Controller

The Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation is a non-profit, volunteer-fueled organization whose mission is to cure Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and improve the quality of life for the children and adults affected by these diseases. Our work is dramatically accelerating the research process through our varied research initiatives; we also provide extensive educational and support resources for patients and their families, medical professionals, and the public. In addition, we lead federal and state-based advocacy campaigns to support medical research funding and improve patient access to care. The Foundation’s core values of compassion, integrity, leadership, collaboration, and inclusion inspire and drive every member of our highly performing team.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Vice President, Finance, the Controller is responsible for leading the Foundation’s accounting operations and ensuring the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial reporting. This role oversees day-to-day accounting functions, manages the monthly and annual close processes, and ensures compliance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards.

Following the Foundation’s recent migration to the Workday ERP platform, the Controller will play a critical role in stabilizing and optimizing financial operations within Workday, developing and documenting accounting processes, and identifying opportunities to enhance automation, reporting, and internal controls.

The Controller partners closely with Finance leadership and cross-functional stakeholders to support sound financial management and advance the Foundation’s mission.

This position requires 2 days in our New York City office and 3 days remote each week.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

Accounting Operations & Financial Reporting

• Lead and oversee the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting
• Supervise and review the work of accounting staff including journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial statement preparation
• Ensure accuracy of the general ledger and compliance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards
• Analyze monthly financial results and partner with department leaders to review budget-to-actual performance
• Maintain strong systems of internal control and ensure compliance with financial policies and procedures

Revenue, Receivables & Disbursements

• Oversee revenue recognition and pledge receivables, ensuring accurate tracking of pledges, billings, and cash receipts
• Manage accounts receivable activities including pledge accounting and reconciliation
• Oversee accounts payable, grants payments, employee expenses, and other disbursement activities ensuring timely and accurate processing
• Ensure proper accounting and monitoring of net assets with donor restrictions

ERP Optimization & Process Improvement

• Partner with Finance leadership to optimize the Foundation’s Workday ERP platform following recent implementation
• Develop, document, and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and workflows to strengthen institutional knowledge and operational efficiency
• Identify opportunities to improve financial processes, automation, reporting, and system integrations
• Support ongoing system enhancements and collaborate with Finance, IT, and external partners on system improvements

Audit, Compliance & Tax

• Lead the annual financial statement audit and serve as the primary liaison with external auditors
• Prepare and coordinate year-end accounting activities in support of the annual audit process
• Oversee preparation of the consolidated and individual Chapter Form 990 filings
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, business registrations, accounting standards, and organizational policies

Team Leadership

• Supervise, mentor, and develop members of the accounting team
• Foster a collaborative and accountable team culture focused on accuracy, continuous improvement, and strong financial stewardship
• Support cross-departmental collaboration to improve financial processes and reporting
• Other duties as required

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field required; Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration preferred
• CPA preferred
• 8+ years of progressive accounting experience, including supervisory responsibility and financial reporting oversight
• Nonprofit accounting experience preferred, including familiarity with ASC 958 and fund accounting principles
• Experience working with enterprise ERP systems, with Workday experience strongly preferred
• Strong understanding of GAAP, financial close processes, audit preparation, and internal control frameworks
• Ability to develop and document accounting policies, procedures, and financial workflows to support operational efficiency and institutional knowledge
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret financial data and provide actionable insights
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel (lookups, power pivots, financial modeling, and data analysis)
• Familiarity with modern data analytics and business intelligence tools such as Power BI, SQL Server, Python, or similar technologies to support reporting, automation, and financial analysis
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to present financial information clearly to both financial and non-financial stakeholders
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and project management capabilities
• Demonstrated ability to manage and develop staff and collaborate effectively across departments
• Experience working with Salesforce or similar CRM systems preferred
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and thrive in a fast-paced, evolving environment