About this role
Controller
Reports to: Director of Finance
Supervises: Senior Staff Accountant; Staff Accountant; Accounting Technician
Status: Full-time, Exempt
POSITION SUMMARY
The Controller is the operational accounting lead, responsible for the day-to-day accounting operations of the Foundation and for the accuracy, completeness, and integrity of its financial records. The Controller owns the monthly and quarterly close, reconciliations, internal control execution, fund-accounting mechanics, and audit schedules across a complex portfolio of endowed, donor-advised, scholarship, designated, field-of-interest, and agency funds totaling approximately $300 million in assets.
Reporting to the Director of Finance and directly supervising the accounting team, the Controller ensures accounting records are maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and nonprofit accounting standards (ASC 958), and that the close is complete, accurate, well-controlled, and on time.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Accounting Operations and Close
• Own and manage daily, monthly, and quarterly accounting operations, including the general ledger, accounts payable accounting, cash and investment reconciliations, payroll accounting, fixed assets, and fund accounting.
• Own the accounting close calendar, close checklist, preparer and reviewer assignments, open-item tracking, and completion of the monthly and quarterly close package.
• Review bank, custodian, and investment reconciliations; document sign-off; and resolve reconciling items, escalating material or complex matters to the Director of Finance.
• Review payroll allocation worksheets, payroll-related journal entries, accrued compensation schedules, benefit-remittance support, and payroll reconciliations, resolving discrepancies with appropriate staff.
• Prepare accurate, timely accounting records and supporting schedules that support the Director of Finance's financial statement preparation.
• Maintain accounting records in accordance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards (ASC 958).
Fund and Endowment Accounting
• Maintain accounting across all fund types, including donor-advised, endowment, scholarship, agency, designated, and field-of-interest funds.
• Monitor fund activity to ensure donor intent and applicable restrictions are properly reflected.
• Perform the annual endowment spending-policy calculations and distribution schedules across all endowed funds.
• Coordinate with Development to confirm that approved fund documentation is accurately reflected in the accounting and fund-management systems.
Internal Controls and Compliance
• Maintain and strengthen internal controls over financial reporting and cash management.
• Develop, document, and maintain accounting procedures, close checklists, reconciliation standards, and internal-control documentation.
• Perform periodic reviews of accounting-system access, user roles, and segregation-of-duties conflicts, and coordinate changes with authorized system administrators.
• Review and approve accounting work in accordance with established preparer-reviewer assignments, including contribution and deposit reconciliations, accounts payable batches, grant and scholarship payment support, credit-card reconciliations, routine journal entries, and bank and investment reconciliations.
Audit and Tax
• Manage the accounting team's execution of the audit's confirmation and support phase — schedules, reconciliations, checks, fund agreements, authorizations, and timely, accurate responses to auditor requests.
• Assist with preparation of the annual Form 990 and applicable state filings.
Team Leadership
• Directly supervise and develop the accounting staff, including workflow direction, deadline management, technical review, training, and performance management.
• Coordinate work assignments and deadlines tied to the accounting calendar, reconciliations, close process, and audit schedules.
• Identify opportunities to improve accounting processes through automation and technology, including electronic payments (ACH).
• Serve as an accounting resource for staff across departments.
QUALIFICATIONS
• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field required; CPA license or active progress toward CPA licensure strongly preferred.
• Seven to ten years of progressively responsible accounting experience.
• Minimum of three to five years in a supervisory or management role.
• Experience in nonprofit accounting, fund accounting, endowment accounting, investment accounting, or another complex multi-fund or multi-entity accounting environment.
• Experience within a community foundation, private foundation, healthcare nonprofit, university foundation, or financial institution preferred.
• Familiarity with fund accounting software and investment reporting systems.
• Knowledge of and commitment to Alaska, its communities, and the mission of ACF.
CORE COMPETENCIES
• Operational accounting leadership and close management.
• Technical accuracy and attention to detail.
• Internal controls and compliance discipline.
• Fund and endowment accounting expertise.
• Team leadership, coaching, and development.
• Systems and process improvement.
• Integrity, ethical judgment, and mission alignment.
WORK ENVIRONMENT AND ACCESSIBILITY
We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace. The physical, sensory, and environmental requirements described here represent the general nature of the role and are not intended to exclude individuals who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
This role may involve a combination of desk-based and active work in a professional office or field environment. The position requires the ability to effectively engage in communication, operate standard office technology or job-related equipment, and perform the core responsibilities of the role.
Reasonable accommodation will be provided in accordance with applicable laws to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. DOE