CONTROLLER

CONTROLLER

SMITH COLLEGE

Northampton, Massachusetts

THE SEARCH

Smith College, one of the largest independent women's colleges in the country, seeks a collaborative, results-driven leader to serve as its next controller. The controller is a key member of the college's financial leadership team and will be responsible for providing college-wide strategic oversight of financial accounting and operations, external reporting, compliance and risk management. The controller will work closely with senior administrators, faculty, staff, students, and the Board of Trustees to ensure a strong and efficient financial control environment that supports the educational mission of the college.

The controller will join Smith at a propitious moment in its history. The college recently completed a new strategic plan that has been enthusiastically embraced by the Board of Trustees and the Smith community. A centerpiece of the plan is the renovation of the historic Neilson Library led by the team of Maya Lin Studios and Shepley Bulfinch architects. The college also recently announced the successful completion of the largest capital campaign in its history, Women for the World: The Campaign for Smith. The controller will play a critical role in advancing the college's administrative capabilities and enhancing Smith's position as an institution of academic excellence and international renown.

Founded in 1871 as a private college with a mission to provide women with an excellent liberal arts education, Smith is widely considered to be one of the top liberal arts institutions in the country and one of the nation's best managed colleges. Primarily an undergraduate residential college, Smith stands alone in many ways. With an endowment of $1.7 billion, it has the substantial resources of a university, yet is small enough to be an intimate community. Among Smith's many distinctions are being the first women's college with an engineering program, producing high numbers of Fulbright Fellows, and serving as a notable leader in education access.

The controller reports directly to the vice president for finance and administration (VPFA) and is the college's principal accounting officer. This individual will lead an office of thirteen employees responsible for financial and endowment accounting, financial reporting, tax management, procurement and accounts payable, and payroll processing. The controller is responsible for ensuring accurate, efficient processing of financial transactions, maintaining sound accounting policies and practices, and balancing effective compliance with excellent customer service.

The successful candidate will possess deep accounting expertise and broad managerial experience combined with a collegial style that engenders trust and fosters collaboration. A bachelor's degree and a CPA certification are required. An MBA or other advanced degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field is preferred. Candidates must have a minimum of 10 years of experience as an accounting professional, including senior management experience in higher education. Equivalent experience at a public accounting firm with a higher education client base may be considered.

The college has named a search committee which will be assisted by the executive search firm Isaacson, Miller. Inquiries, nominations, and applications, which will remain confidential, should be directed to:

Rebecca Kennedy, Principal

Joanna Cook, Associate

Isaacson, Miller

www.imsearch.com/6053

263 Summer Street, 7th Floor

Boston, MA 02210

Phone: (617) 265-6500

Smith College is an equal opportunity employer.