Vice President, Finance & Controller

Apply for the Vice President Finance and Controller position at the Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) in New York, NY. Hybrid work arrangement – 2 days in office required.

The Vice President Finance and Controller provides strategic and operational leadership for CEO’s financial management, ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of all accounting and reporting functions. As the organization’s chief accounting authority, the Controller develops and maintains best‑practice accounting policies, internal controls, and financial processes aligned with GAAP and all regulatory requirements. They oversee general ledger management, financial reporting, audits, tax filings, and support budgeting and forecasting activities.

The Vice President, Finance and Controller leads the Accounting team, ensuring effective workload distribution, quality, and professional development. In partnership with the CFO, they streamline systems, strengthen internal controls, and leverage technology to enhance organizational efficiency and financial insight. We strongly encourage individuals who have lived experience of incarceration or involvement in the justice system to apply.

The Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO) provides employment services to people recently released from incarceration. Across the United States, 8,000–9,000 people participate in CEO each year, transitioning to employment that supports themselves, their families, and their communities. What began as a demonstration project of the Vera Institute of Justice in the 1970s has grown into the leading reentry employment organization in the country.

• You have a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting or Finance required;
  Master’s degree and/or CPA strongly preferred.
• You have a minimum 10+ years progressive accounting experience, ideally in a nonprofit environment.
• You have a minimum 8+ years leadership experience with demonstrated success leading a finance or accounting department to outcomes.
• You have deep knowledge of fund accounting, GAAP reporting, CFR
  200, OMB cost principles, and regulatory requirements.
• You have proficiency with accounting and payroll systems, as well as advanced Excel capabilities.
• You are a strategic thinker who aligns financial operations with organizational priorities.
• You have high accountability; demonstrates ownership of outcomes and decisions.
• You have exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy and documentation.
• You have customer‑ and service‑oriented approach to supporting departments and programs.
• You have strong problem‑solving capabilities with sound judgment in complex situations.
• You are a skilled relationship builder with the ability to influence across all levels of the organization.
• You are resilient and effective under pressure; adapts quickly to changing conditions.
• You are results‑oriented with strong time management, data literacy, communication, and teamwork.
• You have a continuous improvement mindset; challenges the status quo and drives enhancements to systems and processes.
• You are a confident decision‑maker able to weigh risks, act with urgency, and adapt to uncertainty.
• You are highly organized with strong mastery of systems, workflows, and financial compliance requirements.

• Assess and optimize financial systems, processes, and internal controls to ensure efficiency, data integrity, and strong risk management. Make recommendations for improvement to achieve greater efficiencies.
• Maintain and update the chart of accounts to reflect organizational growth, evolving activities, and compliance needs.
• Oversee documentation, monitoring, and maintenance of internal controls to safeguard assets and ensure the reliability of financial statements.
• Lead negotiations and reporting related to the organization’s indirect rates, banking and treasury services, financial systems pricing, and audit inquiries.
• Interpret regulatory and compliance standards and ensure consistent application across the finance function.

• Oversee all accounting activities, including grant…