Controller

Jewish Community Center Of Staten Island; New York (NY); On-site; USD 95,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits package

Free membership

Job summary

The Jewish Community Center of Staten Island is seeking a Controller to lead accounting operations, financial reporting, grant and contract accounting, budgeting, compliance, and audit preparation. Reporting to the CFO, you will strengthen financial processes and provide analysis to support the organization’s mission.

You will supervise accounting staff, partner with program leadership, ensure GAAP compliance, and drive improvements in internal controls within a nonprofit environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of experience in nonprofit accounting, including fiscal management of grant contracts.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including VLOOKUPs and pivot tables.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret financial reports.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, and manage multiple tasks.
• Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with finance, program, and administrative teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee general accounting functions, including general ledger maintenance, account reconciliations, journal entries, and financial reporting.
• Coordinate monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes to ensure timely and accurate financial statements.
• Prepare and review monthly financial reports, budget-to-actual analyses, and key performance metrics.
• Analyze trial balances and general ledger activity and resolve discrepancies.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards.
• Manage the financial administration of government, foundation, and private grants and contracts.
• Partner with program directors and department leaders to develop, monitor, and revise grant budgets.
• Prepare and submit grant reimbursement requests, vouchers, expenditure reports, and financial reports.
• Monitor grant spending for compliance with contractual obligations and funding restrictions.
• Provide financial guidance to program staff regarding grant regulations and reporting requirements.
• Assist with the preparation and management of annual operating and program budgets.
• Support forecasting, financial modeling, and budget variance analysis.
• Provide fiscal oversight and financial analysis for assigned departments and programs.
• Identify financial risks and recommend corrective actions and process improvements.
• Lead preparation for annual financial audits, governmental audits, and program-specific audits.
• Support compliance reports, regulatory filings, and required financial disclosures.
• Develop, implement, and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Evaluate and improve accounting workflows to increase efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.
• Serve as a financial resource to non-finance staff and assist with budgeting and financial interpretation.
• Supervises, trains, and evaluates accounting staff.

Skills

Advanced Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables)

Education

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

Job description

JOB SUMMARY

The Controller is a key member of the Finance team responsible for overseeing the JCC of Staten Island’s accounting operations, financial reporting, grant and contract compliance, internal controls, and month-end close processes. The Controller ensures the accuracy and integrity of financial records, supports organizational decision-making through financial analysis, and maintains compliance with nonprofit accounting standards, government regulations, and funder requirements. Reporting to the CFO, and working closely with program leadership, department directors, grant supervisors, and external stakeholders, the Controller provides financial leadership that supports the JCC’s mission and long-term sustainability.

ABOUT YOU

You are an experienced nonprofit accounting professional who will oversee daily accounting operations, financial reporting, grant and contract accounting, budgeting, compliance, and audit preparation. You will help strengthen financial processes, improve reporting accuracy, monitor organizational performance, and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and internal controls. You work independently, manage competing priorities, and build effective working relationships with finance and program teams across the organization.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Financial Management & Reporting

• Oversee general accounting functions, including general ledger maintenance, account reconciliations, journal entries, and financial reporting.
• Coordinate monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes to ensure timely and accurate financial statements.
• Prepare and review monthly financial reports, budget-to-actual analyses, and key performance metrics.
• Analyze trial balances and general ledger activity and resolve discrepancies.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards.

Grant and Contract Accounting

• Manage the financial administration of government, foundation, and private grants and contracts.
• Partner with program directors and department leaders to develop, monitor, and revise grant budgets.
• Prepare and submit grant reimbursement requests, vouchers, expenditure reports, and financial reports.
• Monitor grant spending for compliance with contractual obligations and funding restrictions.
• Provide financial guidance to program staff regarding grant regulations and reporting requirements.

Budgeting & Financial Analysis

• Assist with the preparation and management of annual operating and program budgets.
• Support forecasting, financial modeling, and budget variance analysis.
• Provide fiscal oversight and financial analysis for assigned departments and programs.
• Identify financial risks and recommend corrective actions and process improvements.

Audit & Compliance

• Lead preparation for annual financial audits, governmental audits, and program-specific audits.
• Support compliance reports, regulatory filings, and required financial disclosures.

Internal Controls & Process Improvement

• Develop, implement, and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Evaluate and improve accounting workflows to increase efficiency, accuracy, and compliance.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Serve as a financial resource to non-finance staff and assist with budgeting and financial interpretation.
• Supervises, trains, and evaluates accounting staff.

OUR REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• Minimum of five years of experience in nonprofit accounting, including fiscal management of grant contracts.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including VLOOKUPs and pivot tables.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to interpret financial reports.
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently, set priorities, and manage multiple tasks.
• Ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with finance, program, and administrative teams.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Experience with government-funded programs and grant reimbursement processes.
• Experience preparing for nonprofit, governmental, or program-specific audits.
• Familiarity with nonprofit accounting software and financial management systems.
• Knowledge of New York nonprofit reporting and compliance requirements.

SALARY

$95,000-$110,000 commensurate with experience and qualifications.

BENEFITS

The JCC of Staten Island is committed to keeping you and your family healthy and happy through a comprehensive benefits program. Offerings include subsidized medical coverage; dental and vision coverage; Flexible Spending Accounts and Dependent Care benefits; free short- and long-term disability insurance; life insurance; a pension; 403(b) plan; generous paid time off; program discounts; free membership; and much more.

ABOUT US

The Jewish Community Center of Staten Island was founded in 1929 with the goal of creating a home for the Jewish community by offering social, recreational, and educational activities. Over time, that mission expanded to serve everyone who walked through the doors of our facilities. Today, the JCC is a true community center—not only for the Jewish community, but for the entire Staten Island community.

Our programs serve people of all ages and backgrounds, from young children to older adults, and continue to expand in response to community needs. The JCC is proud to provide services that improve quality of life, support individuals and families, and offer meaningful recreational and educational opportunities.

The JCC of Staten Island is dedicated to encouraging harmony throughout the community by providing facilities and programs open to all, regardless of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, sex, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or political affiliation. Everyone is welcome at the JCC.