Controller

New Jersey Community Capital; New Brunswick (NJ); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC) seeks a seasoned Controller to lead accounting, financial reporting, audit, tax, and compliance for NJCC and affiliated entities. This role owns the monthly close, internal controls, and collaborates with the CFO and leadership on financial strategy.

The candidate will oversee GAAP compliance (ASC 958), Single Audit readiness, lender/investor reporting, and budget processes, ensuring accurate, timely statements and strong financial stewardship in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required.
• 8-10+ years progressive accounting with 3-5 years supervisory.
• Nonprofit, CDFI or financial institution experience preferred; strong US GAAP.
• Experience with loan portfolio accounting and lender reporting.
• Experience with federal grants compliance and NMTC accounting preferred.
• CPA license active with NJ eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead annual financial statement audits and coordinate with external auditors; oversee ASC 958 statements.
• Oversee tax and regulatory filings with outside advisors; ensure annual reporting.
• Own the monthly close and intercompany reconciliations; maintain internal controls.
• Provide budget-to-actual variance analysis to CFO and Board; advise on liquidity and strategy.
• Prepare covenant compliance and lender/investor reports; manage grant reporting.

Skills

CPA license

Nonprofit accounting

GAAP knowledge

Yardi

Financial Edge

Excel

Budgeting

Education

Bachelor's in accounting/finance

MBA preferred

Tools

Salesforce

Benedict

Job description

Reporting directly to the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller is the senior accounting and financial reporting leader for New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC), a nonprofit Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI), and its consolidating and non-consolidating affiliated entities, including entities with external partners. The Controller is responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of all accounting, financial reporting, audit, tax and compliance functions; owns the monthly close and internal control environment; oversees loan portfolio accounting and CDFI Fund, the real estate portfolio and lender/investor reporting; leads the accounting team; and partners with the CFO and executive leadership on financial strategy.

Responsibilities

Leadership & Management

• Lead, mentor and develop the accounting team (e.g., Assistant Controller, Senior Accountants); set priorities, review work product and manage performance.
• Partner with the CFO on financial strategy, budgeting, forecasting and liquidity; present financial analysis to the executive team and Board committees (e.g., Finance, Audit).

Annually

• Lead the annual financial statement audit for NJCC and non-consolidating entities as primary liaison with external auditors; fulfill audit requests, prepare responses to financial statement questions and oversee GAAP-compliant financial statements and footnotes (ASC 958).
• Oversee Single Audit readiness, as applicable.
• Oversee tax and regulatory filings with outside advisors and ensure proper completion of annual tax reporting.
• Lead the annual budget process and CDFI Fund certification and reporting (Annual Certification Report, Institution Level Report, Transaction Level Report).
• Review and approve the annual allowance for credit losses.
• Provide budget-to-actual variance analysis and explanations to the CFO, management, and the Board.
• Prepare and review covenant compliance and lender/investor reports, including portfolio performance, delinquency and loan loss reserves.
• Review balance sheet reconciliations, including equity accounts and net assets, to ensure all balances are valid, and monitor and follow up on open receivables, including Property Management fees.
• Review expenditures, match and compliance requirements for federal, state and other awards (including CDFI Fund and other grants).

Monthly

• Own the monthly close; analytically review entity balance sheets and income statements.
• Ensure accuracy of intercompany accounts; review bank reconciliations and loan sub-ledger to general ledger reconciliations.
• Review and approve journal entries within the accounting system and ensure their accuracy, including loan, interest, fee and debt-related accruals.

Ongoing

• Maintain strong internal controls and written policies; ensure compliance with current accounting standards, including ongoing accuracy of lease accounting under the new standard.
• Work closely with other departments to ensure Yardi sub-ledger reporting (rental income, receivables, rent roll, escrow balances) is accurate and agrees to the financial reporting system.
• Support treasury, cash flow forecasting, debt management, and new financing structures (e.g., NMTC), as applicable.
• Manage and optimize accounting and loan management systems (Financial Edge, Yardi, Salesforce, and Benedict).
• Provide timely, accurate reporting to external parties, including lenders, investors, funders, regulators, and the CDFI Fund.
• Support Financial Management colleagues; interact often with other business areas and external parties while performing responsibilities; complete or assist with ad hoc and one-off projects and perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting or finance required; Master’s degree (e.g., MBA, MSA) preferred.
• 8-10+ years of progressive accounting and financial management experience, including 3-5 years in a supervisory role.
• Nonprofit, CDFI or financial institution experience strongly desired; strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP and nonprofit accounting (ASC 958) required.
• Experience with loan portfolio accounting, including CECL, loan servicing reconciliations and lender/investor reporting.
• Experience with federal grants compliance (Uniform Guidance, Single Audit) and CDFI Fund certification and reporting strongly preferred.
• Experience leading external audits and managing tax filings and consolidations for multiple entities; NMTC or real estate/tax-credit accounting is a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to supervise and develop a team and build strong relationships with the CFO, executive staff, Board members, auditors, lenders, and investors.
• Working knowledge of computerized accounting systems; Financial Edge, Yardi and/or Salesforce experience is required. Advanced Excel and Microsoft Office proficiency.
• Must be comfortable working in a mission-driven, small office environment and possess flexibility and enthusiasm.
• Demonstrated ability to balance multiple tasks, collaborate with co-workers, work well independently in a fast-paced environment, prioritize and meet deadlines, and maintain discretion with confidential information.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including explaining complex financial information to non-financial audiences; and excellent networking, relationship management, and customer skills.

Licenses & Certifications

Required

• Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license in good standing (NJ or another U.S. jurisdiction, with eligibility for NJ licensure).
• Compliance with continuing professional education (CPE) requirements needed to maintain licensure.
• Satisfactory background and credit check and eligibility for coverage under NJCC’s fidelity bond and insurance policies.

Preferred

• Additional certifications such as CGMA, CMA or CFE.
• Training or experience in federal grants compliance (Uniform Guidance), CDFI Fund compliance or NMTC accounting.