Controller

Job Description

Job Description

Position Overview

Reporting directly to the Director of Finance, the Controller will play a critical role in both the day-to-day management of HTA’s financial operations and the strategic oversight of its programs and contracts. The Controller will supervise accounting staff, ensure fiscal compliance, and oversee accurate and timely financial reporting across multiple funding streams.

The ideal candidate will be highly detail-oriented, analytically skilled, and capable of managing a broad range of accounting and finance functions, including budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis. Beyond operational responsibilities, the Controller will contribute to strategic financial planning, with a particular focus on HTA’s upcoming capital project. This includes working closely with external financial advisors, banks, and bond counsel on public or private debt management, developing detailed cashflow and debt service forecasts, and producing actionable reports for management, the Board of Trustees, and other stakeholders.

The Controller will also lead initiatives to enhance the capacity of the finance team, standardize reporting processes, and improve efficiency and transparency in financial operations. This role requires a combination of technical financial expertise, project management skills, and a commitment to HTA’s mission of strengthening the hospitality workforce in Los Angeles.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Operations and Accounting

·       Supervise accounts payable staff, ensuring accuracy, proper coding, and authorization of invoices and expense claims

·       Manage payroll operations, including posting and recording payroll records, timecards, journal vouchers, and employee benefits

·       Reconcile cash accounts, liability accounts, and monthly financial statements

·       Maintain daily records of cash receipts and disbursements and prepare monthly accruals

·       Oversee prepaid accounts, inventory records, and monthly adjustments

Budgeting and Financial Analysis

·       Prepare, analyze, and monitor budgets for assigned funds or contracts

·       Controller with budget development, cost allocation, and modifications for contractors and the Board of Trustees

·       Perform general ledger analysis to ensure accuracy of financial reporting

·       Organize budgets, financial statements, and reports for multiple contracts

Capital Finance and Debt Management

·       Controller with managing public or private debt for capital projects

·       Build and maintain financial models, including cashflow and debt service forecasts

·       Collaborate with external financial advisors, banks, and bond counsel on financing strategies

Compliance and Audit

·       Ensure all payments comply with HTA Fiscal Manual, Personnel Handbook, Microix Software Solutions procedures, and city, state, and federal contractual guidelines.

·       Conduct internal and external audits of accounts and contractors.

Team Support and Stakeholder Engagement

·       Provide technical financial assistance to staff, contractors, and partners as needed.

·       Represent HTA in meetings with public agencies, contractors, and partners.

Process Improvement

·       Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and accuracy in financial reporting and forecasting.

·       Lead initiatives to standardize reporting for multiple programs and funding sources.

Required Skills and Qualifications

Financial and Technical Expertise

• Advanced proficiency in financial modeling and Excel, including scenario and sensitivity analysis
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, proficiency in MIP, and other accounting software
• Strong understanding of nonprofit capital project financing, fund accounting, and reporting requirements

Analytical and Organizational Skills

• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to multi-task, problem-solve, and work independently

Communication and Mission Alignment

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Mission-driven and passionate about job training

Preferred Skills and Qualifications

Grant Management and Regulatory Knowledge

·       Proficiency with 2 CFR Part 200 Uniform Guidance, and ERISA requirements.

·       Experience managing WIOA or other federally funded programs

Capital Finance and Strategic Leadership

·       Experience supporting or leading public or private debt issuance in collaboration with financial advisors, banks, or bond counsel

·       Demonstrated ability to synthesize complex financial data into clear recommendations for senior leadership and governing boards

·       Experience coordinating multi-stakeholder finance projects, including external counsel, advisors, and contractors

·       Strategic perspective on aligning capital planning, financing structures, and organizational growth.

Join us in changing peoples' lives! The Hospitality Training Academy (HTA) is a non-profit organization and a labor-management partnership between UNITE HERE Local 11 and contributing hotel and food service employers in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, and the state of Arizona. The HTA is designed to improve Los Angeles' tourism and hospitality industry by increasing the skill level of its workforce and moving workers up the career ladder. Before the pandemic, the hospitality industry was one of the largest growing sec- tors in Southern California, with a projected growth rate higher than all other jobs in the region, and the nation. We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our HTA team as we help the industry recover after pandemic.

Company Description

Join us in changing peoples' lives! The Hospitality Training Academy (HTA) is a non-profit organization and a labor-management partnership between UNITE HERE Local 11 and contributing hotel and food service employers in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, and the state of Arizona. The HTA is designed to improve Los Angeles' tourism and hospitality industry by increasing the skill level of its workforce and moving workers up the career ladder. Before the pandemic, the hospitality industry was one of the largest growing sec- tors in Southern California, with a projected growth rate higher than all other jobs in the region, and the nation. We have an exciting opportunity for you to join our HTA team as we help the industry recover after pandemic.