Controller

Job Description

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic graduate school and seminary serving Dominican friars, other religious, seminarians, and priests, as well as lay students. The Thomistic Institute is also part of the PFIC.

As Controller, you'll oversee accounting, work with external auditors, maintain internal controls, produce accurate and timely financial reports, and serve as a resource across institutional finance. You'll report to the Chief Operating Officer (COO).

This is a hands-on accounting role on a small administrative team: you'll process transactions and run payroll, maintain the books and controls environment, and work with leadership to ensure compliance with relevant regulations.

This is an onsite role based at the Dominican House of Studies in Washington, DC, near the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception and the Catholic University of America. Employment requires residency in the greater DMV area.

This role suits a meticulous accountant who takes real ownership of the institution's books, is comfortable running financial systems with a good degree of independence, and finds satisfaction in accurate records, clean reconciliations, useful reporting, and dependable controls.

Send applications or inquiries to: careers@dhs.edu

What You'll Do

1. Accounting & Financial Reporting

Maintain the general ledger and keep financial records accurate and audit-ready.
Manage month-end and year-end close, including journal entries, accruals, and reconciliations.
Oversee accounts receivable and accounts payable.
Reconcile bank and investment accounts, resolving discrepancies promptly.
Prepare financial statements for leadership.

2. Payroll & Benefits Administration

Process institutional payroll accurately and on schedule, in compliance with applicable wage and tax laws.
Maintain employee tax data, including withholding, reporting, and year-end W-2 preparation.
Administer employer contributions to 403(b) retirement accounts.
Respond to tax inquiries in a timely manner.

3. Billing, Invoicing & Vendor Compliance

Process student tuition invoicing and collections, following up on outstanding balances with the Registrar.
Manage the bill approval process, routing invoices for approval and maintaining a clear audit trail.
Prepare vendor invoices for payment and ensure vendors are paid on agreed terms.
Prepare and file annual 1099 and 1098-T forms in compliance with IRS deadlines.

4. Internal Controls & Audit

Monitor internal financial controls.
Ensure financial operations comply with applicable accounting, legal, and accreditation requirements.
Manage the annual audit process, serving as the primary liaison with external auditors.
Maintain financial records in accordance with retention requirements.

5. Budgeting and Planning Support

Collaborate with leadership to prepare the annual institutional budget.
Monitor actual expenditures against budget.
Assist the Dean and Registrar with financial reporting and data for accreditation reports and self-studies.
Collaborate with the COO and other stakeholders on financial planning, reporting, and special projects.

Who You Are

Strengths and Temperament

You're precise and detail-oriented, comfortable owning accuracy across a high volume of transactions.
You're comfortable working hands-on across the full range of accounting and finance functions on a lean team.
You can hold things together. You bring order and efficiency to processes as a matter of habit.
You communicate clearly with non-financial colleagues and institutional leadership.
You take ownership of the books and the controls environment as if they were your own, even when the work is behind-the-scenes.
You're called to use your accounting and financial expertise in service of a faithful Catholic educational institution.

Qualifications

As a representative of the Dominican Province of St. Joseph and the PFIC, applicants must be practicing Catholics in good standing who assent to and profess the Catholic faith in its entirety as presented in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field; CPA or progress toward CPA designation preferred, but not required.
Three or more years of progressively responsible experience in accounting or financial management; nonprofit, higher education, or mission-driven experience a plus.
Knowledge of GAAP.
Proficiency with or ability to quickly learn Sage Intacct.
Strong Excel skills, including building and maintaining financial models, reconciliations, and reporting workbooks.
Experience with BILL.com, Expensify, ADP, or comparable systems is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits
This is a full-time, salaried role with medical and dental coverage, a 403(b) retirement plan, and paid vacation.

In addition to paid vacation and most public holidays, the PFIC provides paid leave for select Catholic Solemnities (e.g., the Triduum, St. Joseph's Day, the Immaculate Conception) and an extended Christmas Break commensurate with the PFIC academic calendar.

The Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies is an institution sponsored by the Dominican Friars of the Province of St. Joseph. The person holding this position will represent the PFIC and the Dominican friars in public and will at times participate in Catholic prayers.

Members of the PFIC team are encouraged to participate in the regular liturgical life of the Dominican friars (e.g., step away from work for Mass, the daily midday rosary, the divine office, etc.).

Send applications or inquiries to: careers@dhs.edu

About the Employer

As a Roman Catholic pontifical institution belonging to the Order of Preachers and serving its evangelizing mission, enriched by the study of sacred doctrine, the Dominican House of Studies has as its primary purpose to provide a theological education that prepares students for ordained ministry in the Province of St. Joseph.

In this endeavor, it is faithful to the fullness of the magisterial teaching of the Catholic Church and committed to communicating that teaching in full. It takes St. Thomas Aquinas as its privileged teacher, in dialogue with contemporary thought.