Kenneth (Ken) Wilson, CPA, MBA

Kenneth (Ken) Wilson, CPA, MBA

Resume

I am a seasoned financial professional with diverse experience spanning top-tier educational institutions and consultancy, holding key positions such as Controller/Director at the University of North Texas Foundation and Acting Senior Vice President for Finance/CFO at Florida Institute of Technology. My expertise encompasses strategic fiscal management, operational and capital budgeting, auditing, and system implementations like Workday Finance and SAP. I have successfully led teams in endowment, tax returns, financial reporting, and bond issuing and refinancing. As a CPA, my qualifications are bolstered by an MBA focusing on Finance and Strategic Management from Purdue University. Leveraging my deep understanding of accounting standards, I’ve chaired NACUBO’s Accounting Principles Council and have been actively involved in various subcommittees, exemplifying my commitment to the industry’s best practices. Four years of public accounting experience.

University of North Texas Foundation 2022-2023

Controller/Director

Responsible for administrative activities related to the fiscal operation of the UNT Foundation in coordination with the President.
Worked with Board members in various capacities, including attending, presenting, and assisting at Board and Committee meetings.
Responsible for managing the annual financial statement audit, corporate and donor tax returns, and 990 tax returns.
Directed the management and financial accounting, including overseeing all accounting functions for endowment and trust administration, operating revenue and expenses, cash management, financial reporting, and payroll and benefits functions.
Managed the role professionally, meeting deadlines, prioritizing work, and developing staff. Prepared standard and custom reports for the President, donors, university personnel, and Board of Directors

Florida Institute of Technology 2021-2022

Acting Senior Vice President for Finance/CFO

Served as the acting CFO. Additional areas of responsibility included Financial Planning and Analysis, Procurement, Housing, and Dining Services.

Assistant Vice President and Controller

Provided leadership to Accounting, Disbursements (accounts payable, travel, payroll, and tax), student financial services, treasury operations, and budget. Developed and updated financial policies and procedures.
Responsible for the annual financial statements, 990 and 990-T completion, and SEFA completion. Attended Board Finance, Investment, and Audit and Risk Management (ARM) Committee meetings.
Responsible for various external reporting requirements and surveys to rating agencies, bond trustees, banks, and NACUBO.
Co-owner of the newly implemented Workday Finance. Refined and repaired the Workday implementation and processes for system effectiveness.
Responsible for the annual operating and capital budget. Developed budget forecasting/projections and three-year plans.
Co-owner of the FIT banking RFP for banking relationships, including investments.

Case Western Reserve University 2015-Present

Director, Operating and Capital Budgeting

Coordinate the annual capital budget processes. . Lead monthly strategic projects capital budget meetings with senior management. Coordinate funding and issues with Development, Treasury and Accounting offices.
Responsible for reviewing and recommending new University-wide budgetary planning software. Implemented Hyperion Planning and Budget Cloud Services (PBCS) without issue for FY 2020 budget cycle.
Served on financing team for $168 million and $89 million bond deals. Developed financial plans, financing scenarios, and fund uses. Work with both lead underwriter and financial advisers. Developed weighted average cost of capital for debt and various scenarios to create future financial plans and refinancing opportunities. Integral in final pricing structure.
Develop and analyze financial models and forecasts. Assisted with treasury investment policy and investment selection. Developed cash-forecasting model.
Served on Financial Adviser selection as well as new Banking Services RFP committees.
Prepared and review various rating agency or industry requests. Work with CFO, rating agencies and participate in all financial advisory meetings regarding debt planning and strategic direction.
Working on developing detailed tracking of cash sources and uses

Consultant to NACUBO, Case Western Reserve University, FAMU and Northern Illinois University, 2014-2015, 2024

Worked as Controller for Florida A&M. Coordinated and completed the annual financial report, footnotes, IPEDS, etc. Worked with consultants to coordinate and finalize years of IRS payroll tax and State of Florida sales tax filings.
Continued work with Tissue Source on large government grant application. Worked on projections and other financial analysis for potential investors and lenders.
Implemented best practices and transparent financial and budget model for Auxiliary Enterprises at Northern Illinois University (NIU). Worked with Vice President’s and Directors to refine practices. Prepared analysis for the Board of Trustees as to funds availability.
Worked with forensic investigation firm and police chief on suspected fraudulent activities and contracts.
Worked with bond counsel and Vice Presidents reviewing various bond reserves, documents, and funding model. Interpret state laws and bond resolutions for the University and Board of Trustees. Created and drafted bond compliance policies and tax compliance checklists.
Reviewed key NIU CFO positions and upgraded position descriptions and duties to become strategic and align with institutional priorities and goals
Develop new policies and procedures related to Northern Illinois Auxiliary reserve funding, direct and indirect cost allocations.
Enhanced various NIU business processes, including Accounting, Procurement, Travel and Accounts Payable. Work with departments on various reporting and processing transactions. Working on developing new capital budgeting process and documentation for funding reservation.
Helped develop NIU policies and procedures for a variety of key processes such as internal loans, recharge rate policy and process development, cash flow and OMB Circular changes.
Worked with NIU Sponsored Programs and Grants Fiscal on new OMB changes, developing rate approval processes, and F&A issues.
Worked with NACUBO to rewrite and update the existing FARM Manual and provide updates for upcoming standards.
Worked with Case Western Reserve University to reconcile GAAP financial statements to budget and assist them through operating budget cycle.

