Job Listings

Controller

Business Office -
762

Saint Paul, MN

About Luther Seminary

Luther Seminary
educates leaders for Christian
communities called and sent by the Holy Spirit to witness to salvation through
Jesus Christ and to serve in
God’s world. Our values are Gospel-centered,
Student-focused, Innovative, Academically Rigorous, Inclusive, and Community
Oriented.

Luther is the largest seminary of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. We also educate students of 41 other
denominations and
traditions. Luther is accredited by the Higher Learning
Commission and the Association of Theological Schools.

Position Title

Controller

Department

Business Office - 762

Date

7/13/2026

Reports To

Shared Services CFO

Full-time/

Part-time

Full-time

Job Level

Senior-level management

FTE

1.0

Human Resources Use Only:

🗹 Exempt

◻ Non-Exempt

1. Job Summary

The Controller is responsible for the comprehensive oversight of
the organization's
accounting and financial operations, reporting to the
Shared Services Chief Financial Officer. This position serves as the primary
financial management leader, ensuring accurate financial reporting,
regulatory compliance, and effective internal controls. The Controller
oversees all accounting functions, including general ledger, cash management,
accounts payable and receivable, budgeting, financial
reporting, and audit
coordination.

In addition to core financial responsibilities, the Controller
provides oversight of human
resources operations, including compliance with
employment laws, benefits administration, and HRIS management. While HR is an
important
component of this role, the primary focus and competency is
financial leadership and accounting operations.

The Controller serves
as a key member of the staff leadership
team (SLT), providing critical financial analysis and reporting to support
strategic
decision-making and organizational sustainability.

ABIDE Commitment: This position actively advances Luther Seminary's ABIDE
commitments (Accountability, Belonging, Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity)
through day-to-day work, relationships, and decision-making. The
incumbent is
expected to integrate ABIDE principles into their responsibilities,
contributing to a learning and working environment where
all can fully belong
and thrive.

1. Essential Functions

Accounting and Financial
Reporting

• Oversee all accounting
  operations, including general ledger, cash management, accounts
  receivable, accounts
  payable, and monthly reconciliations (cash, gifts,
  investments, and other transactions)

• Prepare and present
  monthly
  financial reports and annual financial statements to the CFO, executive
  leadership, and Board committees

• Manage the annual operating and
  capital budget process in collaboration with the CFO and budget
  directors

• Develop, implement, and review
  standard and custom financial reports for departments, program managers,
  administration, and key
  constituencies

• Ensure accurate and timely
  financial reporting for grants and grant-related activities

Compliance and Audit Management

• Ensure compliance with GAAP,
  federal, state, and local financial
  regulations, tax requirements, and
  accreditation reporting standards

• Coordinate and manage annual
  external
  audits; prepare audit schedules and respond to auditor
  inquiries

• Plan, oversee, and document
  internal audit
  processes and findings

• Ensure timely preparation and
  submission of all tax filings (Form 990, 1099s, etc.),
  financial aid
  reports, and regulatory documentation

• Provide accurate financial
  reports and statistics to
  accreditation agencies, government bodies,
  banks, and third parties

Insurance and Risk Management

• Manage insurance and risk
  programs in collaboration with the CFO, including primary responsibility
  for the organization's relationship
  with EIIA and other insurance
  carriers, brokers, and consultants

• Coordinate annual insurance
  applications,
  renewals, and coverage changes; compile exposure data
  (property, liability, auto, cyber, workers' compensation, student-related
  exposures)
  and ensure accuracy and timely submission

• Review policies, endorsements,
  and certificates of insurance for
  appropriate coverage, limits, and
  exclusions; recommend adjustments to the CFO to align with institutional
  risk tolerance and contractual
  obligations

• Serve as the primary internal
  contact for insurance questions, incident reporting, and claims
  coordination, working with campus partners to gather documentation and
  with EIIA/carriers to monitor claim status and resolution

• Maintain schedules of insured
  assets and exposures, reconcile them with the general ledger and fixed
  asset records, and
  ensure premiums and related costs are recorded
  accurately in accordance with GAAP

• Support business continuity and
  risk management efforts by providing financial and insurance data for
  contingency planning, contract review, and risk mitigation
  initiatives
  led by the CFO or other senior leaders

Financial Systems and Internal Controls

• Develop, implement, and maintain
  accounting policies, procedures, controls, and systems to ensure data
  integrity and operational
  efficiency

• Oversee and continuously improve
  internal controls and financial best practices

• Collaborate with IT leadership
  to ensure financial systems meet organizational needs while maintaining
  data integrity and security
  

• Manage daily cash reports and
  cash flow projection analysis

Strategic Financial Support

• Provide financial analysis and
  management advice to support strategic decision-making

• Advise the
  CFO and executive
  leadership on the ,financial implications of business activities and
  strategic priorities

• Build effective working
  relationships with budget directors and develop communication strategies
  to enable effective departmental
  financial management

