations and transactional workflows. Reporting to the Controller, this position ensures that payroll, accounts payable, purchasing, travel and expense, and related payment processes are executed efficiently, accurately, and in accordance with institutional policies, regulatory requirements, and internal control standards. The role focuses on strengthening operational execution, clarifying process ownership, and ensuring consistent and well-controlled financial operations across the College.

The Associate Controller, Operations serves as the operational leader for day-to-day financial transaction processing across the College and is responsible for ensuring predictable execution, clear ownership, and disciplined operational controls across high-volume financial processes. The role plays a critical part in maintaining the effectiveness of the College's operational control environment and ensuring that operational financial activities support the integrity of the General Ledger and the reliability of institutional financial reporting.

Reporting Structure

The Associate Controller, Operations reports to the Controller and supervises key operational finance functions, including:

• Business Services Manager (Purchasing and Accounts Payable Operations)
• Payroll Operations Manager
• Oversight of the outsourced payroll service provider
• Additional operational finance staff as assigned

The Associate Controller partners closely with the Associate Controller, Accounting, Reporting, Treasury & Compliance; the Associate Controller, Restricted Funds and Sponsored Research; and the Budget & Planning team to ensure effective coordination between operational processes and financial reporting. The role also works closely with Human Resources, Information Technology (including Workday Finance support), and other administrative and academic units across the College to support efficient and well-controlled financial operations.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Operations Leadership

• Provide operational leadership for the College's core financial transaction processes, including payroll, accounts payable, purchasing, travel and expense, and related payment workflows.
• Ensure the consistent, timely, and accurate execution of high-volume financial transactions across the College.
• Serve as the primary escalation point for operational financial issues affecting transactional workflows.
• Ensure operational processes support the integrity and accuracy of the College's financial records and the reliability of the General Ledger.

Payroll Operations Oversight

• Oversee the College's payroll operations, including supervision of the Payroll Operations Manager and coordination with the outsourced payroll service provider.
• Ensure payroll is processed accurately, timely, and in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations as well as institutional policies.
• Oversee payroll reconciliations and ensure appropriate documentation, review procedures, and internal controls are maintained.
• Partner with Human Resources to ensure accurate employee data, benefits deductions, tax reporting, and payroll compliance.

Accounts Payable and Purchasing Operations

• Supervise the Business Services Manager responsible for purchasing and accounts payable operations.
• Oversee vendor onboarding, invoice processing, payment processing, and procurement-related workflows.
• Ensure compliance with institutional procurement policies and internal control standards.
• Monitor operational performance and resolve issues affecting vendor payments and purchasing processes.

Operational Coordination of the Financial Close

• Coordinate operational components of the monthly and annual financial close processes, including calendars, deadlines, and handoffs across Finance teams.
• Ensure operational transaction processes support timely reconciliation and reporting activities performed by the accounting team.
• Partner with the Associate Controller, Accounting, Reporting, Treasury & Compliance to ensure operational transactions are accurately recorded in the General Ledger.

Operational Controls and Process Improvement

• Establish and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and RACI documentation for key financial operations processes.
• Ensure operational workflows maintain appropriate internal controls and segregation of duties.
• Identify operational risks, process inefficiencies, and control gaps and implement corrective actions.
• Partner with Human Resources, Information Technology (Workday team), and other campus units to resolve operational issues affecting financial workflows and improve process reliability.
• Support campus partners in understanding financial operational policies and procedures and resolving transaction-related issues.
• Collaborate with Finance leadership and the Information Technology Workday team to optimize operational workflows within the Workday Finance system.

Leadership and Team Management

• Provide supervision, guidance, and professional development for operational finance staff.
• Monitor operational capacity and workload across the team and prioritize resources accordingly.
• Provide regular updates to the Controller regarding operational performance, risks, and process improvements.
• Foster a culture of accountability, operational discipline, and continuous improvement within the financial operations team.

Skills, Qualifications & Requirements

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible experience in accounting, financial operations, or controllership environments.
• Demonstrated experience overseeing payroll, accounts payable, and other high-volume financial transaction processes.
• Experience supervising staff and managing operational workflows.
• Strong understanding of internal controls, financial operations, and compliance requirements.
• Experience working with enterprise financial systems and operational financial workflows.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or other relevant professional certification.
• Experience in higher education, nonprofit organizations, or similarly complex institutional environments.
• Experience with Workday Finance or comparable ERP systems.
• Experience overseeing outsourced payroll providers and vendor payment operations.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong operational management and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet critical deadlines in a high-volume environment.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and process improvement capabilities.
• Ability to supervise, mentor, and develop staff.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues across diverse institutional units.
• Commitment to operational excellence, financial stewardship, and continuous improvement.

Work Arrangement

Primarily in-person with limited hybrid flexibility, subject to operational needs.

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $130,000 - $140,000 annually, commensurate with experience. Barnard College offers a comprehensive benefits package including health insurance, retirement plans, tuition benefits, and paid time off.