Controller

Stance, Inc; Massachusetts; On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Housing Assistance Corporation seeks an experienced Controller to lead accounting and financial reporting for HAC and affiliated entities. The role drives internal controls, audits, and timely financial information to support strategic decisions.

The Controller will manage month-end close, oversee a high-performing team, ensure GAAP compliance, and partner with leadership and funders on financial planning and reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible accounting experience, including financial reporting, audit management, and general ledger oversight.
• Minimum of 3 years of supervisory or management experience leading an accounting team.
• Demonstrated experience managing the month-end and year-end close process.
• Experience preparing financial statements in accordance with GAAP.
• Experience developing and maintaining internal controls and accounting policies.
• Strong financial analysis, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and accounting systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage all accounting functions, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, fixed assets, cash management, restricted funds, and financial reporting.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop accounting staff, including setting priorities, assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, and supporting professional growth.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer service within the finance team.
• Evaluate and improve accounting processes, systems, and workflows to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.
• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and chart of accounts.
• Review and approve journal entries, reconciliations, allocations, and other accounting transactions.
• Prepare and review financial statements, management reports, and supporting schedules for leadership, the Board, funders, lenders, and regulatory agencies.
• Analyze financial results and significant budget variances and provide recommendations to management.
• Serve as primary liaison for external auditors and manage coordination of the annual financial statement audit and Single Audit.
• Oversee preparation of Form 990 and other required regulatory filings.
• Develop, implement, and monitor internal controls, accounting policies, and financial procedures.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, grant requirements, debt covenants, donor restrictions, and applicable federal and state regulations.
• Oversee accounting and financial reporting for grants, government contracts, restricted contributions, housing development projects, property operations, and affiliated entities.
• Ensure accurate revenue recognition, project cost tracking, cost allocations, and restricted fund accounting.
• Maintain accounting for development projects, capital assets, debt financing, and intercompany transactions.
• Partner with contract management to support accurate financial reporting and compliance for grants and contracts.
• Support lender, auditor, regulatory, and funder reporting requirements.
• Oversee organizational cash management, banking relationships, and cash flow forecasting.
• Monitor liquidity and support financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting activities.
• Support the Chief of Staff - Finance in the development and administration of the annual operating and capital budgets.
• Assist with financial modeling and analysis to support strategic decision-making.
• Monitor debt obligations, lender reporting requirements, and financial covenant compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Advanced Excel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field

CPA designation strongly preferred

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Accounting software

Job description

Position Summary

Housing Assistance Corporation is seeking an experienced and mission-driven Controller to lead the organization’s accounting and financial reporting functions. Reporting to the Chief of Staff - Finance, the Controller provides strategic and operational leadership for all accounting activities across HAC and its affiliated entities.

The Controller is responsible for ensuring the integrity of financial records, maintaining strong internal controls, overseeing audits and regulatory compliance, managing a high-performing accounting team, and delivering accurate and timely financial information to support organizational decision-making. This position plays a critical leadership role in supporting HAC’s mission and long-term financial sustainability.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Accounting Operations & Team Leadership

• Lead and manage all accounting functions, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, fixed assets, cash management, restricted funds, and financial reporting.

• Supervise, mentor, and develop accounting staff, including setting priorities, assigning work, conducting performance evaluations, and supporting professional growth.

• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer service within the finance team.

• Evaluate and improve accounting processes, systems, and workflows to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Financial Reporting & General Ledger Management

• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting.

• Maintain the integrity of the general ledger and chart of accounts.

• Review and approve journal entries, reconciliations, allocations, and other accounting transactions.

• Prepare and review financial statements, management reports, and supporting schedules for leadership, the Board, funders, lenders, and regulatory agencies.

• Analyze financial results and significant budget variances and provide recommendations to management.

Audit, Compliance & Internal Controls

• Serve as primary liaison for external auditors andmanage coordination ofthe annual financial statement audit and Single Audit

• Oversee preparation of Form 990 and other required regulatory filings.

• Develop, implement, and monitor internal controls, accounting policies, and financial procedures.

• Ensure compliance with GAAP, nonprofit accounting standards, grant requirements, debt covenants, donor restrictions, and applicable federal and state regulations.

Grants, Development & Specialized Accounting

• Oversee accounting and financial reporting for grants, government contracts, restricted contributions, housing development projects, property operations, and affiliated entities.

• Ensure accurate revenue recognition, project cost tracking, cost allocations, and restricted fund accounting.

• Maintain accounting for development projects, capital assets, debt financing, and intercompany transactions.

• Partner with contract management to support accurate financial reporting and compliance for grants and contracts.

• Support lender, auditor, regulatory, and funder reporting requirements.

Treasury, Cash Management & Financial Planning

• Oversee organizational cash management, banking relationships, and cash flow forecasting.

• Monitor liquidity and support financial planning, budgeting, and forecasting activities.

• Support the Chief of Staff - Finance in the development and administration of the annual operating and capital budgets.

• Assist with financial modeling and analysis to support strategic decision-making.

• Monitor debt obligations, lender reporting requirements, and financial covenant compliance.

Required Qualifications

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

• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible accounting experience, including financial reporting, audit management, and general ledger oversight.

• Minimum of 3 years of supervisory or management experience leading an accounting team.

• Demonstrated experience managing the month-end and year-end close process.

• Experience preparing financial statements in accordance with GAAP.

• Experience developing and maintaining internal controls and accounting policies.

• Strong financial analysis, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.

• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and accounting systems.

Preferred Qualifications

• CPA designation strongly preferred.

• Experience as a Controller, Assistant Controller, Accounting Manager, or similar financial leadership role.

• Nonprofit accounting experience, including fund accounting, grants management, and restricted net assets.

• Experience with government grants and contracts, federal or state funding compliance, and Single Audits.

• Experience overseeing multiple entities, properties, programs, or affiliated organizations.

• Experience with budgeting, forecasting, cash flow analysis, and financial modeling.

• Experience with housing development accounting a plus.

• Prior experience with financial software transitions a plus.

Physical requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.

• Must be able to lift 15 pounds at times.

Work Environment

• The functions of this role are conducted in an office and team environment.

Hours of Work

• This role is paid on a salaried-exempt basis.

• Typically, full-time salaried employees work 35 hours during a Monday throughFriday workweek. However, this is a salaried position. Therefore, the individual is expected to work as required tocomplete the duties of the position. This may mean hours beyond 35 per week are required.

AAP/EEO Statement

The Housing Assistance Corporation (“HAC”) is committed to a firm policy in favor of equal employment opportunity and will abide by all applicable state and federal regulations by not discriminating against any applicant or employee on the basis of race, religion, color, creed, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability or veteran status. Our commitment to equal employment opportunities shall include employment, upgrading, promotion, demotion, transfer, leaves or other absences from work, layoff, compensation and benefits, selection for training or other education, professional opportunities, and conflict resolution.

It is also the policy of HAC to take affirmative action to employ and to advance in employment, all persons regardless of their status as woman, minority or individuals with disabilities or protected veterans, and to base all employment decisions only on valid job requirements.

Please inform us of any necessary accommodation required during theapplication process and/or at any time duringemployment.

Housing Assistance Corporation promotes compassion and respect to all, empowers individuals to make informed choices and be responsible for their own actions, requires staff to be conscientious stewards of organization resources, encourages, and values cooperative efforts at work and in the community and values truthfulness.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.