Job openings/Controller

 YOU ARE ...

.. a focused individual who thrives in a busy changing environment where there are multiple tasks at hand at any given moment. You consistently manage and meet multiple deadlines and take pride in delivering high-quality accurate results. You can comfortably navigate between detail orientation and big picture focus. You enjoy leading a small team and are committed to developing staff to their potential. You are able to foster cooperation among various stakeholders. You consider the culture of a workplace to be as important as the work you do.

JOB TITLE

Controller [CLOSED]

REPORTS TO

Chief Financial and Operating Officer

JOB PURPOSE/JOB SUMMARY

This position will be a strategic partner to the Chief Financial and Operating Officer (CFOO) in the areas of finance and accounting. The Controller will be responsible for oversight of all finance, accounting, and reporting activities. The Controller will lead all day-to-day finance operations and supervise a team of 1 to 3 staff members, including functional responsibility over accounting, cash management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and grants administration. The Controller will support various reporting requirements including preparing and reviewing reports for the Board and Audit Committee including the Form 990. The Controller will ensure that WMF has the systems and procedures in place to support effective program implementation and conduct flawless audits and ensure compliance with non-profit law and regulation in order to ensure continued non-profit status. The Controller will work with the team to foster a supportive and positive work environment. The Controller will work closely with program leaders and their staffs, not only to educate them regarding finance and accounting procedures, but also to explore how the Finance function can support program operations. In addition, s/he will partner with the CFOO, senior leadership, and the Office Administration /IT Support staff and Human Resources staff (HR) to enhance and better integrate Finance, Office Administration and HR functions.

RESPONSIBILITIES

DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP:
 * Demonstrate a strong awareness and understanding of how finance impacts other departments in the organization.
 * Foster cooperation among departments.
 * Lead finance communications throughout the organization.

FINANCE AND ACCOUNTING LEADERSHIP:
 * Oversee all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems ensuring compliance with appropriate GAAP standards and regulatory requirements.
 * Maintain and improve internal control and safeguards for receipt of revenue, costs, and program budgets and actual expenditures.
 * Refine and enforce financial policies and procedures.
 * Expand Finance/Accounting Reference Corner on OfficeWiki.
 * Plan and coordinate month-end close including review and accurate preparation of journal entries and reconciliation of accounts.
 * Consistently prepare and present financial reports in an accurate and timely manner; clearly communicate monthly, quarterly, mid-year and annual financial statements; monitor progress and changes and keep CFOO and other senior leaders abreast of WMF’s financial status.
 * Accurately analyze financial data including budget to actual variances.
 * Plan and coordinate all audit activity including preparation of complete set of audited financial statements with footnotes and supporting schedules; proactively identify, research, analyze and resolve all accounting and audit issues including adoption and incorporation of new pronouncements; act as primary liaison with external audit team.
 * Oversee all aspects of the Form 990 tax return including preparation of draft copy for external tax team; act as primary liaison with external tax team to revise and finalize Form 990 for filing; post Form 990 publicly including preparation and posting of Frequently Asked Questions.
 * Provide support to the CFOO and program heads with the annual budget.
 * Manage accounts receivable including preparation of invoices and following up on collections as needed.
 * Supervise accounts payable.
 * Support the CFO in engaging the board and/or board committees around issues related to finances and fiduciary responsibility.
 * Oversee all financial, project/program, and grants accounting and reporting; ensure that expenditures are consistently aligned with grant and program budgets throughout the grant/fund period.
 * Manage organizational cash flow forecasting.
 * Manage and track the performance of invested assets in keeping with policies and investment guidelines.
 * Oversee capital expenditure spending and properly record all transactions related to capital expenditures.
 * Maintain appropriate documentation and files as support for all transactions.
 * Other duties as required.

TEAM LEADERSHIP:
 * Leverage strengths of the current Finance team members; help to clarify roles and responsibilities and develop and implement training programs in order to maximize and reach optimal individual and organizational goals.
 * Provide leadership in strengthening internal communications with staff at all levels throughout the organization; create and promote a positive and supportive work environment.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience: Bachelor Degree (B.A.) from a four-year college or university; ten or more years related experience including positions in public accounting and external financial reporting. CPA license preferred.

Language and Mathematical Skills: Ability to read, analyze, and interpret accounting pronouncements, professional journals, technical procedures, and non-profit governmental and tax regulations. Must be able to accurately calculate figures and amounts for all financial statements and reports be they internal or external. Controller must use the utmost discretion in all presentations/correspondence and communication for staff, Board of Directors and Executive Director.

Candidate Characteristics: The successful candidate should:
 * Have an enthusiasm for numbers and the ability to determine the appropriate level of precision for a given task.
 * Be an experienced manager with a proven record of developing staff and leading small teams.
 * Be able to consistently adhere to deadlines, complete projects independently and manage costs and budgets.
 * Have a demonstrated ability to evaluate, analyze and prioritize.
 * Must have strong analytical skills; excellent written and verbal communication skills.
 * Be highly motivated.
 * Be able to comfortably navigate between detail orientation and big picture focus.
 * Have the ability to work in a highly collaborative, consensus-oriented environment.
 * Work well with people with a very wide diversity of demographic and cultural characteristics.
 * Be comfortable using a wide variety of communications/collaboration tools including wikis, mailing lists and IRC.

Other:
 * International experience or ability to speak multiple languages is a plus.
 * Understanding of free culture / free software /open source is a plus.