Controller

Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Prescription drug coverage

Dental and vision insurance

Generous paid time off

401(k) with company match

Commuter benefits

Volunteer opportunities

Job summary

The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership is seeking a Controller to lead the organization's day-to-day accounting operations, ensure GAAP compliance, and coordinate audits. Reporting to the Director of Finance, you will supervise a finance team, manage the general ledger, AP, AR, billing, and monthly closes, and strengthen internal controls.

You will partner with the Director of Finance to modernize systems, stabilize processes, and ensure accurate financial reporting to funders and regulators.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting required; CPA or grants credential preferred.
• 7+ years of progressively responsible accounting experience in nonprofit or federal-funded settings.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, federal grant requirements, and internal controls.
• Experience leading accounting cleanup, system stabilization, and process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly and annual close, reconciliations, balance‑sheet substantiation, and financial statement review.
• Coordinate Federal Single Audit, DCEO monitoring, and Form 990 filings.
• Oversee grant and fund accounting, donor‑restricted funds, and related reporting.
• Strengthen controls, processes, and staff development; drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Diversity awareness

Technical accounting

Judgment & problem solving

Leadership

Organization & communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting

CPA / CNAP / CGMS preferred

7+ years nonprofit accounting leadership

Job description

Job Summary:

Under the direction of the Director of Finance, the Controller leads the organization’s day-to-day accounting operations and is responsible for maintaining the integrity of its financial records, internal controls, reporting, and regulatory compliance. The Controller oversees the general ledger, AP, AR, and billing, monthly and annual close processes, financial statement preparation, and audit coordination. The position ensures compliance with GAAP, federal grant requirements, WIOA, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations. The Controller supervises accounting staff and partners with the Director of Finance to ensure reliable accounting information and effective financial operations. This hands‑on leadership role offers a significant opportunity to strengthen and modernize accounting operations. The Controller will help stabilize processes, improve financial systems and data integrity, resolve legacy issues, and build a disciplined and sustainable accounting function.

Responsibilities:

• Serve as the organization’s senior technical accounting authority, exercising independent judgment to research and resolve complex accounting issues, determine appropriate accounting treatment, correct current and historical errors, and clearly communicate the financial impact, root cause, and resolution to the Director of Finance and other stakeholders.
• Lead the monthly and annual close, account reconciliations, balance‑sheet substantiation, and financial statement review, ensuring issues are identified, investigated, and fully resolved on a timely basis.
• Lead accounting preparation for the Federal Single Audit, DCEO fiscal monitoring, and Form 990 filings. Responsibilities include reconciling the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards and net assets with donor restrictions, preparing supporting schedules, and coordinating auditor and monitor requests.
• Lead the organization’s grant and fund accounting, ensuring revenues, expenditures, receivables, restricted funds, cost allocations, and related balances are accurately recorded, reconciled, supported, and reported in accordance with award terms, fund restrictions, GAAP, and applicable federal requirements.
• Ensure the timely and accurate preparation of financial statements and related reports, including statements of financial position, activities, and cash flows, as well as other reports required by management, auditors, and funding partners.
• Investigate accounting errors and unusual transactions, determine their root causes and full financial impact, implement necessary corrections, and establish or strengthen controls, procedures, training, and review processes to prevent recurrence.
• Lead accounting stabilization and continuous improvement initiatives, including resolving legacy issues, reconciling financial data across systems, strengthening close and reporting processes, and developing sustainable accounting procedures and controls.
• Partner with the Director of Finance to improve financial systems and reporting, including general-ledger integration, data validation, process redesign, documentation, and reduction of manual or duplicative activities.
• Collaborate with the WIOA Fiscal Manager to ensure WIOA‑related activity is accurately reflected in the general ledger, financial statements, and federal expenditure reporting, and address accounting issues that affect organizational financial records.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Required Skills:

• Diversity— Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; respects and values cultural differences; promotes an inclusive, respectful, and harassment‑free workplace; and supports a diverse workforce.
• Technical Accounting— Demonstrates expert knowledge of nonprofit accounting, grant and fund accounting, GAAP, federal grant requirements, and internal controls.
• Judgment and Problem Solving— Applies strong technical accounting judgment and demonstrates the ability to research, resolve, and clearly explain complex accounting issues.
• Leadership— Leads, develops, and holds accounting staff accountable while remaining hands‑on when necessary.
• Organization and Communication— Manages competing priorities and critical reporting deadlines and communicates financial and accounting matters clearly to staff, organizational leadership, auditors, monitors, and other stakeholders.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting required; CPA, CNAP, CGMS, or another relevant accounting or grants‑management credential strongly preferred.
• Prior experience serving as a Controller or in a comparable accounting leadership role with responsibility for accounting operations, staff supervision, financial reporting, and internal controls.
• A minimum of 7+ years of progressively responsible accounting experience, including substantial hands‑on grant and fund accounting experience in a nonprofit or federally funded organization.
• Strong knowledge of federal grant requirements and Uniform Guidance is required; direct WIOA fiscal or accounting experience is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading accounting cleanup, process stabilization, system implementation or integration, or another significant accounting transformation initiative is required.

Physical Requirements:

• Frequently required to stand, walk, and sit.
• Frequently required to utilize hand and finger dexterity using a keyboard.
• Frequently required to talk or hear.
• Occasionally required to lift/push/carry items up to 25 pounds.

The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership offers a comprehensive benefits package designed to support staff and their families. Benefits include, but not limited to, medical, prescription drug, dental and vision insurance, generous paid time off, a 401(k) plan with company match, commuter benefits, and meaningful volunteer opportunities.

The listed annual base salary range reflects the anticipated pay range for this position. Actual compensation may vary based on factors including, but not limited to, education, training, experience, skills, and other job‑related factors. If hired, base pay will be determined on an individualized basis and is only one part of the total compensation package, which may also include a discretionary performance bonus and other Partnership-sponsored benefit programs, where applicable.