Department: Financial Services

Campus Location: Wichita, KS - WSU Main Campus

Hire Type: Full Time

Pay: Range beginning $122,000/yr, negotiable with qualifications

Work Schedule: Mon-Fri, 8a-5p (Flexible scheduling & limited WFH availability)

Export Compliance Requirement: No export control requirement.

Job Story

Are you a financial leader who sees beyond the spreadsheets—someone who understands that accounting is not just about numbers, but about enabling smart decisions, institutional resilience, and innovation?
If that sounds like you, Wichita State University invites you to join our dynamic Financial Services team as our next Assistant Controller.

Why This Role Matters
This is more than a traditional accounting role. You’ll be at the heart of our financial operations, helping to shape the future of one of the region’s most innovative institutions. You’ll bring structure to complexity, lead a team of dedicated professionals, and drive strategic initiatives that support long-term sustainability.

What You’ll Do

• Lead General Ledger Operations: Ensure accuracy, efficiency, and seamless integration across financial systems.
• Supervise and Mentor: Guide a team of accounting professionals, fostering growth, collaboration, and operational excellence.
• Collaborate Across Campus: Serve as a key liaison between departments, cost accounting, audit leadership, and rate-setting functions.
• Drive Innovation: Champion process improvements and system enhancements while maintaining compliance and best practices.
• Navigate Audits with Confidence: Oversee financial reporting and audit readiness with clarity and precision.

Who You Are

• A collaborative leader who understands that financial operations impact every corner of the university.
• A strategic thinker with a systems mindset and a passion for continuous improvement.
• A resilient innovator who embraces change and seeks smarter, more efficient ways to work.
• A detail-oriented professional with a talent for connecting the dots and managing complexity.
• An experienced mentor who supports and develops accounting talent.
• A strong communicator who thrives in cross-functional environments and values respectful, transparent collaboration.
• A compliance-savvy expert with experience in audits, financial reporting, and regulatory standards.

Why Wichita State?
Join a forward-thinking Financial Services team that believes accounting should empower progress—not slow it down. We value innovation, teamwork, and leadership that builds bridges across departments. If you’re ready to bring clarity to complexity and help shape the future of higher education, we want to hear from you.
Apply now and become a catalyst for change—one journal entry, one conversation, and one breakthrough at a time.

Job Summary

Provides leadership and strategic direction over the general accounting activities of the University to ensure accuracy and timeliness of financial transactions and financial reporting, safeguard assets, and maintain financial compliance.

Essential Functions

• Directs and leads University-wide accounting activities including general ledger management, journal entries, finance interfaces and cost accounting services.
• Leads the development and implementation of accounting processes, policies, and services through department leaders and staff.
• Oversees department management of staff evaluation and ensures services align with federal, state, and University rules and regulations.
• Responsible for overseeing the annual audit, completion of annual financial report, and complying with various state and federal reporting requirements.

Job Duties

• Establishes systems and processes to ensure that the University’s accounting information captures sufficient data to properly reflect significant transactions and accounts.
• Serves as a liaison with the Office of Research to ensure sponsored research accounting procedures and practices support sound financial accounting and supports financial reporting activities related to research.
• Develops relationships with various levels of University leadership to understand accounting information needs for effective management and decision making, and ensures those needs are satisfied by the resources provided.
• Provides cost accounting support to service centers to ensure compliance with federal regulations, including accounting system requirements.
• Oversees the University's financial statement and single annual audits, providing supervision and guidance to the staff preparing audit workpapers, the Annual Financial Report (AFR), and other financial reports.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business or related field
• Eight (8) years of experience in accounting, finance or related field, with three (3) years of experience in a leadership role

Required License/Certifications/Training:

None

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of GAAP, GASB, and federal/state financial regulations.
• Experience with higher education accounting, audits, and financial reporting.
• Skilled in financial systems, data analysis, and process improvement.
• Effective leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Ability to manage complex accounting operations and meet tight deadlines.
• Skilled in process improvement and implementing systems that enhance efficiency and data reliability.

Preferred License/Certifications/Training:

Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

Additional Information:

N/A

Physical Requirements:

Ability to remain in a stationary position. Frequent 60-90%
Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment including but not limited to phone, printers, copiers, and calculators. Frequent 60-90%
Ability to communicate with others and accurately exchange information. Frequent 60-90%

Additional Physical Requirement: