Senior Director, Controller

By joining the National Student Clearinghouse, you can be sure that the work you do now will help shape the future of education and the workforce in the U.S. As the trusted source for higher education data since 1993, the Clearinghouse is the leading provider of transcript and data exchange services, automated enrollment and degree verifications, learner insights and research, and compliance solutions for schools, businesses, and learners nationwide. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the Clearinghouse works with nearly 3,600 postsecondary institutions to meet their compliance needs and with thousands of high schools and districts to provide continuing collegiate enrollment, progression, and completion statistics about their alumni. In addition, the Research Center publications inform policymakers and business leaders about student educational pathways. Using our unique combination of data, analytics, and software to drive our mission, security and privacy is paramount. Join us as we continue to invest in our talent and new advanced technologies to unlock the power of data on behalf of all learners.

The Senior Director, Controller serves as the organization's principal accounting officer, reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer and acting as the senior accounting and financial reporting leader for NSC. This position is accountable for the accuracy, integrity, and timeliness of all financial reporting, accounting operations, and transaction processing activities.

The Controller leads a team of 8-12 accounting and transaction processing professionals and oversees the full accounting function, including financial close, billing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, fixed assets, grants accounting, revenue recognition, and procurement-related transaction processing. The role also maintains primary responsibility for U.S. and Canadian federal, state, provincial, and local tax compliance, annual audit management, Form 990 preparation, and the organization's internal control environment.

As a key member of the Finance leadership team, the Controller partners closely with FP&A, Procurement, Human Resources, Technology, Legal, and program leadership to strengthen financial stewardship, operational effectiveness, and the long-term sustainability of the organization.

Currently, this is a remote-first position, and this position may be required to periodically work on-site at our office and the frequency would depend on the department/division's requirements. Therefore, candidates must either reside within a reasonable distance to commute to our office or be willing to travel to our office in Herndon, when required.

Financial Accounting & Reporting

• Direct all accounting operations in accordance with U.S. GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards.
• Lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, targeting a 7-business-day close cycle.
• Ensure accurate preparation of internal and external financial statements and related disclosures.
• Oversee account reconciliations, journal entries, and general ledger activities.
• Develop, document, and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Provide financial analysis and reporting to executive leadership and the Board of Directors.
• Ensure proper accounting treatment of grants, contributions, contracts, subscriptions, and service revenue.
• Interpret and communicate financial operating results to NSC leaders in a timely and accessible manner.

Transaction Processing Operations

• Direct billing processes to ensure timely and accurate invoices are provided to customers
• Direct accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, employee expense reimbursement, and cash application functions.
• Establish service-level standards and performance metrics for transaction processing activities.
• Ensure timely processing of vendor payments, customer invoicing, collections, and payroll.
• Develop and implement the organization's cash management and payment processing strategy.
• Drive continuous improvement and automation initiatives to increase efficiency and accuracy.
• Oversee financial systems and workflows supporting transaction processing, including procurement-to-pay and order-to-cash processes.

Internal Controls & Compliance

• Maintain a strong internal control environment, including robust segregation of duties.
• Ensure compliance with nonprofit regulations, U.S. federal grant requirements, and applicable U.S. and Canadian state/provincial regulations.
• Oversee documentation and periodic testing of key financial controls.
• Monitor compliance with organizational policies and delegated authority requirements.
• Coordinate responses to audit findings and implement corrective action plans.
• Support enterprise risk management initiatives related to financial operations.

Audit & Tax Management

• Serve as the primary liaison with independent auditors for annual financial statement audits and Single Audits (where applicable).
• Coordinate preparation and review of Form 990 and other required U.S. and Canadian federal, state, and local tax filings.
• Ensure compliance with donor restrictions and grant reporting requirements.
• Oversee implementation of new accounting pronouncements and regulatory changes.
• Prepare financial information for Board meetings, annual budget cycles, and ad hoc audit requirements.

Cash Management & Treasury Accounting

• Oversee accounting for cash, investments, debt, and liquidity activities.
• Ensure accurate recording and reconciliation of banking transactions, including U.S. and Canadian accounts.
• Partner with treasury and finance leadership to support cash flow forecasting and liquidity management.
• Monitor compliance with banking covenants and investment policies.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing accounting and transaction processing team of 8-12 professionals.
• Establish departmental goals aligned with organizational objectives and promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional development.
• Build a team-based environment that reflects NSC's values - customer focus, open and authentic communication, effective collaboration, and optimized work processes.
• Effectively manage critical third-party organizations that provide support or service to the accounting function (e.g. software providers, auditors, staffing organizations, etc.)
• Recruit and develop top accounting talent; support succession planning and advancement within the team.
• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with FP&A, Procurement, Human Resources, Technology, Legal, and operational leaders.
• Coach and mentor staff on both technical competencies and professional growth, including formal and informal feedback and annual performance reviews.

