Facility
Wildlife Conservation Society
Closing Date
[jobclosingdate]
Description
Position: Vice President and Comptroller
Department: Accounting
Reports to: Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Location: Hybrid- Bronx Zoo majority of the week + Remote
Position Type: Full time, Exempt
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Vice President (VP), the Comptroller is responsible for ensuring that reliable, accurate, and complete financial information is provided in a timely manner to internal and external users worldwide for WCS. The Comptroller is responsible for the management of several key financial functions including general accounting, grant accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash management, and payroll. The Comptroller will ensure that the organization has the policies, procedures, internal controls, segregation of duties and systems in place to: ensure clean audits; support effective program implementation; and, in coordination with the VP, Global Conservation Program CFO, ensure compliance with grants and contracts.
The VP, Comptroller, will serve as a member of the Finance Senior Management team, and will be involved in supporting presentations to the Audit and Finance committees of the WCS Board of Trustees. The VP, Comptroller will also have a key role in the planning and implementation of WCS’s efforts to implement a next generation ERP system.
The VP, Comptroller directly manages a staff of 34 individuals, including 4 direct reports (Assistant Comptroller, Director of Payroll , Director of AR and the Executive Director, Treasury and Investment) that are based out of the Bronx Zoo headquarters, and has oversight of over 40 individuals in financial roles in WCS Global programs around the world, including the Executive Director, Global Financial Operations. The VP, Comptroller will work closely with the CFO to help create and sustain a great workplace for competent, highly motivated, and results-oriented people whose core values and work ethic align with the organization’s high performance and mission-driven culture; and whose skills and experience contribute to achieving the organization’s goals and objectives.
Major Responsibilities:
The essential duties and responsibilities of the VP, Comptroller position include:
Oversee all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems ensuring compliance with appropriate GAAP standards, international accounting standards, and regulatory requirements.
Ensure that the organization has the financial systems, policies, procedures, internal controls, segregation of duties and security access in place to safe guard assets and data; to prevent or detect fraud and conflicts of interest; to promote accurate and timely internal and external reporting and analysis; to ensure clean financial, government and donor audits; and in coordination with Global Conservation Program CFO, to ensure corporate controls are in place for compliance with contracts, grant agreements, grantor and donor restrictions, and contractual obligations.
Coordinate and oversee all audit activity, including preparation of WCS Annual Financial Statement, sales tax audits, coordination of WCS affiliate’s audits, and in coordination with WCS Global CFO, donor and local government grant and project audits.
Serve as primary senior liaison to the external audit team throughout the annual audit life-cycle, and any other services requested (e.g., 990, Federal Single Audit).
Responsible for Zoo and Aquarium digital payment and onsite cash management and the world-wide multicurrency cash management needs of WCS.
Responsible for managing tax implications of WCS’s membership program, corporate sponsorships, and other activities and new ventures.
In coordination with WCS Global CFO, oversee the support of WCS’s global finance operations.
Prepare accurate, comprehensive, timely and user-friendly financial reports and information in support of the organization’s internal and external reporting requirements, including financial statements and footnotes, historical data and trend reports, and other reports required by the Board, Audit Committee, Finance Committee, the CEO, CFO, external auditors, lenders, donors and government and regulatory agencies.
Oversee the processing of WCS’s domestic and global payrolls. This includes effort reporting, the reporting and remittance of payroll taxes, W2s and compliance with tax regulations in each of the countries where WCS operates.
Oversee preparation and filing of WCS’s Federal Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate.
Work with WCS’s actuary on valuation of WCS’s post-retirement benefits and to administer WCS’s 457f plan.
In partnership with WCS’s CFO, fulfill leadership role in WCS’s efforts to evaluate and implement a next generation finance and HR system across WCS users worldwide.
Support the CFO in engaging the board’s audit and finance committees around issues and trends in financial operating models and delivery.
Ability to develop and lead financial team conferences and training sessions of varying sizes, in person and remotely.
This will include international travel to WCS’s regional offices throughout the world.
Education and Pre-requisites
MBA or MPA or equivalent graduate degree
At least 10 years of accounting and finance management experience, including hands-on experience in a complex global non-profit organization with a high volume of financial transactions
Exhibit a strong understanding of GAAP and IRS regulations governing non-profits
Over ten (10) years demonstrated experience managing financial and government audits, working with external auditors, managing financial and managerial reporting, and overseeing accounts payable and receivable, general ledger, and payroll
Must possess personal qualities of integrity, credibility, a strong work ethic; a proactive, hands-on strategic thinker who will own, in partnership with the CFO, the responsibility for finance and accounting and who has the ability to create and maintain a culture of fiscal stewardship, prudence, fidelity and quality
Demonstrated ability to lead and manage a team in a fast paced, demanding and high transaction volume environment with emphasis on accuracy and timeliness; ability to multi-task, delegate effectively, and work under tight deadlines
Demonstrable hands-on experience implementing a range of information technology applications including ERP systems
Technology savvy with advanced knowledge of accounting and reporting software, and advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office products, particularly Excel
Experience with ERP systems
Demonstrated ability in the area of business process redesign in an international organization
Experience developing and implementing a range of training programs for stakeholders in the org and accounting and finance teams
Strong interpersonal and communication skills; experience in effectively communicating key data in a user-friendly and concise manner to individuals with varying levels of financial acumen, including presentations to senior management, grantors, donors, Board members, Finance and Audit committee members or other outside partners and key stakeholders
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
Ability to work in a hybrid environment with several days per week onsite at WCS’s
Bronx Zoo headquarters
Experience developing and implementing a range of training programs
Preferred Requirements
Experience managing grants as it relates to compliance, accounting and reporting for government, NGO, corporate and foundation grants, particularly those with restrictions and conditions
Experience with system implementation in an international organization
SAP experience
WCS is an equal opportunity employer, and the organization complies with all employment and labor laws and regulations that prohibit discrimination in hiring and ensures that candidates from all backgrounds are fairly and consistently considered during the recruitment process.
We are dedicated to hiring and engaging a diverse workforce. We are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment and look for future team members who share that same value.
The organization provides equal employment opportunities for all qualified candidates. The organization does not discriminate for employment based on gender, race/ethnicity, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, caste, genetic information or any other covered status or characteristic protected by laws and regulations/and similar categories.
It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure that we do not tolerate discrimination or harassment based upon a person’s membership in one of these protected categories in areas such as recruitment, job assignment, supervision, training, promotions, job grading, transfers, termination, compensation, benefits, educational opportunities, WCS sponsored recreational activities and facilities.
*Note that the salary offer will reflect the selected candidate’s individual experiences, skills and qualifications, internal equity, work location and country of work.*
Compensation and benefits
27 Vacation Days, 13 Holidays, 12 Paid-Time-Off, 12 Weeks of Paid Leave of Absence, Medical, Dental, Vision, 401K, Pension Savings Plan, $3200 tuition reimbursement, access to parks, zoos, and aquarium, discounts on merchandise and food, plus much more…
Application instructions
Please Visit Wildlife Conservation Society’s Job Board and Apply Here: https://bit.ly/3QICYOT