What are the responsibilities and job description for the Financial Controller position at Matrix Finance and Accounting?
Our non-profit client in the educational sector is looking to hire a Financial Controller. This is an excellent opportunity for a non-profit accounting professional at the Accounting Manager or Assistant Controller level looking to advance in their career! This is a fantastic opportunity to join a reputable educational non-profit institution with a strong brand in the Seattle area. This position manages two direct reports within the accounting department and reports directly to the non-profit CFO.
***This position requires a candidate to live locally and work Monday-Friday in-office***
Job Description:
Financial Accounting & Reporting
- Produce monthly financial statements, variance analyses, and operational dashboards for internal and external users.
- Oversee tuition management and family billing in coordination with the Admissions team and the Financial Aid committee.
- Manage financial aid modeling, tuition receivables, and enrollment-related accounting.
- Prepare and manage annual budgeting and multi-year forecasting in partnership with the CFO and department heads.
- Strengthen internal controls and implement standardized processes across the Business Office, including AP, AR, Payroll, HR, and other departmental budgets.
Operational Oversight & Staff Management
- Supervise the Staff Accountant & Payroll Specialist; review, approve, and ensure accuracy of their work.
- Oversee day-to-day accounting operations, providing guidance and coaching to the Specialist.
- Ensure segregation of duties, compliance with internal controls, and alignment of workflows to school policy and GAAP.
- Serve as first point of contact for vendor contract reviews before CFO or Head of School approval.
Strategic & Leadership Support
- Serve as CFO proxy in Finance Committee meetings, audits, and vendor meetings as needed.
- Collaborate with department heads to support financial planning, operational decision-making, and cost management.
- Identify operational inefficiencies and recommend solutions to improve accuracy, timeliness, and effectiveness.
- Provide continuity and redundancy for critical finance functions to ensure smooth operations.
Typical Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
Required:
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or related field (CPA preferred).
- Minimum of 5 years of progressive accounting or financial management experience, including oversight of accounting operations, ideally in nonprofit or school settings.
- Strong knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles, GAAP, and internal controls.
- Proven experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial statement preparation.
- Experience supervising staff and reviewing transactional accounting work.
- Excellent communication skills in the English language (fluency in additional languages a plus), including the ability to convey complex financial information clearly and effectively.
- Strong project management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- High degree of integrity, confidentiality, and ethical judgment.
Preferred:
- Independent school or nonprofit experience.
- Experience with financial aid modeling, tuition management, and enrollment-related accounting.
- Familiarity with Blackbaud Financial Edge, Rippling, Sawyer, or similar systems.
Benefits:
- Excellent medical, dental, & vision insurance coverage
- Six weeks of PTO (vacation accrual) annually
- Two weeks of paid sick leave annually
- Retirement plan with 7% employer (company) match
Salary : $120,000 - $140,000