Systems & Process Improvement

• Lead optimization of ERP, accounting, and financial reporting systems used at NSC.
• Champion implementation of automation, workflow, and reporting tools to reduce manual processes.
• Drive efficiency gains in financial close, reconciliations, and reporting workflows.
• Champion data governance and financial data quality initiatives.
• Evaluate and implement best practices in nonprofit financial operations; move beyond the status quo and encourage innovative thinking within the team.
• Actively seek cost-effective solutions that reduce costs and optimize results across the finance function.

Workforce Management:

• Demonstrate the management and senior leadership competencies:
  
  
  
  • Management Competencies: Making Complex Decisions, Being Flexible and Adaptive, Build Collaborative Relationships, Focusing on Performance, and Optimizing Diverse Talent.
  • Senior Leadership Competencies: Balances Stakeholders, Cultivates Innovation, Drives Vision and Purpose, Strategic Mindset, and Understanding the Business.
  
  
  
  
• Build a team-based environment that aligns with company values, ways of working, and competencies.
• Ensure employees comply with company policies, procedures and regulations, while meeting established goals.
• Recruit and select the best talent to help optimize skills and experiences.
• Motivate and manage staff to maximize productivity and efficiency.
• Provide direction to team members, including feedback to support personal and career development and ongoing improvement.
• Develop and manage career development and advancement and define and monitor training and development plans to support job and career satisfaction.
• Coach, mentor, and ensure staff are adequately trained and provide guidance, as needed.
• Monitor and provide feedback on performance including annual reviews, rewards, and compensation structure.
• Reward employees using formal and informal methods.

Position may be required to perform other duties as required.

These essential functions are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the job. Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Bachelors degree in Accounting, Finance, or a closely related field. A combination of education and experience including military service will also be considered.
• 10 years of progressive accounting, financial reporting, and financial management experience.
• 5 years of experience leading accounting operations within a complex organization with annual revenues exceeding $50 million.
• Demonstrated experience leading annual financial statement audits, Form 990 preparation and filing, and regulatory compliance activities.
• 3 years of experience leading and developing accounting or finance teams of five or more employees.
• Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) designation required.
• Comprehensive knowledge of U.S. GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, financial reporting requirements, and applicable tax regulations.
• Demonstrated expertise in accounting operations, financial reporting, audit management, internal controls, and regulatory compliance.
• Strong experience with ERP systems, financial management platforms, and reporting technologies, including system optimization and process improvement initiatives.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Exceptional communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights for executive leadership, the Board of Directors, auditors, and other stakeholders.
• Demonstrated commitment to financial stewardship, accuracy, integrity, transparency, and sound fiscal management.
• Strong knowledge of internal control frameworks, risk management principles, and financial governance best practices.
• Proven success leading process improvement, automation, and operational efficiency initiatives that enhance accuracy, scalability, and effectiveness.
• Strategic leadership skills with the ability to establish vision, align resources, drive execution, and contribute to enterprise-wide decision-making.
• Proven ability to develop, mentor, and retain high-performing accounting and finance professionals while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Strong relationship-building and influencing skills, with the ability to effectively partner with stakeholders across all levels of the organization.
• Executive presence and professionalism, including the ability to present financial analyses, recommendations, and business insights to senior leaders, Board members, auditors, regulators, and external partners.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams through organizational change, navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and achieve results in a dynamic environment.
• Strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, including sound judgment, effective conflict resolution, trust-building, and a collaborative leadership style.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify risks, evaluate alternatives, and develop practical, business-focused solutions.
• Ability to balance strategic priorities with operational execution while maintaining a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Demonstrates the Clearinghouse's core competencies: customer focus, optimizes work processes, communicates effectively, collaborates, and is open and authentic.
• Must live within a commutable distance to Herndon, VA or in one of the Clearinghouse's approved States for hiring purposes. Refer to our HR Policies Page, located on our Careers site at https://www.studentclearinghouse.org/careers/human-resource-policies/, for more details.
• Must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis. We do not intend to sponsor external applicants for work visas, and may consider sponsorship only if no qualified candidates can be found who are authorized to work without sponsorship.
• Must be at least 18 years old.

