Controller

Join Us at Carey — A Place of Renewal, Rigor, and ConvictionSituated on the beautiful UBC campus in Vancouver,
Carey
has served students, churches, and Christian leaders for over six decades. Today, Carey is entering a focused and ambitious season of renewal—strengthening its mission, modernizing its operations, and building a resilient platform for long-term growth across education, hospitality, and community life.
Carey operates as an integrated faith-based organization across three mission-aligned business units:
Carey Theological College
— an online-first, biblically faithful, historically Protestant seminary with global reach
Student Residences
— forming intentional Christian community through hospitality, housing, and shared life
Carey Centre (Hotel)
— a mission-aligned hospitality operation that supports Carey’s sustainability and campus presence
This is not a traditional institutional environment. Carey is rebuilding with the
clarity, urgency, and adaptability of a startup, while remaining grounded in theological conviction and institutional integrity. We are restoring trust, strengthening systems, and laying foundations for sustainable growth across all three business units.
We are looking for those who are
battle-tested—both professionally and personally. People who do not drift when things are unclear, who can hold conviction under pressure, and who are energized by the hard, often unseen work of rebuilding systems, processes, and culture. This is a place for builders, not maintainers.
Roles at Carey are not static. They are designed for those who can bring order to complexity, steward responsibility faithfully, and help modernize systems in service of mission. If you are energized by meaningful work, operational clarity, and thoughtful transformation, we invite you to consider this opportunity.
Position SummaryThe Controller is responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of Carey Group’s financial operations and reporting.This role oversees day-to-day accounting, statutory compliance, internal controls, and financial reporting across Carey’s three business units: the College, Student Residences, and Carey Centre (Hotel).
The Controller plays a key supporting role in Carey’s financial and digital transformation, contributing to the documentation, modernization, and improvement of financial processes. Working closely with the SVP, Operations & Finance, Registrar and other stakeholders, the Controller helps implement new technologies, supports automation initiatives, and ensures that financial systems and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are aligned, documented, and consistently followed.
This is a hands-on, accountability-driven role suited to someone comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment while strengthening discipline, compliance, and operational clarity.
Key Responsibilities1. Financial Operations & Accounting
Own full-cycle accounting operations, including:
General ledger
Accounts payable and receivable
Payroll coordination and reconciliation
Bank and balance sheet reconciliations
Lead accurate and timely month-end and year-end close processes
Maintain an auditable chart of accounts aligned to Carey Group’s operating structure
Oversee deferred revenue recognition (tuition, residence fees, hotel revenue)
This is a hands-on role and includes direct responsibility for day-to-day bookkeeping activities as required. As Carey’s systems and processes mature, this role will help inform when and how transactional work may be appropriately delegated, while retaining accountability for accuracy and control.
2. Statutory Compliance & Remittances (Critical)
Primary responsibility for all statutory remittances, including:
GST/PST filings and payments
Pension contributions
Maintain CRA account access and filing authority
Ensure all filings are accurate, timely, and fully documented
Coordinate with external advisors (tax, payroll, benefits) as required
3. Audit, Charity Compliance & External Reporting
Lead preparation for the
annual financial audit, including audit schedules, documentation, and auditor coordination
Prepare and/or oversee submission of the
T3010 Registered Charity Information Return
Ensure compliance with charitable reporting requirements and restricted fund tracking
Support Board, Audit, and Finance Committee reporting
Produce accurate and timely:
Monthly financial statements
Budget vs. actual reports
Cash flow forecasts
Support the
development, documentation, and maintenance of SOPs
for all key financial processes, including:
Month-end and year-end close
Payroll and remittances
Revenue recognition
Accounts payable and receivable
Audit and charity filings
Implement and adhere to established SOPs, ensuring consistency and compliance
Support internal control design and enforcement to mitigate financial and operational risk
Serve as the day-to-day financial systems owner across:
QuickBooks
Populi
Payroll, pension, and payment platforms (i.E Rippling, Canada Life)
Support Carey’s
digital transformation and automation efforts
by:
Helping implement automated financial workflows
Reducing manual processes and reconciliation gaps
Supporting adoption of new financial tools and technologies
Partner with operations and technology stakeholders to ensure systems and processes remain aligned
6. Budgeting, Forecasting & Financial Planning Support
Support annual budgeting and reforecasting processes
Assist with cost allocation across Carey’s business units
Support financial modeling and scenario planning
Monitor performance and flag risks, variances, or structural issues early
7. Cross-Functional Collaboration
Work closely with:
SVP, Operations & Finance, Registrar
President’s Office
Advancement & Communications (donations and restricted funds)
Hospitality and Residence leadership
Provide clear, practical financial information to non-financial leaders
Support leadership and Board decision-making through accurate reporting
As Carey grows, this role may support the onboarding, coordination, or supervision of future accounting or finance support roles, as appropriate.
Qualifications & ExperienceSpiritual & Missional Alignment
A personal commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ and a life shaped by biblical truth, spiritual maturity, and alignment with the Classical Protestant Tradition.
Demonstrated love for the Church and a calling to serve in a Christ-centered, discipleship-focused institution.
Resonance with Carey’s mission and a desire to contribute to a culture of formation, faithfulness, and theological clarity.
Education & Credentials
CPA designation (or near completion strongly preferred)
Professional Experience
7+ years of progressive accounting experience
Experience supporting
annual audits
and external reviews
Experience preparing or overseeing
T3010 charitable tax filings
Strong knowledge of Canadian payroll, tax, and remittance requirements
Experience in
fast-paced startups, scale-ups, or technology-enabled environments
Experience working with accounting systems such as QuickBooks (or similar)
Preferred Experience
Experience supporting financial system modernization or automation initiatives
Experience in higher education, non-profits, or multi-entity organizations
Exposure to tuition-based, hospitality, or housing revenue models
This is a full-time position based at Carey Group on the UBC campus in Vancouver, BC.
Salary range: $100,000 – $130,000 per year, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Carey offers:
Paid vacation
Extended health and dental benefits
A flexible, hybrid work environment with regular on-campus collaboration expected
The opportunity to contribute meaningfully to an institution undergoing renewal and growth
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