Financial Controller

Department/Ministry: Accounting / Finance

Reports to: Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)

Salary Range: Commensurate with Experience

Level/Grade: Exempt

Type of position: Salary

Hours: Full Time

The mission of Hope is to engage our unchurched neighbors of every age and ethnicity to experience Jesus. Our desire is to equip and build up the body of Christ (Eph 4:11-16) by living out our staff values of Collaboration, Diversity, Growth, Respect and Caring.

General Description:

The Controller leads Hope Church’s day-to-day finance operations and team, ensuring accurate accounting, timely reporting, and strong controls while supporting leadership with budgeting, cash management, analysis, audit, banking/investments, capital projects, and governance reporting.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Lead daily accounting operations including accounts payable, general ledger, contribution-related accounting, entering and integrating payroll in ledger, payroll reconciliation, and month-end close.
• Ensure timely reconciliations, journal entries, financial reporting, and supporting schedules.
• Prepare and analyze monthly reports for the CAO, Executive Team, Finance Committee, and Session; communicate key variances, trends, and risks.
• Lead annual budgeting and forecasting; support ministry leaders and provide financial analysis for decision-making.
• Manage cash positioning, liquidity, transfers, banking relationships, and investment activity within approved policies.
• Track and report the financial status of capital projects and other significant initiatives.
• Lead, coach, and cross-train a Finance team of approximately 3-4 staff, with clear expectations for accuracy, service, and deadlines.
• Maintain strong internal controls, policies, procedures, and documented workflows; identify practical process and technology improvements.
• Coordinate annual audit/year-end processes and relationships with external CPAs and service providers; maintain applicable nonprofit accounting compliance.

Other Responsibilities and Duties:

• Partner with ministry leaders to monitor budgets and improve financial decision-making.
• Provide limited higher-level financial support to the CAO and church leadership and perform other duties as assigned.

Skills and experience requirements:

• Minimum 7 years of progressive accounting experience with hands-on responsibility for close, reporting, budgeting, internal controls, and daily finance operations.
• Controller experience is strongly preferred.
• Strong supervisory/management skills; church or nonprofit GAAP and fund accounting standards strongly preferred.
• ShelbyNext Financials, ADP Workforce Now, Ramp, MinistryPlatform, and advanced Excel experience preferred.
• A Jesus-Follower willing to grow in ‘grace and knowledge’ and work collaboratively in a ministry environment.

Education Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business, or related field.