• Experience in a nonprofit, education, healthcare, membership association, or other mission-driven organization.
• Experience overseeing grant accounting, financial reporting, compliance, and donor-restricted funding requirements.
• Knowledge of indirect cost allocation methodologies and restricted, unrestricted, and temporarily restricted fund accounting principles.
• Experience managing complex, multi-jurisdictional tax compliance activities, including U.S. and Canadian federal, state, local, and provincial requirements.
• Familiarity with enterprise financial management systems and platforms, including Sage Intacct, Ramp, Avalara, Billing Platform, or comparable technologies.
• Experience supporting organizations with diverse revenue streams, including grants, contracts, subscriptions, contributions, and service-based revenue.
• Demonstrated experience leading financial system implementations, upgrades, or large-scale process transformation initiatives.
• MBA, Master of Accountancy (MAcc), or other relevant advanced degree.

• Use of a computer for 8 or more hours a day.
• Use of a telephone and/or copy machine.
• Frequently required to sit for 7 or more hours per day.
• Occasionally required to use hands and fingers to operate, handle, and reach.
• Vision abilities include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.
• Must be flexible to do out-of-town assignments and travel infrequently via car, train, and airplane, when needed.

The National Student Clearinghouse provides a robust benefit program designed to help meet the needs of each employee and their family, both now and in the future. We offer comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as life and disability insurance benefits, for employees and their qualified dependents. Health care, dependent care, and limited purpose flexible spending accounts, as well as a health savings account with annual employer contributions of $300 for employees and $600 for employees who are enrolled with their spouse and/or dependents, voluntary supplemental health plans for Accident and Hospital Indemnity coverage, and infertility coverage are options available for employees to set aside pre-taxed dollars for certain qualifying expenses. We offer a very generous 401k matching contribution program with the opportunity to defer pre-tax and Roth contributions, as well as catch-up contributions for those who are eligible! We are proud to offer a competitive paid leave program consisting of vacation, sick, and personal time, as well as paid holidays, up to 3 weeks of paid parental leave during a 12-month period , and up to 5 days of paid military leave per calendar year . Vacation time will accrue based on length of service, and new full-time hires can accrue up to 13 days of vacation and up to 10 days of sick time per year. On an annual basis, new employees may use up to 32 hours of accrued sick time as personal time. Additionally, the Clearinghouse observes at least 15 paid holidays per year, including company year-end close between Christmas and New Years Holidays.

Another perk is that employees have the option to get reimbursed for basic wholesale company and roadside assistance memberships (e.g., Costco and AAA) and to request a buy back on portions of unused accrued vacation based on tenure and certain other qualifications. Employees can further their education and professional development by using our Employee Education Assistance Program, which establishes reimbursement for qualified education expenses upon successful completion of the program, and leveraging the enterprise-wide LinkedIn Learning subscription. There are additional employee benefits too, including but not limited to, mental health with up to eight free therapy sessions for employees and their family members and well-being reward benefits. With the Clearinghouse being an eligible 501(3)(c) nonprofit organization, employees are eligible for service credit towards the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF). To find out more, please request a copy of our Benefits at a Glance!

Additionally, we reasonably believe that the salary range for this position is between $200,000 and $250,000. Bonus eligible.

The pay range listed above represents a good faith estimate and is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. The National Student Clearinghouse considers multiple factors when determining base pay for offers, including but not limited to the responsibilities and scope of the role, as well as a candidate's experience, education, knowledge, skills, abilities, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

Internal Candidates: If you feel you meet the qualifications for the role, we strongly encourage you to apply and focus on preparing for the application process. Finalist internal candidates will receive a compensation review prior to any offer being made. In accordance with the Clearinghouse's compensation and promotion guidelines, internal compensation practices will be applied first, which may result in pay that differs from the posted salary range.

This job announcement was posted to the National Student Clearinghouse's Careers site at www.studentclearinghouse.org/careers on 7/23/2026 and the online application period will be open for at least 3 days from this posting date. A completed online application is required to be considered for this opportunity.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities: The National Student Clearinghouse is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, veteran status (or known to have a spousal, family, business, social or other relationship or association with a protected veteran), sexual orientation, genetic information, arrest record, natural hairstyle, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Our management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities and general treatment during employment.

Pay Transparency Notice: The National Student Clearinghouse is a federal contractor that abides by all applicable equal opportunity laws and regulations. Under these laws, companies doing business with the federal government must provide applicants and employees with certain policies, including the following information. The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)