Controller, Finance & Banking, Financial Manager

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Start Date: ASAP

Title: Controller

Department: Finance

Reports to: Chief Financial and Operating Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Schedule: Full-time; 35 hours / 5 days a week

The Jewish Museum serves people of all religious, cultural, and ethnic backgrounds through world-class exhibitions ranging from ancient to contemporary. Founded in 1904 and located on New York City's Museum Mile, the Jewish Museum aspires to be the global leader at the center of Jewish culture.

The Museum maintains a unique collection of nearly 30,000 works of art, ceremonial objects, and media reflecting the global Jewish experience over more than 4,000 years. The Museum's thought-provoking, innovative, and intellectually stimulating exhibitions and education programs serve a wide range of audiences, including families, children and teens, students, educators, and visitors with disabilities. As an identity-based institution, the Museum plays an important role among cultural institutions, challenging all forms of bigotry and discrimination and promoting understanding among wide audiences and especially in these challenging times.

The Jewish Museum invites applicants of all backgrounds to consider joining the Museum in its work.

The Jewish Museum is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. Integrity, collegiality, and excellence are central to the Museum's values. These values, along with an institution-wide commitment to Diversity, Equity, Access & Inclusion (DEAI), are embedded in the Museum's strategic plan.

The Position:

The Controller is a key role in the museum’s financial leadership team, supporting the overall financial health and integrity of the institution. Reporting to and in partnership with the Chief Financial and Operating Officer, this position will play a critical role in stabilizing and rebuilding the museum's financial infrastructure to meet the demands of the current operating vision. The Controller will be responsible for ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting, creating efficient and tech-enabled financial systems and processes, and building, leading and mentoring the finance team.

The museum’s $25 million operating budget is supported by admissions, memberships, retail, philanthropy and earnings from endowment investments. The Controller will oversee the general ledger, accounts payable, audit, and compliance. The role requires a hands‑on, detail‑oriented professional with a process‑improvement mindset, and the ability to lead through change. The candidate must be a CPA with a strong understanding of GAAP and experience with nonprofit accounting.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Oversee all day-to-day accounting operations including general ledger posting, accounts payable, bank reconciliations, cash flow reporting and projections, and monthly and quarterly closes.
• Supervise and support a finance team including an Assistant Controller, Staff Accountant, and AP Specialist.
• Partner with the Director of Financial Planning & Budgets to ensure timely and accurate reporting for all budget managers and the Board of Trustees.
• Ensure compliance with GAAP and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Prepare timely and accurate financial statements and internal reports for management, the Board, and external stakeholders.
• Manage the accounting for gifts, investments, restricted funds, and endowment spending policy, including monthly reconciliation of pledges receivable and all revenue.

Audit, Tax, and Compliance:

• Serve as the primary liaison with external auditors during the annual financial statement and 403b plan audits, preparing related statements and supporting schedules, and ensure timely completion.
• Coordinate the preparation of IRS Form 990, Form 5500 filings, and other required state and local tax filings.
• Prepare and submit monthly Sales Tax filings.
• Together with HR, oversee weekly and semi‑monthly payroll and benefits contributions, including 403b.

Process Improvement & Systems Optimization:

• Update and document accounting and financial operations workflows that ensure…