Controller

East Coast Zoological Foundation; Melbourne (FL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Competitive benefits

Job summary

East Coast Zoological Foundation, based in Melbourne, Florida, seeks a hands-on Controller to lead the nonprofit’s accounting operations for an organization near $20 million in revenue and about 275 employees, preparing for Bowen Aquarium growth.

Reporting to the CFO, the Controller will oversee month-end closes, financial statements, grant reporting, donor restrictions, and capital project accounting, while developing staff and strengthening internal controls.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting; substantive nonprofit accounting experience required.
• Donor restrictions, grants, and campaign accounting knowledge.
• Experience with GAAP and FASB ASC 958.
• Hands-on leader able to supervise staff while performing accounting tasks.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day accounting functions and monthly close.
• Prepare financial statements and reporting for CFO and boards.
• Oversee internal controls, policy documentation, and audit readiness.
• Manage grant, donor-restricted fund, and capital project accounting.
• Coordinate budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis with senior leadership.

Skills

Financial reporting

GAAP knowledge

Leadership

Nonprofit accounting

Internal controls

Budgeting

Forecasting

Payroll accounting

Grant & donor reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in accounting

Tools

Sage Intacct

Raiser’s Edge

Microsoft Excel

Job description

This position description has been abbreviated to comply with this platform's length limitations. For the complete job prospectus, please visit our website at www.coopercoleman.com/current-searches.

Position Summary

ECZF seeks a Controller to lead the accounting operations of an approximately $20 million nonprofit with about 275 employees and serve as the organization’s primary steward of accounting integrity, financial controls, and reporting accuracy. As Bowen Aquarium is developed and begins operating, this person will prepare the accounting function for substantial growth in revenue, staffing, and complexity.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller will oversee day-to-day accounting operations, the monthly and annual close, financial statement preparation, audit readiness, internal controls, payroll accounting, nonprofit and campaign accounting, grant reporting, and capital project accounting.

ECZF’s current budgeted finance structure comprises 6.5 full-time equivalent positions: the CFO, Controller, Accounting Manager, Senior Accountant, Accounts Payable Clerk, Accounts Receivable Specialist, and part-time Cash Room Clerk.

The Controller will directly lead and develop the accounting staff, creating clear expectations, improving communication, encouraging cross-training, and building a stable team culture. Success requires both strong technical accounting capability and the ability to communicate well, earn trust, and translate accounting requirements for colleagues throughout the organization.

This must be a genuinely hands-on leader who can perform, review, or troubleshoot the work for which the department is responsible. Experience in a larger or more specialized organization can translate well, provided the candidate has maintained direct ownership of core accounting processes and is comfortable working closely with details.

Substantive nonprofit accounting experience is required. The successful candidate must understand donor restrictions, grants, contribution revenue, campaign pledges, capital activity, and nonprofit financial reporting from the outset. Strong analytical skills will also allow the Controller to support budgeting, forecasting, and organizational decision-making in partnership with the CFO.

Essential Job Functions

The Controller will provide hands-on leadership across ECZF’s accounting function while strengthening the systems, controls, and team practices needed for continued growth. Key responsibilities include:

Accounting Operations and Financial Reporting

• Lead all day-to-day accounting functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, general ledger maintenance, bank and investment account activity, cash management, and reconciliations.
• Direct the monthly and annual close, ensuring that postings, accruals, reconciliations, and financial entries are complete, accurate, and timely.
• Prepare financial statements and reporting packages for the CFO, executive leadership, Finance Committee, Board, and other stakeholders, including clear budget and variance analysis.
• Maintain the chart of accounts, supporting documentation, and proper classification of revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and net assets with and without donor restrictions in accordance with GAAP and FASB ASC 958.

Internal Controls and Compliance

• Assess, document, implement, and continually strengthen internal controls, accounting policies, standard procedures, segregation of duties, approval processes, safeguards, and audit trails.
• Oversee the purchasing-card program, including approvals, controls, reconciliation, documentation, and compliance.
• Maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local financial and tax requirements, including IRS requirements for tax-exempt organizations and ECZF’s records-retention policy.
• Support the CFO in reviewing contracts, renewals, and financial commitments, and lead the implementation of improvements addressing identified accounting, process, and control risks.

