Controller

  • National Wildlife Federation
  • Reston, VA
  • May 07, 2020
Full time Financial Nonprofit-Social Services

Job Description

Founded in 1936, the National Wildlife Federation (NWF or Federation) is America's largest and most trusted grassroots conservation organization with 52 state/territorial affiliates and more than six million members and supporters, including hunters, anglers, gardeners, birders, hikers, campers, paddlers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all stripes. The Federation's mission is to unite all Americans to ensure wildlife thrive in our rapidly changing world through programming focused on conserving wildlife, restoring habitats and waterways, expanding outdoor opportunities, connecting children with nature, and addressing the causes and consequences of climate change.

To support our mission, we seek a Controller to join our team in Reston, VA.

In this role you will develop, implement, and maintain the financial operations' infrastructure to support our financial management needs.  You will establish the appropriate recording and reporting processes and procedures required to safeguard the company's assets, and will ensure that NWF has effective internal controls and are complying with all government, state, GAAP, and other regulatory requirements. Additionally you will prepare analyses and recommendations on potential reporting and tax impact for new ventures and unrelated business income activities. You'll serve as the liaison between NWF staff and auditors, banks, investment managers, insurance broker, vendors, etc.   

Your major areas of responsibility include:

  • Assisting the CFO with the financial oversight of the department. Developing financial operation infrastructure, including systems, policies, processes and procedures, documentation, and staff communications to meet the internal management and external reporting needs for the organization. Ensuring internal controls are in place to safeguard NWF’s assets and public trust. 
  • Implementing and staying abreast of IRS, GAAP, FASB, federal, state and other regulatory requirements that affect the accounting and reporting of NWF financial activities.
  • Establishing framework and providing guidance for the Federation’s cash management/treasury functions. This includes: banking, cash flow analysis and projections, investments, insurance, credit card services and other outsourced vendors. Ensuring that investment decisions made by the NWF Board committee are executed and properly recorded and reported. 
  • Direct oversight of accounting operations, including financial reporting, treasury, purchasing and payroll, general accounting, fixed assets and financial systems. Reviewing workflow in these areas and identifying efficiencies and process improvements while managing and mentoring team members. Indirectly responsible for the oversight of federal, state business and charitable solicitation registrations and reporting to watchdog agencies. 
  • Serving as the lead person in Finance to review non-grant related contracts for NWF. Keeping the CFO and other senior Finance staff informed of significant developments and potential new commitments. Working with General Counsel to ensure that contracts are reviewed within established guidelines and time frames. Responsible for obtaining input and notification of proposed arrangements with the appropriate managers in Finance and across the organization. Providing and maintaining financial terms and definitions for sample contracts. Serving as the lead Finance staff on tracking and reporting of lobbying activity and working with General Counsel on organization wide contracts and lobbying training. 
  • Directly managing the Federation’s financial audits including the fiscal year end and, in coordination with the Director of Finance, review of the federal grants (OMB A-133). Assisting in design and implementation of process changes to address auditor management letter comments. Indirectly managing or directly assisting with the pension and retirement, state, travel, IRS Form 990, Charity Navigator and BBB filings, etc. 
  • Assisting the CFO and other key finance staff with preparing financial presentations, communications and analysis to the senior staff, board of directors and committees of NWF. Monitoring, analyzing, and reporting on financial performance to CFO, members, donors and the public.
  • Overseeing the monthly closing process by communicating regularly with payroll, accounts payable, treasury, grants management, budget and planning, and general accounting areas to ensure financial statements are properly stated. Monitoring reports, account reconciliations and reviewing journal entries prior to posting to ensure transactions are recorded accurately.
  • Working with the Director of Finance and Philanthropy department staff on the appropriate recording and reporting of trusts, estates and other gift planning instruments. Working with Directors and Managers across the organization to ensure their needs are met and Finance is providing excellent customer service. 
  • Other duties or special projects as assigned to meet the department’s objectives. 

Qualifications:

  • College degree in Accounting or Finance and CPA.
  • At least 10 years of progressively responsible financial management and accounting operations experience preferably with some work in the non-profit industry and coordinating audits.
  • Strong managerial skills. Able to build and motivate teams and can also be a team player who embraces NWF’s collaborative culture. Recognizes and respects diversity.
  • Excellent written and oral communications with various levels of staff and management, auditors, consultants and vendors. Handles conflict and negotiations effectively.
  • Ability to manage time efficiently, multi-task and prioritize work to consistently meet deadlines.
  • Demonstrated ability to research an issue, obtain and evaluate appropriate facts, and reach a sound conclusion in a timely manner.
  • Maintains confidential information. Must have a high level of integrity, good judgement, and attention to detail with a commitment to high quality work products.
  • Experience with financial systems and technology with a drive to optimize system solutions to improve processes and workloads. Ability to learn Infor CloudSuite and other accounting software.
  • Strong MS Office with advanced Excel skills required.
  • Takes the initiative to make things happen. Sets long-range goals and implements short-range actions to achieve them.
  • Willingness to work after normal business hours to meet deliverables and deadlines, especially during fiscal year end and the annual audit.
  • Your actions are expected to reflect the staff values of the National Wildlife Federation: collaboration, mindfulness, empowerment, inclusivity, and mission focus.

There may be some limited travel in this role.

Application:

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

The National Wildlife Federation offers excellent benefits, including 16 weeks of paid FMLA leave, competitive compensation, and a family-friendly, flexible work environment.

We strive to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all elements of our work and with our partners to support the interdependent needs of wildlife and people in a rapidly changing world. We recruit, employ, train compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender or transsexual individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants are invited to learn more about National Wildlife Federation’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion at https://www.nwf.org/About-Us/DEIJ.

If you have a disability and require an accommodation or assistance with our online application process, please tell us how we can help by calling us at 703-438-6244.

If you meet more than 75% of the qualifications of this description, we support your application. If selected, a background check will be conducted.

Candidates should submit a cover letter and resume.

Occupations

General-Other: Accounting-Finance

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