Chief Financial Officer and Director of Compliance

Charleston School of Law - an independent, American Bar Association - approved law school in historic Charleston, South Carolina- seeks resumes for a full-time Chief Financial Officer and Director of Compliance, a key leadership role. The incumbent will have three broad areas of responsibility:

• Serves as CFO/Treasurer with responsibility for receipt of income, payment of obligations, accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Becomes knowledgeable about, and then ensures compliance with, the American Bar Association, Education Department, and Commission on Higher Education standards and requirements for law schools and higher education institutions, generally. Responsible for coordinating timely and accurate annual reporting to these and other agencies.
• Ensures smooth delivery of business operations for the Law School, including that insurance, bonding, lease, and contractual obligations are satisfied.

As CFO, the incumbent will:

• Plan and authorize expenditures, monitor overall budget and financial position of the school, and coordinate the annual budget process with Dean.
• Advise the Dean on budget forecasts and assist with long-term financial planning.
• Supervise the Bursar, including billing of tuition, receipt of tuition payments, recording of student loans, disbursing loan overages, and maintaining good student relationships. Maintain compliance with applicable regulations regarding receipt and disbursement of student loans.
• Supervise and monitor the accounts payable function to ensure prompt and accurate payment of obligations and maintenance of vendor relationships. Monitor operating cash requirements, travel requests, and the use of company issued credit cards.
• In coordination with the Human Resources Department, assist with payroll preparation, submission, review, and payroll system reporting. Review quarterly and annual payroll tax returns.
• Manage and oversee relationship with independent auditors regarding the annual audit and tax filings. Prepare and submit information requested for the financial audit. Work with auditors to resolve questions. Submit completed audits by June 30 to the Department of Education via EZ Audit System.
• Ensure that employee and employer 401k contributions are accurately and timely submitted. Prepare annual questionnaires and reports as required by 401k plan for preparation of tax return and other filings.
• Compile and prepare the financial areas of other required reports, such as the ABA Questionnaire and IPEDS; prepare and submit tax filings such as 1098-T forms, 1099's and business licenses.

Qualifications and Requirements:

The Law School seeks either a Certified Public Accountant with compliance and higher education experience or a licensed attorney with significant finance and accounting experience to fill this role. Specifically:

1. Education requirement: either (a) a Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Business Administration, Finance, or a related field, and a registered CPA designation or (b) a Juris Doctor.
2. A minimum of 10 years' experience in finance, business, and/or higher education compliance.
3. Knowledge of QuickBooks, Excel, and financial statement preparation required.
4. Knowledge of higher education budgeting and finance strongly preferred.
5. Knowledge of compliance requirements for law schools and colleges/universities preferred.
6. Collaborative management and working style, strong analytical and planning skills, knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, and attention to detail required.
7. As the Law School is in the process of converting from proprietary to nonprofit status, knowledge of accounting and compliance requirements for both types of entities is highly desirable.

A completed application package consists of a cover letter and resume.

The Charleston School of Law is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any individual or group on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, race, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, genetic information, disability, or any other legally protected class.

Charleston School of Law is a fully accredited institution reinvigorating the study of law by offering a rich, comprehensive three-year program rooted in excellence. Our campus is located in the Upper King Street district of historic, downtown Charleston. The Law School was founded in 2003 with a mission to instill the values of public service and professionalism in its graduates. Key goals for the Law School are student success and providing opportunities to historically underrepresented groups in the profession. The Law School prides itself on having a talented and accessible faculty and staff. Princeton Review regularly ranks Charleston School of Law as a top institution for faculty accessibility, teaching quality, and resources for women. The School's Faculty bring significant practice experience to the classroom and include former law firm partners, state and federal prosecutors, defense attorneys, corporate counsel, and military veterans. The Law School is dedicated to maintaining a diverse and inclusive community of students, faculty, and staff that fosters an appreciation for and understanding of people from a variety of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.