Deputy Controller/Director Accounting

The Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) is one of the Nation’s preeminent Housing Finance Agencies and one of the State’s ten largest financial institutions. Our mission is to finance the creation and preservation of affordable housing across Illinois. IHDA oversees more than 20 federal and state programs and serves as a primary resource for housing policy and program administration.

About the role

Reporting directly to the Authority’s Controller, the Deputy Controller oversees the accounting operations of the Authority. This includes the full spectrum of general ledger activities, accounting policy governance, and accounts payable and receivable. The Deputy Controller ensures a comprehensive set of controls are designed and functioning to mitigate risk, enhance the timeliness and accuracy of financial results, and ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting principles. The Deputy Controller serves as the Controller in the absence of the Controller.

Responsibilities

• Design organizational structure and formulate goals to accomplish the department’s mission and support the Authority.
• Develop and maintain processes and controls ensuring sound accounting practices, including maintaining financial books and records in accordance with GAAP.
• Ensure all entries are recorded in accordance with GAAP for governmental entities and applicable GASB pronouncements.
• Lead month-end and year-end closing activities, including managing the closing calendar and reviewing/validating prepared financial results.
• Identify and deliver automation and process improvement across the record-to-report cycle using Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP.
• Maintain accounting operating procedures and desktop documentation for general ledger, close, and line-of-business accounting cycles.
• Operate and evidence controls embedded in accounting cycles to support independent testing.
• Track and report close cycle time, reconciliation aging, and ledger accuracy, driving improvement against these measures.
• Manage the Authority’s co-sourcing (offshore) accounting support team.
• Own, execute, and certify the reconciliation of all subsidiary ledgers and subsystems to the general ledger.
• Substantiate all Authority balance sheet accounts, including aging and resolution of reconciling items.
• Remediate reconciliation exceptions, control deficiencies, and audit findings.
• Establish and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and controls supporting financial management policies.
• Monitor and evaluate changes to accounting standards and pronouncements, implementing strategies for new or modified policies.
• Represent the Accounting Department at the Authority’s policy management committee.
• Supervise accounts payable staff and processes, including reviewing claims, originating payments, and issuing 1099-MISC forms.
• Establish and maintain processes and controls for timely payment to third parties.
• Monitor and report on the Authority’s obligations and commitments, partnering with Procurement to resolve discrepancies.
• Manage fee and other billings, ensuring timely and accurate recording of receipts.
• Ensure timely and accurate reconciliation of accounts receivable sub-ledger positions to the general ledger.
• Establish and maintain accounts receivable aging processes and related reporting.
• Oversee the Authority’s payroll accounting in conjunction with the Human Resources Department and outside vendor.
• Manage the preparation and distribution of financial information regarding the Authority and its programs.
• Partner with the Accounting Director overseeing financial reporting to ensure compliance with GAAP and program-specific requirements.
• Assess accounting and financial impacts of business decisions for the Chief Financial Officer, Deputy Chief Financial Officer, and Controller.
• Develop and institute measures to increase accounting efficiency and effectiveness.
• Manage the annual external audit process and relationship with auditors.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or related field.
• CPA certification required.
• Master’s degree a plus.
• Minimum of 8 years of work experience with progressive levels of responsibility and people management.
• Technology-forward, comfortable with driving and leading change.
• Skilled with process automation and using software/solutions to reduce manual work efforts.
• Ability to analyze complex problems, interpret operational needs, and develop integrated, creative solutions.
• Strong critical thinking and decision-making skills.
• Highly collaborative team builder with an ability to foster a cooperative work environment and develop others.
• Recent Public Accounting experience preferred.
• Demonstrated managerial competence required.
• Strong written, presentation, and oral skills.
• Experience managing enterprise accounting and ERP solutions (Oracle, SAP, or other).

Physical Requirements

• Alternating between sitting, standing, and walking.
• Ascending and descending stairs.
• Crouching and stooping.
• Pushing and pulling.
• Reaching overhead or below.
• Repetitive task movements (filing, keyboarding, copying).
• Lifting, carrying, and moving objects of up to 10-15 pounds.

Benefits

• Paid time off, plus paid holidays.
• Hybrid work arrangement (candidates must reside in Illinois at time of hire).
• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans.
• Short-term and long-term disability.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Flexible spending accounts.
• 401K plan – immediate vesting.
• Eligibility for federal loan forgiveness programs.

Pay

Salary range: $156,708.58 - $195,885.72.

Schedule

Flexible scheduling is available upon completion of a six-month probationary period.