What are the responsibilities and job description for the Assistant Controller - Institutional Advancement position at Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago?
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago partners with mission-driven people and organizations across Cook and Lake counties to witness a message of mercy and hope to a world in need by improving lives and nourishing spirits; strengthening and empowering people, families, and communities; and committing to being present to our times through the eyes of faith.
Role Overview
The Assistant Controller - Institutuional Advancement leads contribution accounting, recognition, reporting, and compliance by ensuring accurate valuation and tracking of cash and noncash gifts, maintaining strong internal controls, supporting audits and regulatory requirements, developing analytics and forecasting tools, and partnering across Institutional Advancement, Legal, and Finance to provide strategic insights and ensure alignment with donor agreements and organizational goals.
Job Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain contribution recognition policies in compliance with ASC 606 and ASC 958; ensure accurate valuation of cash and noncash contributions; manage schedules of restricted gifts and pledges; recommend monthly releases; calculate NPV for long-term receivables; reconcile systems monthly; and provide release/pledge data to inform budgets and forecasts. Maintain strong internal controls and documentation to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Drive continuous improvement in contribution tracking and reporting processes. Develop dashboards and analytical tools to provide actionable insights, enhance forecasting accuracy, and identify risks such as delayed milestones. Contribute to strategic initiatives by recommending process enhancements and leveraging technology to streamline reporting.
- Supports external reporting and disclosure requirements, ensuring transparency and compliance with donor and regulatory expectations. Prepare audit packages and collaborate with external auditors during reviews, providing clear documentation of contribution and recognition decisions. Ensures that pledges and restricted contributions
are managed in accordance with donor agreements, proactively communicating with finance leadership about overdue pledges or compliance risks. - Works closely with Institutional Advancement to validate milestones and utilization of contributions, partners with legal to review agreement terms, and coordinates with finance leadership to align recognition timing with organizational goals. Prepare weekly contribution reports for senior executives, including the CEO, CFO, and VPs, and deliver monthly/quarterly dashboards for project-level contribution tracking.
PLEASE NOTE: Essential functions include all other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
- Kneel and move from sitting, bending, kneeling, or standing multiple times a day
- Climb up and down up to 3 flights of stairs at a time
- Lift, push, and pull up to 25 lbs
Other Requirements: Comply with program and/or requirements related to:
- Background check
Education and Experience Requirements:
Minimum
- Bachelor's Degree (BA/BS) in a related field and 5 years of relevant experience
- Experience with financial systems and reporting
Preferred
- Master's degree (MA/MS) in a related field and 5 years of relevant experience
- Experience with project management
Certifications and Licensure
- Minimum: CPA Candidate
- Preferred: CPA or CMA