Description

Position Summary:

The Controller is responsible for the essential financial, accounting, and grants management functions of the agency, including regulatory compliance. Acts as the right hand of the CFO.

About the Organization

Legal Aid Society of San Diego (LASSD), the largest poverty law firm serving San Diego County since 1953, strengthens our communities by redressing our clients’ legal problems, empowering our clients to access and effectively participate within the legal, governmental, and social systems and encouraging self-empowerment in the fight against poverty and injustice. LASSD continues to be a proud, committed, and compassionate group of people dedicated to providing equal access to justice for San Diegans through aggressive, quality legal services. #justicebeginshere

Responsibilities and Duties:

• Oversees day-to-day accounting and finance department operations for the organization, developing and maintaining a high level of accurate and transparent financial information.

• Responsible for development and implementation of internal controls, recordkeeping systems, and accounting policies, procedures and forms that are compliant and aligned with financial, audit and grant requirements, that enhance the workflow and minimize risk.

• Manages, trains and supervises finance and accounting department associated staff.

• Manages the processing of all accounting transactions, including accounts payable and receivable, payroll, cash receipts, client trust transactions.

• Responsible for all journals: Cash Receipts, Cash Disbursements, and General Ledger.

• Responsible for accurate and timely financial reporting and accounting.

• Prepares monthly, quarterly and annual financial reports, income statements, balance sheets, forecasts, etc. for the CFO, Executive Director, and Board of Directors.

• Maintains chart of accounts and general ledger, manages cash flow, compiles financial statements.

• Stays up to date and ensures compliance with local, state, and federal government accounting and reporting, as well as GAAP and internal accounting procedures.

• Maintains complete and accurate records of agency finances and financial transactions.

• Balances agency’s books and monitors the reconciliation of bank accounts and petty cash.

• Works with the Chief Financial Officer and external auditors to ensure timely audits and annual tax filings.

• Maintains readiness and preparation for annual audit as well as monitoring and site visits.

• Supports Chief Financial Officer with new business analysis and special projects.

• Provides data for analysis of measurable success and progress against key performance indicators and for strategic decision-making.

• Works closely with CFO to ensure agency’s efficient operation, growth, and risk management.

• Assist CFO in development and monitoring of agency annual budget.

• Assist CFO in updating and implementing agency’s accounting manual.

• In conjunction with the CFO and Executive Management, develops and monitors the preparation of contract grants, proposed budgets, and budget modifications.

• Monitors grant budgets and works with management to ensure funds are timely spent according to grant requirements.

• Prepare and monitor the preparation of all reimbursement requests and other necessary contractual fiscal reporting requirements.

• Supervises all data entry.

• Signs checks, makes bank deposits.

• Oversees timely and accurate inventory of all office locations.

• Checks time sheets, salary rate changes and quarterly state and federal tax forms for accuracy and necessary approvals.

• Prepare contractual statistical reports.

• Ensures agency insurance coverage is complete and up to date.

• Other duties as assigned by the CFO.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Must have a B.A. in Accounting and a minimum of 7 years’ business experience in government or non-profit accounting as a Controller/Comptroller, Financial Director, or equivalent position managing finance departments.

• Accounting experience in a nonprofit legal service provider.

• Advanced knowledge of accounting software and financial analysis.

• Working knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

• Experience managing finances for non-profit organizations, preferably non-profit legal services firms.

• Exemplary organizational budgeting and financial management skills.

• Proficiency in MS Word, Excel, Teams.

• Strong management and supervisory skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Exemplary organizational and time management skills.

• Attention to detail.

• Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team.

• Reliable transportation.

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• MBA and/or CPA preferred.

• Familiarity with Legal Services Corporation (LSC), IOLTA, HUD and CDBG grant requirements, restrictions, billing and financial reporting.

• Proficiency with MIP accounting software.

• Proficiency with case management systems and human resources modules for payroll purposes.

• Demonstrated commitment to serving low-income people.

• Ability to work successfully with people from diverse backgrounds.

Salary and Benefits:

The Controller position is an exempt, salaried position with an annual salary range of $88,000-132,000, and a starting salary of $110,000. In addition, there is a bilingual pay increase of 2% for passing an oral test and 2% for passing a written test for threshold languages other than English. LASSD offers a generous benefits package, a 35-hour workweek, paid vacation leave and sick leave and 100% employer-paid medical premium, 50% employer-paid premium for dependents under LASSD health plan, as well as dental, vision, and life benefits. Staff also have the option to participate in a 403(b)-retirement plan and dependent and health flex savings accounts (FSA).

LASSD has its own law school loan repayment program that will add to an attorney’s compensation 50% of the attorney’s monthly payment on their qualifying law school loans, up to $500 per month. LASSD is also an eligible nonprofit employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program.

LASSD is an equal opportunity employer, we hire without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed (including religious dress and grooming practices), national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition (including cancer and genetic characteristics), genetic information, marital status, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age (40 years and over), sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law.

 Hybrid Work Environment:

Legal Aid Society of San Diego (“LASSD”) has adopted a hybrid work environment in which most staff are required to work in the office part of the week and permitted to work remotely for the remainder of the week, provided their job duties allow. All employees are issued LASSD computers and provided with appropriate supplies to perform their work. LASSD has implemented and continues to explore additional technologies to make our hybrid working environment as efficient and connected as possible. All employees must be available to travel to LASSD offices and service locations throughout San Diego County as needed and in compliance with public health advisories. Applicants must reside in or near San Diego County or plan to relocate in or near the County prior to their start date and must be able to commute to the physical Legal Aid Society of San Diego office locations or service delivery locations within San Diego County. LASSD’s normal business hours are 9am-5pm, but we are open to providing flexible work schedules to the extent feasible for the position. LASSD reserves the right to change these policies at any time.

Diversity and Inclusion:

It is vitally important to LASSD that we represent the community that we serve. LASSD is a signatory to the San Diego County Bar Association’s Diversity Pledge. We pledge to promote diversity and inclusion through hiring and retention, promotion and leadership, engagement of outside counsel, and participation in legal community diversity initiatives. We strongly encourage applicants of diverse backgrounds to apply.

Legal Aid Society of San Diego is an equal opportunity employer.