Controller

This role is with a direct client of Aprio Talent Solutions.

Role Title: Controller

Location: El Cerrito, CA (Bay Area) - REMOTE first but will meet in-person monthly.

****MUST be within the general Bay Area to be able to meet in-person approximately 1-2 times per month****

Employment Type: Full-Time / Permanent

Client Industry: Nonprofit

Compensation: $140k - $170k (No bonus)

Summary:

Our client is a well-established $100M mission-driven nonprofit seeking a Controller to lead accounting operations, financial reporting, and internal controls. Reporting to the CFO, this role owns the close, the annual audit, and compliance across a complex, multi-funder environment that includes government, federal, state, and school-district contracts. Ideal candidates bring senior nonprofit accounting leadership at scale, and the ability to strengthen processes while developing a team.

Why It's Worth Your Time

• Lead the full accounting function for a large mission-driven nonprofit and serve as the organization's senior accounting authority.
• Report directly to the CFO with visibility to executive leadership and the board.
• Oversee a team of four managers spanning general ledger, program accounting, and payroll.
• Drive process, systems, and internal-control improvements across a complex, multi-funder environment.
• Join a decades-established organization with broad, high-impact Bay Area programming.
• Hybrid schedule with only occasional in-person presence required.

What You'll Own

• Oversee daily accounting operations, ensuring accurate, compliant, and timely reporting to leadership, the board, and funding partners.
• Prepare and present financial statements, budgets, variance analyses, cash-flow reports, and forecasts.
• Lead annual audits, tax preparation, and monthly and annual financial reporting.
• Ensure GAAP, IRS 501(c)(3), and nonprofit compliance through strong internal controls.
• Manage grant and contract accounting across government, federal, state, and school-district funding.
• Maintain and optimize financial policies, systems, and reporting dashboards.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing accounting team.
• Advise non-financial staff on financial processes and partner across departments.

Must-Haves

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 7 years of progressive nonprofit accounting experience, including 3 years in a supervisory or senior leadership role.
• Proven experience managing accounting at a $100M organizational budget scale.
• Deep GAAP and nonprofit accounting compliance expertise, including IRS 501(c)(3) and Form 990.
• Experience managing external nonprofit audits.
• Hands-on experience with government, federal, state, and school-district contract and grant accounting.
• Hands-on Workday Financial Management experience.

Nice to Have

• CPA.
• Master's degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• ERP system implementation experience.
• Track record of process improvement and system optimization in complex funding environments.