Audit, Tax, Payroll, and Benefits

• Serve as the primary staff liaison for the annual external audit, coordinating schedules, supporting documentation, confirmations, auditor requests, and implementation of accepted recommendations.
• Lead or support the preparation of the annual audit, IRS Form 990, tax returns, sales-tax filings, and other required financial, fiduciary, and legal reports.
• Ensure accurate and timely payroll processing and accounting in close partnership with Human Resources, including payroll review, account reconciliations, tax filings, related liabilities, and FLSA compliance.
• Coordinate accounting for employee benefits, including health insurance, 403(b) retirement contributions, and leave accruals.

Campaign, Grant, and Capital Project Accounting

• Lead accounting and financial reporting for ECZF’s $140 million Our Legacy Campaign, including gifts, pledges, contribution receivables, donor restrictions, conditions, releases from restriction, and other recognition and reporting considerations.
• Establish regular reconciliation among Sage Intacct, Raiser’s Edge, donor agreements, pledge schedules, fundraising records, and campaign reports in close partnership with Philanthropy.
• Oversee grant and donor-restricted fund accounting, ensuring resources are recorded, reconciled, reported, and used in accordance with donor and funder requirements, including preparation of grant drawdown requests.
• Maintain capital project accounts for Bowen Aquarium and other initiatives, coordinate budget-to-actual reporting with project leaders and develop processes capable of supporting Aquarium construction and future multi-site operations.

Budgeting and Analytical Support

• Lead the preparation of ECZF’s annual budget in partnership with the CFO and organizational leaders.
• Analyze monthly, quarterly, and annual results against budgets, forecasts, and prior periods, identifying variances, trends, risks, cost pressures, and opportunities.
• Monitor departmental spending and headcount, coordinate with departments, and translate financial information into useful reporting and commentary for non-financial leaders.
• Support cash-flow forecasting, multi-year projections, scenario planning, and other financial analysis requested by the CFO.

Team Leadership and Organizational Partnership

• Lead, supervise, coach, and develop the accounting staff, including hiring, onboarding, performance planning, evaluation, professional development, and clear accountability.
• Establish clear roles and expectations while building cross-training, redundancy, and continuity across essential accounting functions.
• Develop strong working relationships across the institution and its campuses, positioning Accounting as a responsive and trusted internal partner.
• Work effectively with auditors, banks, consultants, vendors, government partners, and other stakeholders; remain current on relevant accounting standards, systems, and regulatory developments; and perform other duties and special projects as assigned.

Qualifications

The successful candidate will bring strong technical accounting expertise, substantive nonprofit experience, and the ability to lead a team while remaining closely engaged in the work. Specific qualifications include:

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting.
• At least 5-7 years of progressive accounting experience, including two or more years leading staff.
• Experience as a Controller, Assistant Controller, Director of Accounting, or comparable in-house accounting leader.
• Substantive nonprofit accounting experience, including GAAP, FASB ASC 958, donor restrictions, contribution revenue, and grants.
• Direct responsibility for close, financial statements, general ledger integrity, reconciliations, audits, Form 990, and regulatory filings.
• Experience strengthening accounting processes, documentation, internal controls, and financial systems.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach, and develop accounting staff while remaining hands-on across the function.
• Experience with capital campaigns, construction accounting, tax-exempt financing and compliance, or multi-site operations is strongly preferred.

Reporting Relationships

The Controller reports directly to the Chief Financial Officer and has the following supervisory responsibilities:

• Sr Accountant
• Accounts Receivable Specialist

The salary range for this position is approximately $110,000 to $130,000. A complete list of benefits is included in the complete prospectus at coopercoleman.com/current-searches

As a reflection of our firm’s commitment to equity and equal pay, salary ranges or salary starting points are published for every search we conduct. The practice of withholding salary information can perpetuate wage disparities and place certain candidates at a disadvantage during negotiations.

This is a full-time, exempt position based in Melbourne, Florida. The successful candidate must reside in or relocate to the Brevard County region.

The finance team currently works a hybrid schedule, generally three days onsite and two days remotely. The Controller must maintain a consistent onsite presence, with the final schedule established in partnership with the CFO.

Cooper Coleman is leading this search on behalf of the East Coast Zoological Foundation.

A cover letter is not required with your initial application. Candidates invited for interviews will be asked to provide a thoughtful letter of interest indicating their specific qualifications for the opportunity, desire to join ECZF, and connection to its mission.

Cooper Coleman LLC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all qualified candidates and will refer candidates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or identity, age, ability, veteran status, or any legally protected basis.