Controller

Greater Lawrence Community Action Council; Lawrence (MA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Greater Lawrence Community Action Council seeks a Controller to lead all finance, accounting, and reporting for a nonprofit with a $40+ million budget and 320 employees. You will oversee accounting, AP/AR, and grants administration, ensuring solid controls and audit readiness.

You will collaborate with program directors to align finance with operations, educate teams on procedures, and support program delivery through sound financial governance.

Qualifications

• Seven to ten years accounting and finance experience, with audits.
• Experience in grants management and government, corporate, and foundation grants.
• Knowledge of Uniform Guidance 2 CFR Part 200.
• Ability to recruit, mentor, and lead a diverse team.

Responsibilities

• Oversee accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems for GAAP compliance.
• Maintain internal controls over revenue, expenditures, and assets.
• Close monthly accounting cycle and present statements to leadership and board.
• Provide financial analysis and timely reporting to executives and committees.
• Support budgeting and planning with the CFO and board committees.

Skills

GAAP knowledge

Financial reporting

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Education

BA

CPA and/or MBA or MS preferred

Job description

Job Summary

Reporting to the chief financial officer (CFO), the Controller will be responsible for oversight of all finance, accounting, and reporting activities.

The Controller will lead all day-to-day finance operations for a non‑profit corporation with a $40+ million budget and 320 employees. The Controller is responsible for all accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and grants administration. The Controller will ensure that GLCAC, Inc. has the systems and procedures in place to support effective program implementation and conduct flawless audits. The Controller will work closely with program directors and their staff, not only to educate them regarding finance and accounting procedures but also to explore how the finance function can support program operations.

Essential Functions / Key Responsibilities

1. Finance and Accounting Leadership
   • Oversee all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems ensuring compliance with appropriate GAAP standards and regulatory requirements.
   • Maintain internal controls for receipt of revenue, expenditure of funds, and safeguarding of GLCAC, Inc.’s assets.
   • Manage the closeout of the monthly accounting cycle and produce monthly financial statements for presentation to senior leadership and Board’s Finance Committee.
   • Consistently analyze financial data and present financial reports in an accurate and timely manner.
   • Assist GLCAC, Inc CFO in the annual budgeting and planning process.
   • Support the CFO in engaging the Board’s Audit and Finance committees around issues and trends in financial operations and program service delivery.
2. Team Leadership
   • Leverage strengths of the current finance team members, help to clarify roles and responsibilities and develop and implement training programs in order to maximize and reach optimal individual and organizational goals.
   • Provide leadership in strengthening internal communications with staff at all levels throughout the organization; create and promote a positive and supportive work environment.

Skills & Qualifications

This is an extraordinary opportunity for a mature leader with seven to ten years of accounting and finance experience, ideally beginning in accounting and audit, followed by experience gathering, evaluating, presenting and reporting financial information to executive teams and external stakeholders. S/he will ideally have experience in a complex nonprofit that has multiple programs.

Other qualifications include:

• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and unwavering commitment to GLCAC Inc.’s mission; a proactive, hands‑on strategic thinker who will own, in partnership with the CFO, the responsibility for finance.
• Minimum of a BA; CPA and/or MBA or MS preferred.
• A track record in grants management as it relates to compliance and reporting of government, corporate and foundation grants is essential.
• Knowledge and understanding of Uniform Guidance 2 CFR Part 200.
• Commitment to recruiting, mentoring, training, and retaining a diverse team; the foresight and ability to delegate accordingly.
• Keen analytic, organization and problem‑solving skills which allow for strategic data interpretation rather than simple reporting.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills; experience in effectively communicating key data, including presentations to senior management, board or other outside partners.
• Ability to work effectively with and meet the needs of people from a wide range of backgrounds, identities, cultures, nationalities and languages that make up the rich complexity of GLCAC employees, partners in the community, and clientele. Everyone is responsible for supporting the agency’s mission of building an environment of fairness and opportunity where people are valued for their unique contributions.