Controller; Non-profit Industry Expert

Vessel Advisors delivers financial clarity and operational certainty to growth-stage CEOs and their companies. We serve as an outsourced financial team with a focus on strategic finance, technology, and metrics. We provide a full accounting and finance team at a fraction of the cost, and we scale up or down with our clients as they do. We work primarily with dynamic, growth-stage business leaders who need to develop and implement strategic financial and operational plans.

We get to serve as trusted advisors to dynamic business leaders and equip them with the financial information they need when they need it.

The Controller position at Vessel Advisors reports directly to the VP of Operations and to client executive leadership on a fractional basis. This role is responsible for directing all accounting, financial reporting, cash management, budgeting, grant and contract compliance, tax coordination, and internal control functions across multi-entity nonprofit organizations, including direct-service providers, advocacy and education organizations, and their related affiliates and supporting entities.

We are hiring this role in anticipation of continued growth in our nonprofit client portfolio. The Controller serves as a hands‑on technical lead, overseeing credit card and invoice approval workflows, accounting system reporting and optimization, rolling cash flow projections, and coordination with outside accounting and audit firms. The ideal candidate blends deep nonprofit accounting expertise with an AI‑first mindset, orchestrating workflows through modern tools to scale client financial operations.

• AI-First Mindset:
  Possess a deep, self-driven curiosity for AI, actively integrating tools into personal and professional workflows to eliminate 80–90% of manual effort—far beyond basic text drafting or email generation.

• Hands‑on Platform
  
  Experience:
  
  Direct experience designing and deploying customized AI solutions, including Claude Artifacts, custom GPTs, tailored Projects, and specialized prompt skills.

• Agentic Management:
  Naturally approach work as an orchestrator, leveraging and managing multiple AI agents concurrently to execute complex financial and operational deliverables.

• Nonprofit expertise:
  Proven background as a Controller serving tax‑exempt organizations, managing fund accounting across restricted and unrestricted net assets, federal and private grant portfolios, donor‑designated funding, and multi‑entity or affiliate structures. Breadth across adjacent service industries, such as professional services or marketing, is a plus.

• Operational leadership breadth:
  Comfortable extending past the accounting function into operations, including process design, vendor and systems management, payroll and HR coordination, and cross‑functional leadership alongside executive directors, finance committees, and boards. Prior COO or Director of Operations exposure is a strong signal.

• Tech‑savvy and systems expertise:
  Deep proficiency with Sage Intacct (including system setups, modifications, and customized reporting), Excel, and Google Workspace. Familiarity with Quick Books Online, Blackbaud Financial Edge NXT, BILL, Ramp, Gusto or ADP payroll, Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud, Raiser’s Edge, Bloomerang, and Expensify is highly valued.

• Extreme ownership and proactive focus:
  Deeply organized, comfortable leading fractional engagements, managing tight deadlines, and operating with perfectionist standards across multi‑entity consolidations and grant reporting calendars.

• Excellent virtual communicator:
  Superior written (Slack, email) and verbal skills for high‑frequency remote client engagement, including comfort presenting to executive directors, finance…