Financial Controller

The Financial Controller is responsible for the day-to-day accounting for the Foundation’s financial transactions, as well as for developing, implementing, and ensuring compliance with financial policies and procedures consistent with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Controller is responsible for maintaining and continuously improving the system of financial controls, including general accounting, investment accounting, tax compliance, reporting, financial analysis, forecasting, budgeting, banking, payroll, and benefits. Respects the necessity for confidentiality and ensures the security of all assets and information under this position’s control. Facilitates Foundation decision-making through prompt and accurate information reporting.

Duties and responsibilities

General Accounting & Reporting:

• Develop, administer, and ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting policies and procedures
• Prepare monthly financial statements and review with CEO and Treasurer
• Maintain general ledger and other accounting records needed for preparation of the financial statements and other required financial data, post journal entries
• Ensure all accounting and donation records are complete and accurate by performing and/or reviewing prescribed data input procedures
• Maintain files and proper supporting documentation for all disbursements
• Prepare cheques for payment of liabilities when due
• Prepare weekly appeal/campaign reports as necessary
• Prepare cash position report, campaign updates and any other information related to Foundation finances in a timely enough fashion to ensure the Foundation is prepared for the possibility of unscheduled Board meetings
• Provide statistical donor data for Board meetings
• Prepare year-end reviews and proposed annual budgets for review with CEO for yearly planning meetings
• Prepare quarterly Board packages for review by CEO, and PDF and email finalized packages to Executive and Board members as required
• File Board packages and Board minutes in binder after each meeting, including any additional handouts at Board meetings
• Maintain “D” designated gifts records and ensure policies and procedures are followed for disbursement of monies from all Funds
• Report monthly “D” Fund balances to fund managers
• Verify petty cash records and request cheques with documentation to replenish fund in appropriate amount as needed

Investment Accounting:

• Perform posting of investment activity on monthly basis
• Act as liaison with custodial bank, investment advisors, and investment managers
• Provide supporting documentation for the review and written approval of the CEO and Board Members as required
• Reconcile investment balances per books to custodial bank
• Prepare report on investment cash flows for CEO and Board Treasurer and Directors
• Prepare monthly Investment Transactions for CEO’s review

Audit, Tax Compliance, & Year-End Annual Report

• In conjunction with auditors, prepare audit schedules, financial statements, and footnotes for the Foundation’s year-end financial statement audit; provide support to auditors during the annual audit
• Be available to assist the external auditors during their performance of annual audits
• Assist with the Foundation’s Annual Report

Budget

• Work with the CEO to prepare annual capital and operating budgets; assist in calculation of cash flow projections
• Perform periodic review of budget vs. actual with variance analyses

Banking

• Ensure individual bank deposits correspond with daily batch reports
• Prepare daily bank deposits and monthly bank account reconciliations

Payroll and Benefits Processing

• Complete and process staff payroll every two weeks
• Maintain and report on employee personal time off
• Administer and process employee benefit paperwork

Other:

• Ensure that donor and volunteer files are securely stored and privacy/confidentiality is maintained
• Work collaboratively with and in support of other Foundation staff and volunteers to meet annual fundraising targets and engagement goals (which may include periodic clerical support to achieve Foundation goals)
• Other duties as may be assigned from time to time

Working Environment

• Ability to move around. Typical office environment, as well as attendance at off-site locations to oversee annual special events, public relations and communication events, and attend meetings on behalf of the Foundation
• Foundation Meetings, annual campaigns, and special events will require time outside of regular workweek, which can be adjusted to accommodate the additional hours
• Ability and willingness to travel periodically

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree or college diploma in Accounting, Finance, or related field; MBA or CPA strongly preferred
• At least 10 years of experience in financial management, ideally with at least 5 years in a nonprofit organization

Knowledge, skills and abilities:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to communicate financial information to non-financial stakeholders
• Proven track record of successful financial management, including experience developing and implementing financial strategies, managing budgets, and overseeing financial reporting and compliance
• Strong leadership and management skills, with experience being a member of a high-performing teams
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and interact in a professional manner
• Proficient in Microsoft Word and Excel, and experience learning new systems
• Detail orientated self-starter and highly self-motivated
• Ability to carry out daily functions independently with minimal supervision
• Requirement for flexibility, significant problem-solving, decision making and critical thinking
• Ability to gather, analyze and summarize numerical and financial data
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to work well under pressure and in a team environment, working collaboratively with and in support of Foundation staff and volunteers
• Experience using fundraising databases, knowledge of Blackbaud Raisers Edge software an asset
• Experience working with nonprofit organizations an asset
• Knowledge of French language is considered an asset