Controller

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California.

📋 Description

• Take charge of the organization's financial framework by managing financial controls, leading budgeting and forecasting efforts, overseeing all cash transactions, monitoring expenditures and contracts, and generating reports relied upon by leadership, the Board, and our funders.

• Collaborate with the CEO and the leadership team on the financial aspects of fundraising, including the creation and maintenance of the annual operating budget.

• Develop dashboards and reporting schedules that facilitate timely and accurate financial reporting for leadership, the Board, funders, and the wider team.

• Manage cash-flow forecasting, runway modeling, and identification of runway risks — highlight trade-offs proactively.

• Monitor actual expenses against budget by function and program, and identify variances promptly. Take responsibility for cash-flow forecasting, runway modeling, and budget-to-actuals reporting while flagging risks and trade-offs early.

• Convert the strategic plan and program roadmaps into financial plans, scenarios, and re-forecasts as priorities evolve.

• Meet the reporting obligations for restricted funds and funders credibly, rather than just procedurally.

• Oversee all cash inflows and outflows — including incoming grants and donations, vendor payments, and outgoing grant disbursements — ensuring commitments are tracked, paid accurately, and reflected in forecasts.

• Manage financial administration throughout all external relationships, from contracting to ongoing payments, invoices, and financial reporting across all grant agreements (inbound and outbound), vendor and consultant contracts, and statements of work.

• Hold function and program leaders accountable for their budgets.

• Supervise banking relationships, payment controls, and treasury management.

• Establish repeatable contracting processes and templates, interfacing with external legal counsel on terms, compliance, and risk management.

• Take ownership of accounting operations from start to finish — including general ledger management, month-end and year-end closings, reconciliations, and ensuring the integrity of our financial records.

• Design, document, and enforce internal controls and approval workflows for expenses, corporate cards, reimbursements, and procurement that can scale as the organization grows.

• Manage the relationship with external accountants and lead the annual audit and 990 processes.

• Ensure compliance with GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, and the stipulations of both restricted and unrestricted philanthropic funding.

⛳️ Requirements

• 6+ years of progressive experience in finance and accounting, including roles such as controller, assistant controller, or equivalent senior positions.

• You have managed the entire accounting cycle — including closing, reconciliations, audits, and reporting — for an organization, not just a portion of it.

• You possess extensive, hands-on expertise in financial controls, budgeting, forecasting, and cash management, along with a strong grasp of GAAP.

• You are exceptionally organized and detail-oriented, maintaining strong documentation practices while keeping pace with the organization's dynamic environment.

• You demonstrate excellent judgment — you're generally accurate, aware of which details are significant, and can adapt quickly when issues arise.

• You are an effective communicator capable of simplifying financial complexities into easily understandable language for non-finance colleagues, the Board, and funders.

• You maintain a low-ego, high-trust, and solutions-focused approach in the face of complexity and rapid changes.

• A CPA or an MBA/advanced finance degree is preferred.

• Experience with nonprofit and fund accounting, grant administration, and familiarity with the annual 990 and audit processes is preferred.

• Experience in establishing finance systems and controls from the ground up, or scaling them through rapid growth is preferred.

• Experience in managing contracts and procurement, as well as collaborating with external counsel is preferred.

• Experience in organizations that allocate capital externally (such as grantmaking, venture capital, or government grant programs) or in sectors that involve physical production (such as hardware, manufacturing, or research) is preferred.

🏝️ Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• 401(k) plan

• Opportunities for professional and personal development

• Generous paid time off and sick leave, including 12 weeks of paid parental leave

• Flexible working hours