Controller/Finance Consultant

Summary

Join CampusWorks as an independent contractor and provide interim CFO or finance director services to higher education institutions. This flexible, project-based role allows you to work 10-30 hours per week on assignments lasting a few weeks to several months. You will leverage your expertise in higher education finance to help colleges and universities navigate transitions, address compliance needs, or implement process improvements. Responsibilities include leading finance department staff, conducting financial reporting and analysis, advising on financial policies and procedures, and assessing departmental efficiency. The ideal candidate possesses 5+ years of higher education finance experience, prior experience as a Controller or CFO, and hands-on experience with higher ed ERP systems.

Requirements

• 5+ years in higher education finance, accounting, or business office leadership
• Hands-on experience with higher ed ERP systems (Banner, Colleague, Workday, or Jenzabar)
• Strong understanding of accrual accounting, grants management, AP/AR, tax reporting, and compliance
• Exceptional communication skills and comfort working independently
• Bachelor’s degree required; CPA or MBA preferred

Responsibilities

• Serving as Interim CFO or Finance Director and providing day-to-day leadership of the finance department staff
• Conducting accounting, financial reporting, and financial analysis functions while overseeing the daily financial operations of the college or university
• Advising on the development of policies, programs, and procedures governing financial and accounting operations, and preparing financial statements, forecasts, and analyses
• Provide oversight, direction, guidance, and coordination of the current finance projects and priorities
• Assessing the efficiency of the finance department
• Providing finance consulting to higher education clients on a variety of finance topics/challenges
• Assisting clients in how to best align policy, process, procedures, and personnel to effectively leverage the Finance ERP solution
• Provide interim leadership in general accounting, grants, purchasing, fixed assets, and disbursements
• Partner with campus leaders and external auditors to assess processes and recommend improvements
• Prepare and review reconciliations, interim reports, and financial statements
• Support compliance with state and federal grant requirements and institutional policies
• Help institutions strengthen internal controls, improve reporting, and align operations with strategic goals
• Guide finance system optimization using platforms like Ellucian Banner, Colleague, Workday, or Jenzabar
• Facilitate workshops, document business processes, and support knowledge transfer
• Advise on current trends and regulatory changes impacting higher education finance

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior role as a Controller, CFO, or Director of Finance strongly preferred
• Previous consulting experience a plus, but not required

Benefits

• Collaboration: CampusWorks fosters a collaborative environment where you can work with other talented professionals on projects that align with your interests and expertise
• Flexibility: Whether you have your own business, prefer selective work periods, or seek work-from-home opportunities, we offer flexible assignments to suit your needs and goals
• Impactful Projects: As a partner in our HappyCampus community, you will have access to dynamic and challenging projects, making positive changes for the clients we serve
• Variety: The needs of our clients are likely to vary, adding some diversity to your daily tasks while allowing you to grow a variety of different skills