Assistant Controller

Assistant Controller

The Assistant Controller is a senior technical accounting and mentoring role within the Finance & Accounting organization, reporting directly to the Vice President of Finance. This position leads key components of the month-end close, serves as the organization's primary resource for technical accounting research and application of U.S. GAAP, and strengthens coverage across critical accounting areas such as royalties, sales tax, and inventory accounting.

This position also owns financial analysis and forecasting, with particular emphasis on cash-flow forecasting that supports audit readiness, financial reporting, and executive decision-making. The Accounting Operations Manager retains ownership of the annual budgeting process and oversight of the Budget Analyst; the Assistant Controller supports that process by contributing budgeting experience, technical accounting perspective, and forecasting expertise, without owning budgeting directly.

The Assistant Controller directly supervises the Senior Accountant(s) and Accountant(s), and provides technical accounting guidance and close-related coordination to the General Ledger Accountant on a dotted-line basis, while the General Ledger Accountant continues to report directly to the Vice President of Finance.

The Assistant Controller plays a lead role in developing and mentoring accounting team members, building technical capability and team coverage, and modernizing accounting processes through the practical, well-controlled use of automation and artificial intelligence tools. This position partners closely with the Vice President of Finance, the Accounting Operations Manager, and the General Ledger Accountant to improve financial accuracy, reduce concentration risk, strengthen audit readiness, and support the organization's broader financial reporting and stewardship goals.

Reporting Relationships:

Reports to: Vice President of Finance

Direct reports: Senior Accountant(s) and Accountant(s), with full supervisory responsibility for these roles.

Dotted-line relationship: The General Ledger Accountant reports directly to the Vice President of Finance, but partners closely with, and receives technical accounting guidance and close-related coordination from, the Assistant Controller.

Coordinating relationship: Works closely with the Accounting Operations Manager (who owns budgeting and oversees the Budget Analyst) on team priorities, workload balance, staffing, and day-to-day execution, and partners with the Budget Analyst on forecasting and budget-to-actual analysis. Serves as a key technical advisor to the Vice President of Finance.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Month-End Close & Financial Reporting

• Lead designated components of the month-end close process, partnering with the GL Accountant and Accounting Operations Manager to support timely and accurate close execution

• Prepare and post journal entries (accruals, adjustments, reclasses)

• Prepare and maintain balance sheet reconciliations for assigned accounts

• Assist in the preparation of financial statements and management reports in compliance with U.S. GAAP and other applicable requirements

Reconciliation & Review

• Review account reconciliations prepared by staff to ensure accuracy and completeness

• Investigate and resolve discrepancies and variances

• Ensure reconciling items are properly supported and cleared in a timely manner

Technical Accounting & Audit

• Lead technical accounting research and application of U.S. GAAP for routine and non-routine transactions

• Draft accounting memos and recommend accounting positions aligned with company policy and GAAP

• Serve as a primary resource for technical accounting guidance across the team

• Prepare audit schedules, technical analyses, and audit support requests; serve as a point of contact for external auditors on assigned areas

• Proactively identify and resolve complex accounting issues, reducing reliance on leadership

• Keep up to date on emerging accounting and financial reporting issues relevant to 501(c)(3) and nonprofit organizations

Financial Analysis & Forecasting

• Own cash-flow forecasting and related financial analysis, providing the Vice President of Finance with timely, reliable visibility into the organization's cash position and liquidity needs

• Develop and maintain rolling forecasts and scenario analyses that support audit readiness, financial reporting, and executive decision-making

• Prepare financial analyses and reports reflecting the financial status of the organization, and support financial policy development

• Bring budgeting experience and technical accounting perspective to support the Accounting Operations Manager and Budget Analyst in the annual budgeting process and budget-to-actual analysis, without owning the budgeting process itself

• Partner with the Accounting Operations Manager on the assumptions, timing, and financial-reporting implications that connect budgeting, forecasting, and the close process

Cross-Functional Support & Coverage

• Provide flexible support across key accounting functions, including Senior Accountant responsibilities, Treasurer-related accounting support, and General Ledger Accountant responsibilities as needed

• Support continuity across critical processes such as royalties, sales tax, and inventory accounting

• Build and maintain working knowledge across these areas to strengthen team coverage and support evolving business needs, including increased responsibility over royalties accounting over time

Technology, Process Improvement & AI Enablement

• Identify and implement improvements to inefficient or manual accounting processes

• Interface with Information Technology to ensure appropriate systems and controls are in place to support the accounting department

• Stay current on artificial intelligence, automation, and other emerging technologies relevant to accounting and finance, and evaluate practical, well-controlled ways to apply them to close, reconciliation, analysis, and reporting work

• Champion responsible adoption of AI and automation tools within the accounting team, ensuring appropriate review, documentation, and internal controls accompany any AI-assisted output

• Support financial system enhancements and implementations in partnership with the Financial Systems Analyst and Information Technology

• Assist in documenting and standardizing accounting policies and procedures

Mentoring, Training & Team Development

• Directly supervise the Senior Accountant(s) and Accountant(s), including workload assignment, performance management, and day-to-day guidance

• Serve as the primary technical mentor and coach to the General Ledger Accountant on a dotted-line basis for technical accounting matters and close-related coordination, while the General Ledger Accountant continues reporting to the Vice President of Finance

• Lead or facilitate training on technical accounting topics, GAAP updates, and effective use of accounting systems and AI-enabled tools

• Support cross-training and succession-planning efforts to strengthen team flexibility and coverage

• Provide ongoing coaching, performance feedback, and development planning for direct reports, and coordinate with the Vice President of Finance on the General Ledger Accountant's development

• Foster a collaborative, high-accountability team culture focused on accuracy, growth, and shared ownership

Collaboration & Organizational Partnership

• Partner with the Vice President of Finance to support team priorities, special projects, and organizational initiatives

• Act as a technical resource across the Finance & Accounting organization

• Communicate technical accounting concepts clearly to both financial and nonfinancial audiences

• Collaborate with team members to ensure effective workload balance and continuity across responsibilities

Success Measures

• Accurate and timely completion of assigned close responsibilities

• Increased technical accounting capability within the team, reflected in the number of team members mentored and cross-trained

• Reduced reliance on leadership for technical accounting decisions

• Improved audit readiness and reduction in audit adjustments

• Strengthened team coverage across key processes

• Measurable improvements in efficiency, workload balance, and adoption of automation and AI tools within the accounting function

Requirements

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting or a related field required

• CPA preferred but not required

• 8–10+ years of progressive accounting experience, including strong experience with month-end close, general ledger accounting, and account reconciliations

• Demonstrated experience in technical accounting research and application of U.S. GAAP

• Experience supporting external audits

• Prior experience mentoring, training, or informally leading accounting staff preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills

• Ability to independently research and resolve complex accounting issues

• Advanced Excel skills; ERP experience preferred (e.g., Microsoft Dynamics or similar financial systems)

• Working knowledge of, and genuine interest in, AI and automation tools and their practical application to accounting and finance work

• Strong attention to detail with a big-picture mindset

• Effective communicator of technical accounting concepts to varied audiences

• Demonstrated ability