Controller

Full Job Description

The Controller reports to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) and serves as the Agency's principal accounting and financial operations officer.

The Controller directs the full range of accounting operations, financial reporting, data quality assurance, cash management, credit card programs, electronic commerce, and programmatic and administrative accounting across nearly 100 geographically dispersed SBA field and headquarters entities.

Recruitment or relocation incentives may be authorized.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Candidates will not be hired based on their race, sex, color, religion, or national origin.

To meet the minimum qualification requirements for this position, you must show that you possess the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQ) and Technical Qualifications (TQ) related to this position within your resume - NOT TO EXCEED 2 PAGES.

Resumes over the 2-page limit, will not be reviewed beyond page 2 or may be disqualified.

Your resume should include examples of experience, education, and accomplishments applicable to the qualification(s).

If your resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of these qualifications, you may not receive consideration for the position.

There is NO requirement to prepare a narrative statement specifically addressing the Executive Core Qualifications (ECQs) or the Technical Qualifications (TQs).

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATIONS (TQs): Your resume should demonstrate accomplishments that would satisfy the technical qualifications.

TQ 1: Federal Financial Accounting and Reporting: Demonstrated experience directing the preparation of agency-wide financial statements and supporting schedules in accordance with Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB) standards, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-136, and applicable Treasury guidance, or private-sector equivalent under Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) standards.

Qualifying experience includes managing the year-end close process, coordinating with external auditors, and producing the evidentiary documentation required to support a financial statement opinion.

TQ 2: Accounting Operations and Internal Controls: Demonstrated experience directing agency-wide accounting operations across a geographically dispersed organization, including programmatic and administrative accounting, cash management, collections and disbursements, and reconciliation of loan program financial records.

Qualifying experience includes overseeing internal controls in accordance with OMB Circular A-123 and the Green Book, directing corrective action on audit-identified deficiencies, and maintaining continuous audit readiness.

Federal experience under the Federal Managers' Financial Integrity Act (FMFIA) or private-sector equivalent involving multi-entity general ledger management, period-end close, and external audit coordination qualifies.

EXECUTIVE CORE QUALIFICATIONS (ECQs): In addition to the Technical Qualification Requirements listed above, all new entrants into the Senior Executive Service (SES) under a career appointment will be assessed for executive competency against the following five mandatory ECQs.

If your 2-page resume does not reflect demonstrated evidence of the ECQs and TQs, you may not receive further consideration for the position.

There are five ECQs: ECQ 1: Commitment to the Rule of Law and the Principles of the American Founding - This core qualification requires a demonstrated knowledge of the American system of government, commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law, and commitment to serve the American people.

ECQ 2: Driving Efficiency - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to strategically and efficiently manage resources, budget effectively, cut wasteful spending, and pursue efficiency through process and technological upgrades.

ECQ 3: Merit and Competence - This core qualification involves the demonstrated knowledge, ability and technical competence to effectively and reliably produce work that is of exceptional quality.

ECQ 4: Leading People - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to lead and inspire a group toward meeting the organization's vision, mission, and goals, and to drive a high-performance, high-accountability culture.

This includes, when necessary, the ability to lead people through change and to hold individuals accountable.

ECQ 5: Achieving Results - This core qualification involves the demonstrated ability to achieve both individual and organizational results, and to align results to stated goals from superiors.

Note: If you are a member of the SES or have been certified through successful participation in an OPM approved SES Candidate Development Program (SESCDP), or have SES reinstatement eligibility, you do not need to respond to the ECQs.

Instead, you should attach proof (e.g., SF-50, Certification by OPM's SES Qualifications Review Board (QRB)) of your eligibility for noncompetitive appointment to the SES. Major Duties:

Directs and manages Office of Financial Operations Management financial programs and operations, providing executive leadership across accounting, financial reporting, and data quality functions to achieve Agency goals and statutory obligations.

Evaluates the overall effectiveness, efficiency, and productivity of financial programs under purview, and recommends actions to initiate, modify, or discontinue programs as warranted by operational or policy changes.

Provides leadership and technical support to the Chief Financial Officer and senior staff in the formulation, administration, and management of financial regulations and procedures applicable to accounting and reporting functions.

Serves as an integral member of the Chief Financial Officer executive management team, collaborating with senior officials on SBA program operations and providing authoritative advice on complex issues with significant budgetary or public accountability implications.

Leads modernization of SBA's financial management ecosystem by driving adoption of data analytics, robotic process automation, and emerging technologies to improve accuracy, timeliness, and cost effectiveness of financial operations.

Directs SBA's agency-wide financial statement preparation and audit engagement strategy, including coordination of audit readiness, audit response, and sustainable corrective action plans to achieve unmodified audit opinions.

Directs the design and oversight of agency policies and procedures governing charge cards, travel, and other payment mechanisms to prevent fraud, waste, and abuse and to meet government wide program standards.

Oversees development and delivery of training and guidance to financial and program staff on accounting policy, internal controls, and financial stewardship responsibilities.

Oversees comprehensive accounting services through subordinate division directors, covering administrative accounting, programmatic accounting, cash collections and disbursement management, travel, credit card management, and help desk operations.

Directs the recording of collections, disbursements, and accounting entries for SBA loan programs, maintaining accurate financial records and supporting program offices with historical loan performance and financial analysis.