Strategic Financial Controller — Foundation FP&A Lead

Vaco by Highspring; Hartford (CT); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring, Hartford-based foundation, seeks a Financial Controller to steward financial operations and serve as a strategic partner to executives. The role combines hands-on accounting with business-facing FP&A, budgeting, and investment accounting, driving data-driven decisions across departments.

You will oversee grants payable, payroll, internal controls, and financial reporting, while collaborating with leadership to optimize processes and strengthen financial systems.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance.
• 5+ years progressive accounting/finance experience including GL, close, financial reporting, and FP&A.
• 3+ years nonprofit or private foundation experience.
• Strong financial modeling and advanced Excel skills to build scenarios.
• Experience with grant management, payroll, and HRIS systems.
• Experience with audits, internal controls, tax compliance, and financial reporting.
• Strong understanding of investment accounting/reconciliation.
• Experience with QuickBooks Online or comparable systems.
• Excellent communication skills and ability to translate financial information into insights.

Responsibilities

• Partner with CFO/VP of Operations and President/CEO on financial strategy and planning.
• Lead FP&A activities including modeling, scenarios, cash flow, and budgets.
• Oversee accounting, financial reporting, audits, tax, payroll, grants payable, and internal controls.
• Manage monthly investment accounting and reconciliations with OCIO.
• Present concise financial updates to the Board of Directors quarterly.
• Collaborate with program leadership to analyze budgets, variances, and grant spending.
• Identify opportunities to improve processes, systems, efficiency, and controls.

Skills

Financial modeling

Advanced Excel

Grant management

Payroll

HRIS systems

Audits

Internal controls

Tax compliance

Investment accounting

QuickBooks Online

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Accounting/Finance

Tools

QuickBooks Online

Job description

Vaco by Highspring, Hartford-based foundation, seeks a Financial Controller to steward financial operations and serve as a strategic partner to executives. The role combines hands-on accounting with business-facing FP&A, budgeting, and investment accounting, driving data-driven decisions across departments.

You will oversee grants payable, payroll, internal controls, and financial reporting, while collaborating with leadership to optimize processes and strengthen financial systems.