Nonprofit Controller – Grantmaking

Scion Staffing; Menlo Park (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 240,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Annual incentive

Leadership opportunity

Oversee nonprofit accounting

Direct reports leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Job summary

Scion Nonprofit Staffing has been engaged to conduct a search for an experienced Controller for a prominent philanthropic organization in Menlo Park, CA. This is a high-impact leadership role overseeing nonprofit accounting, grants, and financial operations onsite five days per week.

The successful candidate will bring 10+ years of accounting experience, including 4+ years at the Controller level, with strong GAAP and exempt-organization reporting, and the ability to manage two direct reports

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field; CPA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible accounting experience, including 4+ years at Controller level.
• Expertise in nonprofit GAAP, financial statement prep, GL management, month-end close, and reporting.
• Strong nonprofit grants accounting, grantmaking operations, and financial compliance.
• Experience with ASC 958, restricted/unrestricted funds, multi-year grants, and exempt-organization reporting.
• Investment accounting experience with alternative assets; knowledge of Form 990/990-PF is a plus.
• Advanced Excel; experience with NetSuite, Concur, Adaptive, Salesforce, and Google Workspace.
• Leadership, collaboration, and strong communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversee monthly, quarterly, and annual close, journal entries, reconciliations, GL, and GAAP nonprofit statements.
• Lead financial reporting, cash forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis with strong internal controls.
• Ensure compliance with nonprofit accounting standards, tax regulations, and reporting requirements.
• Oversee grants accounting, restricted funding, multi-year grants, ASC 958 requirements.
• Support domestic/international grantmaking oversight, including expenditure responsibility and determinations.
• Coordinate tax and regulatory requirements (Form 990, 990-PF, other exemptions).
• Serve as primary liaison for annual audits and related tax/regulatory reporting.
• Oversee investment accounting, including alternatives, partnerships, and K-1s.
• Supervise two direct reports; mentor and develop staff; drive process improvements.
• Collaborate with leadership across finance, grants, programs, operations, and legal.

Skills

Nonprofit accounting

GAAP knowledge

Financial reporting

Grant accounting

Leadership

Advanced Excel

NetSuite

Concur

Adaptive

Salesforce

Regulatory/tax knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

CPA preferred

Tools

NetSuite

Concur

Adaptive

Salesforce

Google Workspace

Job description

Scion Nonprofit Staffing has been engaged to conduct a search for an experienced Controller on behalf of a highly established philanthropic organization in Menlo Park, CA. This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished accounting leader with a strong background in nonprofit accounting, grantmaking, financial reporting, and organizational financial operations.

The ideal candidate will bring extensive Controller-level experience within a nonprofit, grantmaking organization, or foundation environment, with the ability to oversee complex accounting functions, ensure financial compliance, and support sophisticated philanthropic initiatives. Direct private foundation experience is not required; candidates with strong nonprofit and grantmaking accounting backgrounds are encouraged to apply.

This is a full-time, direct-hire position based onsite five days per week in Menlo Park, CA. The Controller will report to the Senior Accounting Director and oversee two direct reports. Relocation assistance is available.

PERKS

• Competitive salary of $210,000–$240,000, plus annual incentive and benefits.
• High-impact accounting leadership opportunity within an established philanthropic organization.
• Opportunity to oversee complex nonprofit accounting, financial reporting, and grantmaking operations.
• Leadership responsibility for two direct reports.
• Collaborative environment partnering across finance, grants management, programs, operations, and legal.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Oversee the monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close processes, including journal entries, reconciliations, general ledger management, and preparation of GAAP-compliant nonprofit financial statements.
• Lead financial reporting, cash forecasting, budgeting, and budget-to-actual analysis while maintaining strong internal controls and financial compliance.
• Ensure compliance with applicable nonprofit accounting standards, tax regulations, and financial reporting requirements.
• Oversee grants accounting and financial compliance, including grant commitments, restricted funding, multi-year grants, and applicable ASC 958 requirements.
• Support financial oversight of domestic and international grantmaking activities, including expenditure responsibility, equivalency determinations, and program-related investments, as applicable.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders on applicable tax and regulatory requirements, including Form 990, Form 990-PF, and other exempt-organization reporting obligations.
• Serve as a primary liaison for the annual financial statement audit and coordinate applicable tax, regulatory, charitable registration, and investment-related reporting.
• Oversee investment accounting activities, including alternative investments, partnership accounting, and K-1 reporting.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop two direct reports while fostering accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen accounting processes, automate manual workflows, improve reporting accuracy, and enhance operational efficiency.
• Collaborate with leadership across finance, grants management, programs, operations, and legal to support organizational priorities and strategic initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field; CPA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible accounting experience, including 4+ years at the Controller level within a nonprofit organization, grantmaking institution, foundation, or similarly complex philanthropic environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in nonprofit GAAP, financial statement preparation, general ledger management, month-end close, and financial reporting.
• Strong experience with nonprofit grants accounting, grantmaking operations, and financial compliance.
• Solid understanding of ASC 958, restricted and unrestricted funds, multi-year grant commitments, and nonprofit financial reporting requirements.
• Experience with exempt-organization tax reporting and compliance; knowledge of Form 990-PF, IRC Chapter 42, and private foundation regulations is a plus, but direct private foundation experience is not required.
• Experience supporting investment accounting, including alternative asset classes, partnership accounting, and K-1s.
• Familiarity with international grantmaking, expenditure responsibility, equivalency determinations, or program-related investments is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to lead accounting operations, manage financial audits, strengthen internal controls, and develop accounting staff.
• Advanced Excel skills required; proficiency with NetSuite, Concur, Adaptive, Salesforce, and Google Workspace preferred.
• Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments while managing complex accounting responsibilities and competing priorities.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

This exciting direct-hire opportunity offers a competitive salary of $210,000–$240,000, plus an annual incentive and benefits.

The position is based onsite five days per week in Menlo Park, CA, with relocation assistance available.

ABOUT OUR FIRM

Scion Nonprofit Staffing is an award-winning national nonprofit recruitment and staffing specialist for nonprofit organizations, foundations, associations, and educational institutions! Since 2006, we have had the pleasure of successfully placing thousands of talented professionals supporting incredible missions and programs. Through our innovative team-building and recruiting solutions, we bridge the gap in executive leadership searches, direct-hire nonprofit recruiting, interim leadership placement, and temporary professional staffing.

We are proud to be part of the Forbes lists of the Best Recruitment Firms and the Best Executive Search Firms in America. Additionally, Scion has been recognized as a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing firm as well as a top recruitment firm by The Business Times. Additional information about our firm and our practices can be found online. Scion Nonprofit Staffing is an equal opportunity employer and service provider and does not discriminate based on race, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, sexual orientation, disability, political affiliation, or any other protected class. We are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and are dedicated to making employment decisions based on merit and value, for ourselves, our client companies, and the candidates we represent.

For opportunities located in a region that has enacted fair chance, arrest, or conviction-based employment ordinances, Scion Nonprofit Staffing proactively follows the enacted guidance and considers for employment all qualified applications with arrest and conviction records. We engage in socially conscious business practices and believe that diverse, equitable, inclusive, and non-biased talent and recruitment processes are foundational to the success of Scion as well as every client organization with whom we partner.