Focus Areas: Accounting, Financial Reporting, Compliance, Audits, Accounting Operations, Internal Controls, Systems & Workflow Management, Team Leadership
Location: Remote (U.S. only)
Eligibility: Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.
JOB HIGHLIGHT
JOB SUMMARY
The Controller is responsible for day-to-day accounting operations and for building and managing a high-performing accounting team serving both the US and UK entities. This includes ownership of the monthly close process, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, GAAP application, financial reporting, reconciliations, transactional workflows, and internal controls.
Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller ensures the accuracy of the general ledger and financial statements, oversees restricted fund accounting, supports accounting systems and integrations, and helps identify risks and improvement opportunities across financial operations in the US and the UK. The role also leads the annual audit process and ensures timely completion of all external compliance and regulatory filings including the 990.
YOU’LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
Leading accounting operations, reporting systems, and transaction processing in compliance with GAAP and regulatory requirements
Ensuring timely and accurate month accounting close that provides the FP&A team with data for variance analysis and reporting
Coordinating and completing annual external audits and required filings, including IRS Form 990
Managing external compliance such as tax receipts, 1099’s, and state registrations.
Overseeing treasury operations and related internal controls
Designing, implementing, and maintaining internal controls that safeguard organizational assets
Developing and maintaining policies and training related to procurement, payments, employee expenses, and supporting processes
Ensuring proper stewardship and compliance related to donor-restricted funds
Identifying and assessing accounting, compliance, and operational risks
Managing, coaching, and developing the accounting team
Managing the relationship with Charity Navigator, including overseeing all required portal submissions
Ensuring timely submission of federal, state, and local regulatory filings and registrations
Supporting the implementation and optimization of accounting and financial reporting systems (e.g., NetSuite and related tools) with a specific focus on:
maintaining robust system security and controls and
optimizing the chart of accounts to more fully support critical business needs
Maintaining the organization's insurance portfolio to ensure adequate coverage and protections.
Collaborating with leaders across the organization to support cross-functional initiatives and operational need
YOU MUST HAVE
Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
10+ years of progressive accounting experience including non-profit accounting experience and successful management of audits
Active CPA license
Strong experience managing clean financial statement audits and internal controls
Experience partnering with senior leaders on financial reporting and operational matters
Demonstrated ability to manage and develop a high-performing accounting team
Experience with ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite) and CRM platforms such as Salesforce
Comfort operating in fast-paced or evolving environments
Ability to work cross-functionally with FPA, engineering, HR, and fundraising teams
IT’S AN ADDED PLUS IF YOU HAVE
Deep curiosity and proven ability to explore innovative solutions to improve business support
Prior demonstrated experience implementing new financial systems with NetSuite Social Enterprise strongly preferred
Prior international accounting experience such as supporting entities under UK GAAP or IFRS
A thirst for innovation and creating processes that leverage AI tools
YOU’LL BE SUCCESSFUL IF...
You're passionate about accuracy and continuous improvement
You double and triple-check your work because you know that accurate data is crucial for an Finance department to operate successfully and you make judgements based on accurate data. You value leveraging your and your team’s creativity toward continuously improving operations.
You communicate with ease
You pay strong attention to your audience and can communicate complicated concepts in a simple way. You are concise and operate with poise, dignity and reliability.
You're a proactive coach and developer
You excel at managing, motivating, and supporting the accounting team through consistent supervision, feedback, and coaching. You prioritize the professional development of your team members to build capacity and future capabilities
You get things done
You’re a multitasking machine and you don’t have a problem getting your hands dirty. You follow through on every task, no matter how big or small, and when duty calls you take matters into your own hands. You live for hitting deadlines and understand the importance of keeping on schedule and on budget.
You're organized and diligent
You can multitask because you keep things in order. You're timely. And you leave breadcrumbs so others could figure out how you got the job done.
TEAM OVERVIEW
The Finance team, which includes Accounting and Strategic Finance, works diligently to support our entire organization. This includes keeping our financial books and reporting timely and accurate, staying compliant with laws and regulations, safeguarding our financial assets, ensuring that donated Water funds are being allocated as intended, managing and investing operating funds in line with our strategic goals, and ensuring we maintain strong financial health in all that we do. The team also helps guarantee our donor promise and core pillar that 100% of our public donations are utilized for water projects.
