Controller

Food Lifeline

• $110K — $140K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
Less than 5 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 5-7 years of nonprofit accounting experience, particularly with federal grants and U.S. GAAP.
  • Strong knowledge of Uniform Guidance and Single Audit requirements.
  • Proven ability to develop and coach a team, prioritizing and managing their workflow effectively.
  • Experience improving financial systems and processes for efficiency and clarity.
  • Ability to build cross-departmental relationships and communicate complex financial concepts simply.

Responsibilities

  • Lead and manage the monthly and annual financial close processes.
  • Oversee and ensure compliance for payroll, accounts payable, and accounts receivable operations.
  • Conduct annual financial audits and manage audit readiness for federal grants.
  • Improve internal controls and accounting processes for better organizational effectiveness.
  • Support other departments with complex accounting queries and provide solutions.

Benefits

  • Hybrid work environment - three days a week onsite.
  • Opportunity to strengthen the financial infrastructure of a mission-driven nonprofit.
  • Engagement with a collaborative leadership team, including direct reporting to the CFO.
  • Potential for professional growth in a dynamic and complex work setting.
Full Job Description
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Work Structure: Hybrid - three days per week onsite

As Controller, you'll lead and strengthen Food Lifeline's accounting operations and ensure the integrity, accuracy, and effectiveness of our financial systems. Reporting to the CFO, this is an opportunity to play a critical role in how financial information is managed, communicated, and used across the organization. You'll lead the monthly and annual close, annual financial audit and Single Audit, while overseeing payroll, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and grants accounting and reporting.

This is a highly collaborative leadership role for someone who enjoys both technical accounting and organizational problem-solving. One day you might be leading audit preparation, reviewing financial statements, or ensuring federal grant requirements are met. The next, you might be improving internal controls, strengthening close processes, supporting a department with a complex accounting question, or helping the accounting team make systems and processes more effective.

Success in this role isn't measured simply by whether the books close on time. It's measured by whether Food Lifeline has reliable financial information, strong internal controls, audit-ready records, compliant grant accounting, and accounting processes that help teams across the organization do their work effectively.

You might be a great fit if you:
• Enjoy bringing structure, accuracy, and clarity to complex financial operations.
• See accounting as a tool for strengthening organizational effectiveness, accountability, and decision-making.
• Naturally notice when financial processes, systems, or controls could be stronger - and enjoy improving them.
• Are equally comfortable diving into the details of a reconciliation or audit schedule and stepping back to improve the systems and processes behind the work.
• Build trusted relationships across departments and can explain complex accounting matters clearly to people with different levels of financial expertise.
• Enjoy leading, coaching, and developing a team while establishing clear priorities, expectations, and accountability.
• Bring strong nonprofit accounting experience, including federal grants, Uniform Guidance, Single Audit requirements, internal controls, fund accounting, donor restrictions, and U.S. GAAP.
• Thrive in an environment where the work is complex, priorities shift, and sound judgment and attention to detail matter.

This is an opportunity to play a critical role in strengthening Food Lifeline's financial infrastructure while working closely with the CFO and leaders across the organization. You'll have the opportunity to improve accounting systems and processes, support compliance and audit readiness, develop the accounting team, and ensure financial information is accurate, timely, and useful to the organization. This could be a great next step for an experienced nonprofit accounting leader who is ready to take on broad responsibility and help strengthen the financial foundation that supports Food Lifeline's mission and impact.

Compensation
Status: Full-Time, Exempt
Work Structure: Hybrid - three days per week onsite


The full salary range for this position is $110,000 to $140,000 annually. Starting salary will be determined based on relevant experience, skills, qualifications, and internal equity. Most new hires should expect to start in the middle portion of the range, with opportunities for compensation growth as they gain experience and proficiency in the role.

Ready to Join Food Lifeline?

Please review the full job description and apply electronically. Complete applications should include a resume and cover letter. This position will remain open until filled.

Food Lifeline is committed to creating a welcoming, inclusive, and equitable workplace where people of all backgrounds, identities, experiences, and perspectives have the opportunity to contribute, grow, and thrive. We strongly encourage candidates with lived experience related to food insecurity, poverty, or the communities we serve to apply.

Join us in working toward a future where everyone has access to the food they need to thrive.

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