Job Description
Title: Controller
Dept: Finance/Accounting
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Wage: $118k – 134k/yr.* (see Pay Premiums for details)
Type: Full-Time/40 hours per week, Exempt
Location: Seattle, WA; in-person at 1900 Rainier Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
To Apply:
All applicants must provide a cover letter which describes how they meet or exceed the requirements for this position and to demonstrate their business writing skills. Go to:https://wellspringfs.org/about/careers and click on “Career Center” to apply.
Who We Are:
Our Vision: A community in which every child has a safe and stable home.
Our Purpose: To prevent and address homelessness by connecting families and individuals in crisis to the support and resources they need to regain stability.
For over 130 years, Wellspring Family Services has worked to end family homelessness by helping families and employees in crisis to access the services they need to regain stability. Wellspring is a non-profit, multi-service agency serving communities throughout King County.
Wellspring has four primary programs. The Housing Services division provides eviction prevention and rehousing services to vulnerable populations. The Early Learning Center delivers trauma-informed early childhood education to children, ages 1 to 5, who have experienced homelessness. The Family Store supplies clothing, toiletries, toys, diapers, and baby equipment to low-income families so they can better afford rent and other basic needs. Our Employee Assistance Program connects employees with the resources they need to address crises, retain housing, and remain employed.
Wellspring Family Services is committed to a diverse and accessible workplace. Everyone is welcome. We strongly encourage applicants from under-represented communities, including BIPOC, non-conforming gender identities & sexual orientation, people with lived experience of homelessness, veterans, immigrants, and people with disabilities.
All applications are reviewed by a real person. To request disability accommodation in the application or interview process, please contact HR@wellspringfs[dot]org.
Position Purpose:
The Controller is a key leadership role within Wellspring’s Finance/Accounting department, responsible for overseeing all accounting operations, financial reporting, and plays a pivotal role in the organization’s strategic financial planning.
Essential Functions:
- Financial Reporting & Analysis: Prepares and issues timely month-end financial reports for management, the bank, Finance Committee, and Board of Directors.Conducts financial analysis on variances, expenditures, pricing, and new projects.
- Cash Management: Monitors debt levels, covenant compliance, and bank reconciliations to ensure timely payments. Manages credit lines for cash flow and supervises accurate allocations to invoices, accounts, and contributions.
- Month-end Closing: Assists in month-end processes, manages depreciation for assets, and guarantees precision in payables, invoicing, collections, payroll, inventory, and overall accounting activities.
- Internal Controls: Implement internal audit controls and lead the shift from paper to electronic systems for modern, efficient financial management. Maintain and update accounting policies, recommending new ones as needed.
- Compliance: Coordinates provision of information to external auditors for annual audits and ensures compliance with government reporting and tax filings at all levels.
- General Ledger & Budgeting: Reconciles G/L accounts, conducts audits and adjustments, and maintains the chart of accounts in the ERP system. Oversees the annual budgeting and forecasting, including maintenance of budget worksheets and recording entries in the accounting system.
- Supervision: Directly supervise Accounts Payable Specialist, Corporate Accountant, Billing Specialist including training, setting performance standards, day-to-day coaching & performance management, plus time & attendance supervision.
Additional Responsibilities:
- Collaborates with development in the preparation of Wellspring’s annual report.
- Act as a management representative of the organization in all respects, with a particular responsibility to adhere to ethical standards, employment policies and communications guidelines as failure to do so creates serious legal liability for the agency.
- Support Wellspring values by acting in a manner consistent with those values.
- Additional tasks and projects may be assigned as needed.
Requirements:
- 6 years of progressively responsible accounting experience including at least 3 years of management and supervisory experience in GAAP environment.
- 2 years of experience in nonprofit or governmental fund accounting. A strong track record of learning new areas of accounting may substitute for this experience.
- Experience managing accounting workflow and implementing process improvements.
- Strong interpersonal and communication skills; experience in effectively communicating key data, including presentations to senior management, board or other outside partners.
- Ability and desire to translate complex financial concepts to individuals at all levels including non-finance managers.
- Advanced knowledge of accounting software and Microsoft Office.
- Capable of effectively supervising others by establishing clear expectations and regularly giving constructive feedback. Knows how to address performance issues clearly and in a timely manner.
- Highly developed awareness of diversity, equity, and inclusion, with evolved ability to practice appropriate, relevant and thoughtful strategies for working with diverse populations.
Preferred Qualifications:
The following qualifications have been identified as particularly beneficial and candidates who have attained any of them will be preferred in the hiring process. The successful candidate who meets one or more of these qualifications will be eligible for pay rate premiums*:
- CPA, CGMA or CMA
- 3 years or more of experience in nonprofit or governmental fund accounting.
- Wellspring does not engage in pay negotiation as this practice contributes to pay inequality. Salary for the successful candidate is calculated by Wellspring. Premiums may be applied for candidates that are able to verify their achievement of preferred qualifications. Refer to the end of this posting for specific premiums rates.
Physical & Mental Requirements:
- Washington State resident at start date
- If an employee chooses to telecommute, they must be able to provide their own private workspace with reliable, secure internet.
- Regular and predictable attendance.
- The ability to understand, express and exchange complex ideas in a fast-paced environment.
- The ability to communicate detailed or important information to clients and/or co-workers through written documents and emails and through verbal means over the telephone, using virtual meeting platforms, and in person.
- The ability to use a computer for long periods of time. Adaptive accommodations may be available as needed.
- A moderate amount of moving around in a standard office environment may be needed.
Please note that employees should expect to perform some tasks that are outside the scope of the job description.
Employee Benefits:
Choice of 3 Medical Plans • 30 days paid time off per year, plus 10 paid employee holidays • Dental • Life Insurance • Long-Term Disability • 403b Retirement Plan • Flexible Spending Accounts • Health Savings Account • Employee Assistance Program • Employee Resource Groups • Counseling Session Reimbursement • Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility (DEIA) Training
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Wellspring employees may use their time with us toward their participation in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program (PSLF).
Controller
Pay Premiums
Standard Annual Starting Salary: $118,000
The successful candidate must demonstrate to Wellspring’s satisfaction that they meet one or more of the preferred qualifications before a premium can be added to the standard salary. Final salary is defined by Wellspring based on verifiable information and documentation provided by the candidate during the recruitment process.
Wellspring does not engage in wage negotiation as it contributes to pay inequality.
Maximum Premiums for this position is $16,000, any of the premiums that are applicable will apply but not to exceed a total of $16,000.
Experience Premiums
- 3 full years or more of experience in nonprofit or governmental fund accounting. = $2,000 added to annual salary for each year beyond the minimum of 2 years (up to the cap of $6,000)
- Demonstrated success in implementing digital finance transformations, specifically moving teams to paperless processes and integrating electronic payment systems. = $6,000 added to annual salary.
Certification Premium
CPA, CGMA or CMA = $10,000 added to annual salary as long as certification is valid