• Participate in Finance Committee
  meetings to report on organizational financial health

Human Resources Oversight

• Provide oversight of HR
  operations, ensuring compliance with FLSA, EEOC, Title
  VII, Title IX,
  and other federal and state employment laws

• Oversee benefits administration,
  ensuring competitive
  and compliant employee benefit programs

• Monitor HRIS administration and
  ensure timely, accurate payroll
  processing in coordination with payroll
  staff or vendors

• Support employee relations matters
  in consultation with
  the CFO and legal counsel, as needed

• Provide oversight of
  recruitment, onboarding, and retention processes

• Support performance management
  processes and employee engagement initiatives

• Ensure HR
  policies and
  procedures align with organizational goals and legal requirements

• Collaborate with leadership on
  workforce planning and organizational development initiatives

Leadership and Team Development

• Directly supervise business
  office and human resources staff (3 positions), including a staff
  accountant, business accounts specialist,
  and human resources manager.

• Provide coaching, mentoring, and
  professional development opportunities for direct
  reports

• Foster a collaborative,
  team-oriented work environment focused on service excellence

• Organize workflows to optimize
  the the effectiveness and efficiency of business office operations

• Serve as a
  member of the staff
  leadership team (SLT) and participate in cross-functional initiatives

• Build strong
  relationships with
  internal stakeholders across all departments

• Maintain productive
  relationships with external
  partners, including auditors, banks,
  investment advisors, and vendors

• Support the organizational
  culture of
  transparency, innovation, and continuous improvement

ABIDE and Institutional Engagement

• Demonstrate
  ongoing commitment
  to Luther Seminary's ABIDE framework (Accountability, Belonging,
  Inclusion, Diversity, Equity) by integrating
  equity-focused practices
  into core duties, participating in ABIDE-related learning, and
  contributing to an inclusive and welcoming
  community.

,

1. Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in
  accounting,
  finance, or related field required

• Professional accounting
  designation (CPA - active or inactive)
  required

• Minimum 7 years of progressive
  accounting experience, including at least 3 years in a controller,
  associate controller, or similar senior financial management position

• Demonstrated ability to manage
  accounting
  functions in compliance with federal and state regulations
  and GAAP

• Experience supervising and
  leading staff,
  including coaching, mentoring, and fostering a cooperative
  work environment

• Higher education or nonprofit
  experience, including grants management, financial aid, and endowment
  accounting, is strongly preferred

• Deep
  knowledge of GAAP,
  government accounting standards, and financial control frameworks,
  particularly as applied to nonprofit entities and
  higher education
  institutions

• Demonstrated ability to build
  effective working relationships across all levels
  and departments of an
  organization

• Proven problem-solving and
  analytical skills, including advanced expertise
  with Microsoft Excel and
  financial modeling tools

• Knowledge of ERP systems
  required; experience with NetSuite,
  Jenzabar, or similar systems
  preferred

• Strong written and oral
  communication skills, with the ability to present
  complex financial
  information clearly to non-financial audiences

• High level of personal
  integrity,
  confidentiality, and ethical standards

• Effective time management skills
  and the ability to balance multiple
  priorities and constituencies

• Working knowledge of federal and
  state employment laws and HR compliance
  requirements

• Familiarity with HRIS systems
  and payroll processing

• Understanding of
  benefits
  administration and total compensation principles

Preferred

• Master’s degree (MBA, MPA, HR,
  or related field) and/or CPA or SPHR/SHRM-SCP certification.

• Experience in higher education,
  nonprofit, or
  similarly complex organizations.

• Public accounting experience
  preferred

• Experience with
  AI-enabled financial
  tools, automation, and predictive analytics

• Grant management and restricted
  fund accounting
  experience

• Experience in complex nonprofit
  or higher education environments

1. Physical
   Demands

• Prolonged periods of sitting at
  a desk and working on a computer (up to 6-8 hours per day).

• Occasional standing, walking,
  and movement within office and campus environments.

• Light lifting
  and carrying of
  materials (up to 20 pounds) may be required infrequently.

• Ability to participate in
  meetings,
  presentations, and campus events, which may involve walking
  between buildings.

1. Work Environment

• This position operates in a
  hybrid work environment, requiring three days on-site and allowing up to
  two days of remote
  work per week. The on-site environment utilizes
  standard office equipment

• Occasional attendance at
  meetings or
  events in other campus buildings or off-site locations is
  expected.

• The work environment is
  generally quiet to
  moderate; higher noise levels may occur during events
  or peak periods.

• Minimal exposure to hazards;
  adherence to
  standard safety and ergonomic practices is expected, both
  in the office and when working remotely.

• Flexible work
  arrangements,
  including hybrid and remote options, are available and subject to
  organizational policy and operational requirements.

The pay range for
this role is:

130,000.00 - 140,000.00 USD
per year (Luther Seminary )