Part-Time Controller — Nonprofit Finance & Compliance

The Big Wave Project; Half Moon Bay, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 68,000 - 88,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

On-site in Half Moon Bay

Job summary

Big Wave Group, a Half Moon Bay nonprofit, seeks an experienced, detail-oriented Part-Time Controller to coordinate accounting and financial operations. The Controller will supervise Jitasa, integrate Buildium data into the general ledger, and support budgeting, reporting, internal controls, compliance, and analysis.

This hands-on role partners with the Executive Director, the board treasurer, auditors, and accountants to translate strategic direction into reliable processes.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, business, or a related field required; CPA or equivalent experience preferred.
• At least five years of progressive accounting or finance experience, preferably nonprofit accounting, outsourced accounting oversight, and board reporting.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit and fund accounting, restricted funds, financial statement preparation, budgeting, cash-flow management, and internal controls.
• Demonstrated ability to review and challenge third-party bookkeeping work, manage a disciplined month-end close, and coordinate effectively across staff, vendors, and advisors.
• Experience preparing materials for a board or finance committee and translating financial information into concise, decision-useful insights for non-financial audiences.
• Experience with property-management or rent-accounting processes is strongly preferred; proficiency with QuickBooks Online is highly desirable.
• Proficiency with cloud-based accounting, expense, payroll, banking, and reporting systems; experience with Jitasa or another outsourced nonprofit accounting provider is helpful.
• High attention to detail, sound judgment, discretion, responsiveness, and a commitment to accuracy, accountability, and Big Wave’s mission.
• Ability to work independently in a part-time capacity while maintaining strong working relationships with staff, the board treasurer, finance committee members, and external partners.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Big Wave’s primary day-to-day liaison with Jitasa, establish clear deliverables and close calendars, provide requested information, review work product, resolve questions, and monitor service quality.
• Coordinate the monthly close process and review account reconciliations, journal entries, accruals, allocations, and financial results prepared by Jitasa; initiate or approve corrections as appropriate.
• Prepare or coordinate timely monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, management reports, dashboards, and supporting schedules for the Executive Director, board treasurer, Board of Directors, and finance committee.
• Partner with the board treasurer, who sets strategic financial direction, to implement financial priorities and provide analysis, forecasts, and decision support.
• Administer the financial workflow between Buildium and the general ledger, including rent receipts, security deposits, tenant balances, fees, and related cash activity; perform or review reconciliations and investigate exceptions.
• Coordinate accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll-related accounting, banking activity, and general ledger integrity across staff, Jitasa, QuickBooks Online (QBO), Buildium, BILL.com, Gusto, Bloomerang and other systems and service providers.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, cash-flow planning, variance analysis, and scenario modeling.
• Monitor restricted and unrestricted funds, grants, donations, program revenue, rental activity, and related expenses to support accurate classification and compliance with donor or contractual requirements. Support the preparation of grant applications.
• Maintain and improve internal controls, accounting policies, approval workflows, documentation, and segregation of duties appropriate for a growing nonprofit with outsourced bookkeeping.
• Coordinate with auditors and tax preparers for the annual audit, Form 990, and other required filings, including preparation of schedules and timely resolution of requests.
• Prepare or coordinate other tax and information returns such as California sales tax, county property tax, government survey and other returns.
• Provide clear explanations of financial results, risks, and trends to non-financial stakeholders and identify opportunities to strengthen systems, controls, reporting, and transparency.

Skills

Accounting experience

Nonprofit accounting

Board reporting

GAAP knowledge

Internal controls

Education

Bachelor's degree in accounting/finance

CPA preferred

Tools

QuickBooks Online

Buildium

Jitasa

BILL.com

Gusto

Bloomerang

Job description

Big Wave Group, a Half Moon Bay nonprofit, seeks an experienced, detail-oriented Part-Time Controller to coordinate accounting and financial operations. The Controller will supervise Jitasa, integrate Buildium data into the general ledger, and support budgeting, reporting, internal controls, compliance, and analysis.

This hands-on role partners with the Executive Director, the board treasurer, auditors, and accountants to translate strategic direction into reliable processes.