Assistant Chief Financial Officer/Controller - 998259
- Staff, full-time (32+ hours per week)
Title: Assistant Chief Financial Officer/Controller - 998259
Position Number: 998259
Unit/Department: Finance
Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience
Department Summary:
The Finance division consists of the finance and accounting administrative functions of the University and includes the offices of Accounting, Treasury and Endowment Management, Budgeting, Student Accounts, Payroll, and the Student Financial Aid Office. The offices of Accounting, Student Accounts, and Payroll report to the Assistant CFO/Controller. Accounting processes most accounting transactions and includes accounts payable, purchasing, and financial reporting and analysis. Student Accounts bills and collects for all tuition and fees. Payroll processes payroll for all full and part-time employees, including student employees.
Job Summary:
The Assistant CFO/Controller serves as a senior leader in Drake’s finance function and oversees the University’s financial reporting and auditing, accounting and transactional operations, internal controls and compliance, and plant accounting. The Assistant CFO/Controller manages and develops a staff of 10 and is a key strategic partner to the CFO. The Assistant CFO/Controller and CFO ensure fiscal integrity to key campus constituents including the Board and external stakeholders.
The Assistant CFO/Controller is tasked with a diverse set of financial and operational duties:
• Financial Reporting & Auditing: Oversight of financial reporting, ensuring accurate and timely preparation of annual and monthly financial statement in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Oversight of annual financial statement audit, Single Audit (for federal funds, in coordination with Office of Student Financial Aid and other offices), and external reporting requirements, including the IRS Form 990 and other regulatory filings. Ensures audit readiness, strong documentation practices, and effective coordination across functional areas.
• Accounting & Transactional Operations: Oversight of core financial operations including general ledger, accounting, accounts payable, purchasing, accounts receivable, payroll, and student accounts.
• Internal Controls & Compliance: Leads the design, implementation, and enforcement of University-wide financial policies, internal controls, and compliance frameworks. Mitigates financial and operational risk, safeguards institutional assets, and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.
• Capital Accounting and Debt Compliance: Oversight of capital asset accounting and ensure compliance with tax-exempt bond covenants and reporting requirements.
• Leadership & Strategy: Manages and develops finance staff. Promotes innovation and efficiency in both finance and overall University operations. Assists the Chief Financial Officer with long-term financial forecasting, budgeting, board reporting, and general financial strategy. Plays key leadership role in enterprise-wide initiatives and cross-functional decision-making.
• Institutional Partnership: Serves as liaison between Finance function and campus units, providing guidance on financial matters, supporting strategic decision making, and ensuring alignment between financial practices and institutional priorities. Build strong relationships across the University to enhance financial understanding, transparency, and collaboration.
The Assistant CFO/Controller will have the opportunity to significantly influence the successful implementation of Workday’s Financials systems. The Assistant CFO/Controller reports to the University’s CFO and serves as one of five members of the Finance leadership team that provides oversight and strategic direction to the Finance staff. The Assistant CFO/Controller is expected to support the University Continuous Improvement Plan initiatives and live out the University Core Values.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or similar field of study
• 5-7 years of progressive accounting and financial management experience, including some in a leadership capacity
• Exceptional Microsoft Excel and general computer skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with others
• Strong analytical skills with attention to detail
Preferred Qualifications:
• Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license (can be in an inactive status)
• Experience with Workday or similar ERP systems
• Experience within higher education or not-for-profit environments
• Experience in performing financial statement audits
Job Duties:
- 25% - Financial Reporting & Auditing: Oversight of financial reporting, ensuring accurate and timely preparation of annual and monthly financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Oversight of annual financial statement audit, Single Audit (for federal funds, in coordination with Office of Student Financial Aid and other offices), and external reporting requirements, including the IRS Form 990 and other regulatory filings. Ensures audit readiness, strong documentation practices, and effective coordination across functional areas. - (Essential)
- 35% - Accounting & Transactional Operations: Oversight of core financial operations including general ledger, accounting, accounts payable, purchasing, accounts receivable, payroll, and student accounts. - (Essential)
- 10% - Internal Controls & Compliance: Leads the design, implementation, and enforcement of University-wide financial policies, internal controls, and compliance frameworks. Mitigates financial and operational risk, safeguards institutional assets, and ensures compliance with federal, state, and local regulations. - (Essential)
- 5% - Capital Accounting and Debt Compliance: Oversight of capital asset accounting and ensure compliance with tax-exempt bond covenants and reporting requirements. - (Essential)
- 15% - Leadership & Strategy: Manages and develops finance staff. Promotes innovation and efficiency in both finance and overall University operations. Assists the Chief Financial Officer with long-term financial forecasting, budgeting, board reporting, and general financial strategy. Plays key leadership role in enterprise-wide initiatives and cross-functional decision-making. - (Essential)
- 10% - Institutional Partnership: Serves as liaison between Finance function and campus units, providing guidance on financial matters, supporting strategic decision making, and ensuring alignment between financial practices and institutional priorities. Build strong relationships across the University to enhance financial understanding, transparency, and collaboration. - (Essential)
- 0% - Perform other duties as assigned. - (Essential)
Special Instructions to Applicants:
For consideration, you must apply online. Please include a resume and cover letter.
Review of Applications Begins:
A review of applications will begin immediately. This position will remain open until filled.
Salary and Benefits:
At Drake, we are proud to offer our employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents a comprehensive benefits package, which includes a wide range of core benefits, perks, and discounts. If you are exploring a job with Drake University, we invite you to spend a little time with our Drake Benefits Guide 2026. One of our popular policies provides a tuition waiver for Drake employees, their spouses, and eligible dependents. Drake also participates in not one, but two tuition exchange programs available to dependent children. Tuition Benefits
For faculty positions, selection will depend on the receipt of recommendation confirming the candidate's scholarly achievements and teaching abilities and/or on the candidate's satisfactory passing of a teaching demonstration if selected for an on-campus interview. For staff positions, selection will depend upon careful review of each applicant’s references, education, and, if applicable, experience.
ABOUT DRAKE
Drake University is recognized as a top private university in the Midwest. Drake is a midsize university in Des Moines, Iowa, with an increasingly diverse student body. We are deeply committed to equity and inclusion and creating a sense of belonging for all members of the campus community—faculty, staff, and students alike. More than 900 faculty and staff are part of the Bulldog pack, a close-knit group of colleagues enthusiastic about preparing students to be global citizens and leaders, challenging assumptions. Drake University is not only an outstanding institution of higher learning, it is also a wonderful place to work. We are enthusiastically committed to welcoming new ideas and people into the fold, and to retaining and rewarding stellar employees.
All positions at Drake provide opportunities to contribute to Drake University’s core mission of creating an exceptional learning environment that prepares students of all backgrounds for meaningful lives and professional accomplishments.
STRONG COMMITMENT TO A DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY
At Drake University, we don’t just accept differences—we celebrate them, we support them, and we thrive on them for the benefit of our students, our employees, and our community. As reflected in our Core Values, we embrace a diverse and inclusive community.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
Drake University is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law. Drake University is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations in its services, programs, activities, education, and employment for individuals with disabilities. If you would benefit from an accommodation at any point in the recruitment process (including using our online application process), please contact Drake Human Resources (p: 515.271.3133; e: jobs@drake.edu) and let us know how we can assist you.
