ABOUT PEOPLE’S ACTION/INSTITUTE

People’s Action Institute (501c3), and sister organization People’s Action (501c4), are national progressive organizations supporting the mobilization and leadership of the grassroots in support of an agenda that reflects people over profits. People’s Action/Institute builds the power of poor and working people in rural, suburban, and urban areas to win change through issue campaigns and elections. 

With offices in Washington, DC, and Chicago, IL, and remote staff across the country, we support and advance state-based and national fights for progressive policies on the environment, decarceration, health care, economic security, housing, education, and more. Our member organizations, nearly 40 organizations across 30 states, improve lives by running local- and state-level issue and electoral campaigns, leading statewide tables, and collectively coming together to change national policy and politics.

People’s Action/ Institute has a track record of leadership in coordinating field mobilization and advocacy in advancing an array of issues at the local, state, and federal levels. Our member organizations have won important victories at the national, state, and local levels, including health insurance for millions and the reversal of health care laws that discriminate based on citizenship, stopping Wall Street banks from selling predatory payday loans to their customers, and historic legislation like the Community Reinvestment Act to victory and the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

For more information on PAI, please visit https://peoplesaction.org/

The Opportunity

This is an outstanding opportunity for a proactive, hands-on finance manager who brings a successful track record of creative problem-solving and strengthening infrastructure to work in a mission-driven organization.

Overview of the Position

The Controller will lead all day-to-day accounting operations of a multi-entity enterprise with an aggregate budget activity of approximately $15 - $20 Million. They will work closely with the CFO to analyze existing processes and systems while also ensuring that appropriate internal controls are in place and maintained, all general ledger accounts are reconciled, audits are performed and that accurate financial statements are produced in a timely manner.

As Controller, your typical day will include (but isn’t limited to): 

Finance and Accounting Leadership 

• Design and implement enhanced workflows and systems to support the efficiency and accuracy of accounting data.
• Support the CFO in engaging the board’s audit and finance committees around issues and trends in financial operating models and delivery
• Oversee all financial, project/program, and grants accounting; ensure that expenditures are consistently aligned with grant and program budgets throughout the grant/fund period; collaborate with the Development Director and Director of Budget and Grants Administration in all grant financial reporting
• Oversee all ledgers/accounts and remain current on all accounting, reporting, and auditing standards that are relevant to the organization and ensure the department’s knowledge of relevant standards and regulations

Accounting Systems Management

• Support the ongoing implementation and management of a best-in-class ERP system (Sage Intaact). 
• Consistently analyze financial data and present financial reports in an accurate and timely manner and keep the CFO abreast of the organization's financial status
• Assist the Director of Budgeting and Grants Administration in the annual budgeting and planning process; administer and review all financial plans and compare to actual results with a view to identify, explain, and correct variances as appropriate
• Manage and track the performance of invested assets in keeping with policies and investment guidelines.
• Optimize the handling of banking relationships and initiate appropriate strategies to enhance cash positions.

Team Leadership

• Provide strong leadership, supervision, and guidance to the Accounting Department staff members, leading the department to exhibit a strong data-fluent culture
• Develop and support Accounting Department staff development, cross-team collaboration, and skills-building.
• Build strong relationships with staff across the organization with a particular emphasis on a strong customer service and issue resolution approach.

The ideal Controller should have the following experience and qualifications: 

• Strong commitment to racial, gender, and economic justice and their intersections, both inside and outside the organization
• Ability to work with diverse people and organizations
• Prior nonprofit finance and accounting experience with a successful track record in a senior financial management role for at least 7 years is essential
• Demonstrated ability to build strong relationships grounded in trust and shared self-interest
• Demonstrated ability to lead and move people into action with excellent communication skills (written, active listening, and oral)

• Demonstrable experience in creating and driving the analytic framework for strategically planning and managing organizational change; ability to anticipate the infrastructure and systems needs in a complex, national, multi-site nonprofit
• Recognized success in developing and monitoring systems to manage both internal operations and programmatic work that involve high levels of collaboration, particularly with program directors and other senior leadership
• An accessible, visible, and flexible management style that inspires trust and confidence in staff to work hard and well together
• Keen analytic, organization, and problem-solving skills that support and enable sound decision-making in a complex organization; demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding investment in people and systems
• Ability to translate complex financial concepts to individuals at all levels including finance and non-finance managers
• Technology savvy with the ability to manage data for financial reporting quickly and effectively
• Personal qualities of integrity and credibility, and a commitment to the mission of People’s Action Institute.
• CPA or CPA eligible preferred

Compensation and Benefits:

Status: Full-time, Exempt, benefits-eligible

Union Position: No

Salary Range: Level G - $115,000 - $148,000, commensurate with experience 

Location & Travel: Can be based in our Chicago, IL or Washington, D.C. office but remote locations may be considered anywhere within the continental United States. Supervision and most communication will be over video conference. 

Reports to: Chief Financial Officer

Supervises: Senior Accountant in Finance

Travel Requirements: The manager needs to be able to travel within the U.S. on an as-needed basis.

Benefits include: Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, Vision Insurance, Medical, and Dependent Care Flex Spending Account, 401(k) plan, Long-Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, 9 paid holidays plus the last two weeks of the year that include Christmas Eve/Christmas Day as well as, New Year’s Eve/New Year’s Day, and you accrue two weeks of vacation your first year of employment.

Our Commitment to Equitable Compensation:

We believe in fair compensation for your work - no matter where you live. Our salary scale is comparable to salaries you would find in Chicago, IL, where our headquarters is based. It is based on your months/years of work experience. While we do not determine education as a factor in whether we hire someone to work for People’s Action Institute, we do factor in any relevant higher education experience that you have. To further counter pay inequities and inequality on the team, we have a non-negotiable compensation practice and provide opportunities for advancement for full-time employees based on performance evaluation. Your starting pay reflects where you sit within our salary scale and is based on the information that you provide us on your resume. PAI continues to monitor wages through triennial compensation analysis to ensure that we continue to offer our prospective and current employees fair wages.

Commitment to Disability, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

People’s Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer; womxn, people of color, persons with disabilities, and LGBTQIA people are strongly encouraged to apply.

Vaccination Transparency

Due to travel requirements and in-person interactions during employment, candidates will be required to show proof of being fully vaccinated (Two Doses of either Moderna or Pfizer Vaccines or One Dose of J&J as well as all appropriate booster doses) against COVID-19 before commencing employment. Reasonable accommodations will be considered on a case-by-case basis for exemptions to this requirement in accordance with applicable law.

Close date: October 10, 2022 

No phone calls, please