Controller

Catholic Community Services; Seattle (WA); On-site; USD 121,500 - 148,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Generous paid time off

403(b) Employee Savings Plan

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Job summary

Catholic Community Services in Seattle, WA is seeking a highly collaborative Controller to lead accounting operations for the King County accounting department. This critical role involves ensuring financial integrity and compliance across a diverse portfolio of programs funded primarily through government contracts.

The Controller will oversee full-cycle accounting functions, provide team leadership, and partner with program directors to achieve timely financial reporting. Required qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in Accounting and 8+ years of progressive accounting experience.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 2 years of direct people management.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and complex general ledger reconciliations.
• Experience with payroll accounting and financial reporting.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all accounting functions including accounts payable, receivable, and payroll.
• Foster a collaborative culture focused on staff engagement.
• Act as a financial partner to program leadership and ensure compliance with internal controls.

Skills

People management

Nonprofit accounting expertise

Financial reporting

Excel proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting

Tools

Enterprise accounting systems

Job description

Overview

Join Our Team!

Catholic Community Services of Western Washington (CCSWW) is seeking a highly collaborative, mission-driven Controller to lead accounting operations for the King County accounting department. This role is critical to ensuring financial integrity, compliance, and operational excellence across a diverse and complex portfolio of government-funded and mission-based programs.

Reporting to the Executive Finance Director, the Controller oversees full-cycle accounting functions for King County operations and plays a key leadership role in supporting program growth, staff development, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate brings deep nonprofit accounting expertise, strong people leadership skills, and the ability to translate complex financial information for non-financial partners.

The King County accounting department supports multiple lines of business with significant annual revenue and expenses funded primarily through government contracts and grants. The Controller partners closely with the Agency Director, Program Directors, and Finance leadership to ensure timely, accurate financial reporting and strong internal controls in compliance with GAAP and applicable regulatory requirements.

Work location:

Initial Period (0-6 Months): 100& On-site, (1) Seattle, WA

Eligible for a possible transition to a hybrid schedule after a 6-month introductory period.

Benefits & Compensation

Salary: $135,000 per year (D.O.E.) with a competitive benefits package:

• Full-time, 40 hours/week
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability
• Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Generous paid time off (PTO), paid sick time, 15 days of paid vacations
• 12 days of paid holidays, plus one (1) personal holiday
• CCS/AHA 403(b) Employee Savings Plan
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

If you are looking for meaningful work, make a tangible difference, and drive positive change, find out more at: https://ccsww.org/careers/

Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Directly supervise Accounting Managers who collectively oversee accounting staff responsible for multiple transaction cycles.
• Foster a collaborative, respectful, and continuous-improvement-focused culture that prioritizes communication, staff engagement, and retention.
• Provide mentorship, coaching, performance evaluations, hiring support, and professional development opportunities for staff.
• Proactively identify workload challenges and staffing needs to ensure sustainable operations and high-quality output.

Accounting Operations & Financial Management

• Oversee all accounting functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, contract billings, general ledger, and month-end close.
• Establish, monitor, and enforce monthly closing procedures and deadlines; ensure financial statements accurately reflect activity and results.
• Review and approve journal entries, reconciliations, and financial reports prepared by accounting staff.
• Maintain a strong working knowledge of contract terms to support accurate revenue recognition and timely billing and collection.

Internal Controls, Compliance & Audit

• Maintain effective internal controls over regional accounting activities
• Ensure compliance with CCSWW accounting policies, procedures, and internal control standards
• Support internal and external audits related to regional operations
• Identify control issues and coordinate corrective actions
• Ensure compliance with GAAP, federal and state funding requirements, and CCSWW policies.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Strategic Support

• Act as a trusted financial partner to program leadership by providing guidance on budgeting, financial reporting, contract monitoring, and fiscal controls.
• Translate financial information clearly and effectively for non-financial stakeholders to support informed decision-making.
• Proactively communicate significant financial risks, issues, or trends to the Finance Director.
• Contribute to enterprise initiatives such as ERP optimization, process standardization, and systems improvements.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from an accredited institution.
• Audit experience.
• Minimum of 8 years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 2 years of direct people management overseeing multiple accounting functions.
• Strong working knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and complex general ledger reconciliations.
• Experience with payroll accounting, including payroll tax and benefit reporting.
• High proficiency with Excel and enterprise accounting systems.
• Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing operational needs.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Highly Preferred

• Active CPA license.
• 4+ years of experience in a nonprofit, government-funded, or social services environment.
• Strong knowledge of federal compliance and audit requirements, including 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance).
• Experience training and supporting non-financial staff in financial management, budgeting, and internal controls.
• Experience working in large, complex organizations with multiple funding streams and stakeholders.

Note to Internal Candidates: HR reviews internal compensation and determines any increase based on their experience and also agency internal equity factors. Please let us know if you need special accommodations to apply or interview for this position.

Catholic Community Services is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Visit www.ccsww.org to learn more.