Controller (Federal Way, WA)

Institute for Family Development; Federal Way, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 97,000 - 126,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental reimbursement plan

15 paid vacation days

2 paid personal days

10 paid sick days

11 holidays

401(k) retirement plan (5% IFD contrib

Flexible schedule

Some telecommuting

Strengths-based work environment

Job summary

The Institute for Family Development seeks a Controller to lead financial operations, accounting, budgeting, audits, and risk management in a nonprofit setting.

Reporting to the Executive Director, you will manage a team, develop processes, coordinate annual budgets, oversee all financial reporting, and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements while guiding strategic financial decisions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field.
• Five years of professional experience in the field; nonprofit accounting experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, develop, and support professional growth of staff.
• Experience supervising an accounting team.
• Knowledge of contractual, regulatory, licensing and legal requirements and procedures.
• Experience evaluating and improving financial processes, systems, or workflows.
• Effective verbal and written communication; ability to present and explain financial information to management, boards, committees, and non‑financial audiences.
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain client and employee confidentiality.

Responsibilities

• Provide Financial Leadership and Governance: participate in strategic planning, board communications, and risk assessment.
• Lead Financial Operations: coordinate annual budget development and month‑end close processes.
• Manage accounting, payroll, tax filings, audits, and cash flow.
• Oversee 401(k) policies, benefits, and regulatory relationships.
• Supervise and develop accounting staff; improve processes and department capacity.
• Manage working relationships with auditors and regulatory agencies.
• Support treasury activities following investment policies.

Skills

Leadership

Mentorship

Communication

Independently drive initiatives

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance/business administration

Tools

Financial systems

Spreadsheets

Financial reporting tools

Job description

Position Summary

Management team member responsible for financial leadership, accounting and financial reporting, budgeting, treasury management, risk management, internal controls, and supervision and development of accounting staff. The Controller develops people, builds department capacity, improves systems and processes, and helps the organization make sound financial decisions. This is an exempt position, reporting to the Executive Director.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide Financial Leadership and Governance:

• Contribute to the development and implementation of the agency strategic plan.
• Participate in weekly management team meetings.
• Provide financial analysis, recommendations, and risk assessment to support management decision‑making, organizational planning, and contractual decisions.
• Prepare financial materials, analyses, and recommendations for the Operations and Finance Committee and Board of Trustees.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Operations and Finance Committee, including coordinating financial materials and supporting follow‑up on committee recommendations and action items.
• Attend Board and Committee meetings and respond to questions regarding agency finances, budgets, audits, investments, and financial performance.
• Identify opportunities for operational, financial, and business process improvement.

Lead Financial Operations:

• Evaluate accounting processes and systems and implement improvements that increase efficiency, accuracy, cross‑training, and department capacity.
• Coordinate the development of the agency’s annual budget.
• With the executive director, prepare the agency’s administrative, building operations, and capital improvements budgets.

• Coordinate and review month‑end and fiscal year‑end financial close processes.
• Maintain agency account coding and allocations across departments, programs, and sites.

• Develop, maintain, and distribute accurate and timely accounting documents, financial reports, analyses, and reporting tools.

• Prepare and submit required tax, regulatory, and compliance filings.
• Direct annual financial and 401k audits and manage relationships with outside auditors.
• Oversee 401k policies and procedures.
• Estimate and update benefit rates for self‑insured dental and unemployment programs.
• Manage relationships with regulatory agencies regarding fiscal issues.

• Review and approve payroll, accounts payable and accounts receivable transactions.
• Review accounts receivable aging reports and assist managers with overdue account collections.
• Approve bad debt write‑offs as needed.
• Prepare monthly acquisition, disposal and depreciation fixed asset entries and maintain capital assets inventory.
• Ensure payroll and sales taxes are accurate and filed on time.
• Manage agency cash flow, investments, banking relationships, and treasury activities in accordance with agency investment policies and reserve strategies.
• Conduct cash flow analysis and support implementation of agency investment policies and reserve strategies.

Lead Risk Management:

• Maintain the appropriate level of property and casualty insurance coverage.
• Maintain the appropriate level of fidelity coverage.
• Manage relationships with brokers and carriers.

Develop, Supervise, and Support the Accounting Team:

• Assume primary responsibility for hiring and on‑the‑job training of new accounting staff.
• Follow proper procedures and policies regarding staff, including hiring, disciplinary and discharge protocols. Complete required personnel documents and paperwork.
• Inform executive director of staff issues and concerns. Recommend solutions and help implement solutions.
• Observe and monitor the work of staff members. Provide constructive feedback on staff performance. Ensure that corrective action is taken when problems are identified.
• Provide technical assistance, mentoring, coaching, training, and cross‑training opportunities to support professional growth and department capacity.
• Increase department capacity through documentation, knowledge transfer, workflow improvement, process improvement, and appropriate delegation of responsibilities.
• Complete staff performance evaluations.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Five years of professional experience in the field; nonprofit accounting experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to mentor, develop, and support professional growth of staff.
• Experience supervising an accounting team.
• Knowledge of contractual, regulatory, licensing and legal requirements and procedures.
• Experience evaluating and improving financial processes, systems, or workflows.
• Effective verbal and written communication; ability to present and explain financial information to management, boards, committees, and non‑financial audiences.
• Ability to exercise discretion and maintain client and employee confidentiality.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative, prioritize, juggle multiple responsibilities, and work independently.
• Advanced proficiency with financial systems, spreadsheets, and financial reporting tools.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Full salary range: $96,714 - $126,011 annually; anticipated starting range: $96,714 – $107,700 depending on experience and qualifications.

Excellent Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental reimbursement plan
• 15 paid vacation days during the first year of employment, cumulative accrual with each year of service up to plan maximum
• 2 paid personal days per year
• 10 paid sick days per year
• 11 holidays per year
• 401(k) retirement plan (5% IFD contribution)
• A flexible schedule and the possibility of some telecommuting
• A strengths-based work environment, where we look for – and assume – the best in one another

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS

• Use of a computer and computer screen for most of the workday.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, including transporting records, files, reports, and materials used for meetings and presentations.
• Ability to occasionally move, lift, carry, push, or pull materials weighing up to 10 pounds.
• IFD will provide reasonable accommodation to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

TYPICAL WORKING CONDITIONS

This job operates in a hybrid professional office environment and has routine contact with staff, board members, financial institutions, auditors, vendors, and other external partners. Occasional travel may be required. Attendance at periodic evening and weekend meetings may be required, including Board of Trustees, Operations and Finance Committee, and other meetings.

This job description is a summary of the typical functions of the job, not an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all possible job responsibilities. The responsibilities of the jobholder may differ from those outlined in this job description, and other duties, as assigned, may be part of the job. Institute for Family Development may assign or reassign responsibilities and duties of the jobholder at any time.