University of Michigan, Division Controller, 2011-2013

Management responsibilities over various
external financial reports (FASB and GASB entities), effort reporting and
indirect cost negotiations. Responsible for interpreting Federal guidelines, implementing
accounting principles, Financial Operations budget, and other guidance. Work
with external auditors and departments on proper recording and reporting of
transactions. Work with Provost’s Office, Internal Audit and Medical School to
enhance campus effort reporting and address concerns and risks.
Served on Design and Architect
Committees for Administrative Services Transformation for Shared Services.
Served on advisory committee to review Information Technology Services (ITS)
NextGen project for service definitions, costing, funding and chargeback to
streamline services and projected cost savings.
Served on Internal Bank committee
that analyzed the University cash pool, recommended courses of action, and
analyzed for cash flow improvements. Reviewed departmental funding issues and
followed up on plans to address. Assisted Treasury by providing information and
reviewing taxable and tax-exempt bond Official Statements and presentations.

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, Controller, 2010-2011

Management responsibilities over
Student Accounts, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Travel, and General and
Grants Accounting (post-award). Utilized PeopleSoft Financials and Student
systems.
Responsible for implementing and
maintaining internal controls, reporting and customer service initiatives. Lead
efforts on process improvements, documentation, cash reconciliations, and
customer service. Worked with various leadership positions on improving
processes and relationships, including establishing monthly and quarterly
meetings with constituents.
Developed accounting and system
training for University community. Finance site leader for PeopleSoft Human
Resource implementation.

Purdue University, Assoc. Comptroller, 2003-2010

Assumed additional management
responsibilities for Accounts Payable (AP) and Travel. In addition, on a
temporary basis, the Tax Department to help resolve processing issues. Managed
effort to decrease direct invoice voucher processing time from over fifteen
days to one. Implemented revenue-producing initiatives and cost savings for
travelers. Participated in Purchasing Strategic Sourcing Initiatives.
Presented the GASB Update at the
2009 Association of College and University Auditors (ACUA) Conference, Tax
Institute for Colleges & Universities (TIFCU), and co-presented the GASB
Implementation Necessities webcast.
Created a CPE and training
conference for University staff and other institutions. Income generated used
to establish an endowment to support staff travel and training. Created and presented
Internal Controls workshop that was attended by over 250 staff.
Served on SAP ERP Business Services
Advisory Committee, which reviewed and recommended project priorities.
Developed University’s formal
Effort Reporting Policy. Gained commitment from faculty and staff to
incorporate. Successfully resolved NSF effort reporting audit with minimal
findings. Lead contact for IRS UBIT
audit.
Incorporated the use of metrics and
customer feedback tools to measure success of initiatives, process improvements
and measure outcomes.
Assumed additional management
responsibilities for the Comptroller area on an interim basis. Areas included
Risk Management, Payroll and Tax, University Collections, and Business Services
Computing.

Assistant Comptroller for Accounting Services, Costing and E-commerce/Credit Card Operations 2004-2007

Assumed additional management
responsibilities for Costing and E-commerce and Credit Card Operations.
Served as a member of the School as
Lender and Electronic Bill Presentment and Payment selection and the
Graham-Leach-Bliley (GLB) committees.
Member of Financial Advisory
Committee for SAP ERP implementation (FI/CO, FM, SRM, HR/Payroll). Allocated
several additional staff to project to allow for successful implementation
while maintaining excellent customer service. Able to reconcile bank account
and close first month in three days. Helped design and worked with developers
for new SAP effort reporting module. Assisted with implementation interfaces of
Banner Student system.
Responsible for the management oversight
of OMB Circular A-21 F&A proposals, DS-2, recharge center operations,
effort reporting and application of federal costing principles.
Responsible for management oversight
for credit card programs (merchant and purchasing cards) and reconciliations.
Funded and created, through
resource reallocations and cross training, new positions to high need areas.
Reallocated and saved general funds
by creating a recharge operation to manage PCI compliance and merchant cards.

Assistant Comptroller for Accounting Services, 2003-2004

Responsible for oversight of the
compilation of University-wide financial reports for both internal and external
purposes including IPEDS finance and assistance in coordinating the annual
financial statement audit.
Leadership of the University-wide
accounting functions to ensure integrity of accounting transactions including
accounting policy development and University-wide implementation.
Responsible for implementation of
GASB standards and other GAAP, including CPB audits. Review various higher
education reports, such as NACUBO Advisory reports, and assess applicability.
Areas of responsibilities included:
asset accounting, accounting systems, plant and debt funds, endowment and
investment accounting, current funds, gift and pledge accounting. Total University assets of $4.0 billion and net assets of $2.8 billion.