Division Controller for Schools Division (Full-Time, Remote)

Division Controller, Schools-- Ensemble Performing Arts

Remote | Accounting Leadership

Ensemble Performing Arts is seeking an experienced, systems and data savvy Division Controller for our Schools Business Unit . This role reports directly to the Corporate Controller with a heavy dotted line reporting responsibility to the Business Unit President and will own the full accounting operations for a portfolio of music and dance schools, leading system and process transformation, and enterprise/school standardization work. This role must understand the operating rhythm of a school including seasonality, tuition billing and recital/event revenue, and operate with the judgment and independence of a controller who can represent the accounting function in front of and partnering with school leadership.

This is the right fit for a controller who wants to build scalable infrastructure for a portfolio of schools, mentor other accounting leaders, and take ownership of rapidly growing business unit — while still staying close to the transaction-level detail of school operations.

Key Responsibilities

- Accounting Operations & Close
- Own accurate and timely monthly and year-end closes across a portfolio of schools, with full P&L and balance sheet accountability at each location

- Oversee tuition and enrollment-based revenue recognition, including deferred revenue for prepaid tuition, seasonal enrollment surges, and mid-session refunds or withdrawals

- Supervise and develop a remote accounting team, including the responsibility of an outsource relationship, across general ledger and close functions

- Review and approve school-level financial statements and reconciliations to consolidation, acting as a first line of quality control for the Corporate Controller

- Identify and resolve complex technical accounting issues (e.g., revenue recognition for tuition and program fees, leases for studio and school locations, purchase accounting) and document conclusions

- Internal Controls & Compliance
- Design, implement, and monitor internal controls across assigned schools, including cash handling, tuition billing, and refund controls, closing gaps proactively rather than reactively

- Manage and lead audit preparation activities for the School Division, serving as the primary point of contact for external auditors

- Partner with the Corporate Controller to standardize policies, procedures, and documentation across the Schools Division and the broader organization

- Ensure complete capture and reconciliation of revenue processed through third-party platforms, including ticketing, events, and merchandise, so that no revenue stream is missed at month-end close

- M&A & Systems Leadership
- Lead onboarding of newly acquired schools into NetSuite, student billing/enrollment systems, and related systems, including opening balance sheet validation and purchase accounting support

- Drive system migrations and process re-engineering projects — including student billing and enrollment platforms — from scoping through go-live, acting as project lead rather than participant

- Build and maintain scalable reporting templates and chart-of-accounts standards that can be rolled out across multiple schools

- Create and own Ensemble’s F&A integration playbook, documenting the standard onboarding process end to end [3.1]

- Team & Cross-Functional Leadership
- Mentor and develop accounting team members across all business units

- Collaborate cross-functionally with FP&A, HR, and Operations to ensure accounting alignment, clean enrollment and tuition data, and consistent reporting

- Represent the accounting function directly with School Leadership providing financial clarity on enrollment trends, tuition collections, and school-level profitability, and pushing back on issues independently

- Act as a proactive thought partner to the Corporate Controller, surfacing risks and improvement opportunities before being asked

Who You Are

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