Controller, Accounting, Financial Compliance

Overview

Controller

Founded in 1997, Think Together partners with schools to change the odds for kids by providing award-winning programs during and outside the school day. We’re one of California’s largest nonprofits working in school districts from San Diego to San Francisco. Whether you’re interested in early learning, elementary, middle or high school, you can invest in your community by working at a local school or working within our home office providing support!

JOB SUMMARY:

The Controller is a key financial leader, responsible for managing core accounting operations, ensuring compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and regulatory requirements, and driving process improvements. This role oversees accounts payable and receivable, procurement, payroll integration, tax filings, grant & fund accounting, Single Audit readiness, and internal controls. This role is instrumental in designing, implementing, and continuously improving the monthly and annual close process to ensure accuracy, efficiency, and timeliness.

The Controller leads the accounting team, coordinates audits, and provides actionable insights to support organizational performance and long‑term sustainability.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• • • Ensure the integrity, accuracy, completeness, and timeliness of the general ledger and financial statements, including the chart of accounts, accounting policies, significant and complex transactions, journal entries, account reconciliations, and balance‑sheet substantiation.
    • Design, implement, and continuously improve a disciplined monthly and annual close process, including ownership of close calendars, accountability structures, review checkpoints, escalation procedures, and quality controls.
    • Oversee revenue recognition, contract accounting, billing, and accounts receivable controls. Ensure district contracts, grants, attendance or service‑delivery data, invoices, contract assets, deferred revenue, and receivables are complete, accurate, and reconciled. Establish controls to identify unbilled services, revenue leakage, billing disputes, and collection risks.
    • Oversee accounting controls and reporting processes that support compliance with Expanded Learning fiscal requirements.
    • Ensure robust internal controls and compliance across all financial activities. Maintain segregation of duties and identify and mitigate financial and operational risks.
    • Maintain and update departmental procedures documentation regularly.
    • Lead annual financial statement audits and the Single Audit in coordination with external CPA firms. Oversee other required financial reviews, including accounts receivable and workers’ compensation audits, and coordinate the timely resolution of audit findings.
    • Ensure nonprofit‑specific GAAP compliance (ASC 958) and consistency across entities, programs, and funding sources.
    • Review financial results critically through fluctuation and variance analysis, investigating unexpected movements, unusual transactions, missing activity, and other anomalies to ensure accuracy and completeness prior to reporting.
    • Oversee accounts payable and accounts receivable processes, cash application, procurement oversight, and fixed‑asset accounting, implementing effective monitoring, approval, coding, capitalization, and reconciliation procedures.
    • Oversee cash accounting and treasury operations, including bank reconciliations, bank‑account administration, payment controls, authorized signers, debt and investment accounting, and support for short‑term liquidity forecasting. Partner with the CFO on banking relationships, capital structure, and liquidity strategy.
    • Oversee payroll postings to the general ledger and the reconciliation of payroll and benefits accounts.
    • Oversee the accurate and timely preparation and filing of Form 990 and other required federal, state, local, sales, property, and informational tax filings, in coordination with internal and external tax resources.
    • Partner closely with FP&A and operational leaders to reconcile actual results to forecasts, explain key drivers of variances, improve budget accuracy, and support organization‑wide decision‑making.
    • Lead, coach,…