Chief Accounting Officer and Controller

Posting Information

Posted : October 24, 2025. Level : Management / Confidential (Executive 2). Hours : Full-time, 40 hours per week (flexible schedule).

Closing Date : Applications must be submitted by 5 : 00pm (EST) on Wednesday, November 19, 2025.

Location : CT State Community College, 185 Main Street, New Britain, CT 06051. This position is not remote.

Mission

Connecticut State Community College provides access to academically rigorous and innovative education and training focused on student success. The college supports excellence in teaching and learning, makes data‑informed decisions, promotes equity, and advances positive change for the students, communities and industries it serves.

Vision

Connecticut State Community College is recognized for exceptional student success, educational leadership and transformative collaboration with business and industry, government, educational and key stakeholders while advancing diverse opportunities for Connecticut’s citizens and communities.

Equity Statement

Connecticut State Community College commits to bold and disruptive change by actively identifying, naming, and dismantling structural racism, systemic poverty, and other barriers; establishing equitable and anti‑racist policies and practices; and empowering students, faculty, staff, and administrators to advance racial, social, and economic justice. Our core collective responsibility is to continuously assess practices and policies and transform the world we live in by eliminating inequities.

Anticipated Start Date

January 2026

Position Summary

The Chief Accounting Officer (CAO) and Controller is responsible for the development, management and oversight of financial accounting and reporting, internal controls, policies and procedures, cash management, financial systems support, and treasury functions for CT State Community College. The CAO and Controller plays a key role on the financial leadership team in assisting the CFO with long‑range strategic financial planning. This includes developing, implementing, and evaluating finance, accounting, audit and risk management objectives for the organization, and measuring the achievement of these objectives against established financial goals. The CAO and Controller is a key liaison between the college, its campuses, the CSCU System Office, internal and external auditors, and regulatory agencies with respect to financial matters.

Example of Job Duties

• Oversees all operations of accounting, financial reporting, grant accounting and reporting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, check writing and treasury functions, compliance, internal controls and other related functions
• Ensures compliance with system‑wide policies and develops, implements and oversees standardized accounting policies and procedures. Provides guidance and operational support to staff regarding accounting policies, procedures, and best practices
• Prepares and provides year‑end financial reports and analyses to the CSCU System Office for the audited CT State annual financial statement preparation. Works with outside auditors during the year‑end audit process to ensure compliance with GAAP and GASB standards
• Develops and implements financial reporting and control systems and procedures to ensure effective and appropriate tracking, management, and reporting on revenues, expenses, treasury and cash flow matters, assets, liabilities, and property. Ensures fiscal and accounting staff throughout the college are applying strong internal controls; takes remedial action when necessary
• Keeps current regarding legislative developments, GASB and GAAP rules, federal regulations pertaining to higher education finance, CSCU policies and procedures, and other applicable accounting changes. Provides guidance to staff on changes that impact CT State’s fiscal and business operations
• Assists in the preparation of high‑level executive reports and analyses as required for collective bargaining negotiations, BOR initiatives, and other ad hoc requests. Oversees reporting to outside agencies such as the OHE, DAS, OSC and others. Ensures that accurate and consistent data and accounting standards are applied to all reports
• Oversees and maintains the chart of accounts in consultation with the CSCU System Office
• Promptly responds to all external and internal audit requests; reviews and approves all audit responses prepared by other fiscal staff
• Responsible for significant personnel decisions for the CT State Accounting Department including staffing, hiring, firing, evaluation, promotion and training of employees
• Coordinates with the Associate Vice President of Finance and Administration / Deputy CFO to ensure quarterly cash reporting is aligned with budget and Finance Committee requirements
• Coordinates with CT State Compliance Officer, Vice President of Human Resources, Vice President of Finance and Administration / Deputy CFO, and other executives to lead CT State audit responses and lead reforms
• Serves on the college Compliance Committee

Minimum Qualifications

Master’s degree in Accounting or a Certified Public Accounting (CPA) license. Seven (7) years of experience in a senior level finance or accounting.

Required Advanced Knowledge and Abilities

Candidates must possess proven ability to effectively work with culturally, linguistically, and ethnically diverse faculty, staff, and students. They are expected to have excellent interpersonal oral and written communication skills along with strong Information technology literacy skills such as Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams etc.).

Preferred Qualifications

Starting Salary

Salary range : $165,083 – $206,353 (approximate annual) plus excellent State of CT medical insurance, retirement, and related fringe benefits. The salary will be based on the selected candidate’s qualifications such as education and job‑related experience, and internal equity.

Benefits

We offer a comprehensive benefits package to help you stay well, protect yourself and your family, and plan for a secure future. Benefits include generous leave policies; several retirement plans; and many choices for comprehensive health insurance. You also have access to many additional benefits to save for retirement, protect your family & more with supplemental benefits. Tuition reimbursement may apply if applicable.

Application Instructions

To apply you must submit a cover letter and resume. The cover letter may be entered as text in the corresponding box, or it can be uploaded as a combined file with the resume. Incomplete applications or those submitted after the closing date will not be considered. To apply via our website, visit www.ct.edu / hr / jobs.

Selection Procedure

Following the closing date, application materials will be evaluated by a selection committee. Candidates selected for further consideration will be limited to those applicants who are best qualified based on the minimum and preferred qualifications and who have submitted all the required documents by the closing date and time listed on the job announcement. Candidates who have been selected and approved to interview will be contacted, and finalists will be recommended for further consideration by the Hiring Manager for final selection and recommendation for employment. The selection process may also include practical exercises (i.e., teaching demonstration and / or other written, technical, manipulative, or simulation exercises) to evaluate candidates’ qualifications.

Background Screening

All employment, if offered, is contingent upon proof of citizenship or employability under the requirement of the Immigration and Control Act (IRCA) and the successful passing of a background check, including granting permission to contact current and previous employers for verification. CSCU is committed to providing a safe campus community. Background investigations include reference checks, a criminal history record check and, when appropriate, a financial (credit) report or driving history check.

Nondiscrimination

CT State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of age, ancestry, color, national origin, gender identity or expression, genetic information, learning disability, marital status, intellectual disability, physical disability (including but not limited to blindness), present or past history of mental disability, prior criminal record, race, religious creed, sex (including pregnancy and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, retaliation for previously opposed discrimination or coercion, veteran status, victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and / or trafficking or any other federal or state protected class in its employment, programs, and activities, unless the provisions of Section 46a‑80(b) or 46a‑81(b) of the Connecticut General Statutes are controlling or there are bona fide occupational qualifications excluding persons in one of the above protected groups.

For information regarding the nondiscrimination, disability, and Title IX policies / procedures, contact : John‑Paul Chaisson‑Cardenas, Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, CT State Community College, 185 Main Street, New Britain, CT 06051, 860‑612‑7056 or jp-cardenas@ct.edu.

CSCC IS AN AFFIRMATIVE ACTION / EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

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