Controller

Job description

Location: California  

Salary: $145,000-165,000 per year, exempt

Organization Overview  

Founded in 2004, Brilliant Corners provides innovative housing and housing-related services to California’s most vulnerable individuals, with an emphasis on those transitioning from, or at risk of, homelessness or institutionalization.

We develop, own, and manage multi-family supportive housing and licensed residential care homes.

We implement a broad array of scattered-site, one-on-one supportive housing, and clinical case management programs through partnerships with developmental services, homeless services, veterans’ services, and health care sectors.  

In short, we do good work.  

We have offices statewide with a staff of passionate people.

While we are growing rapidly, we are also selective: We’re seeking inspired, talented people who want to be effecting profound change and who have fun doing it. 

Position Summary 

Reporting to the Director of Finance, the Controller serves as a key financial leader, overseeing accounting operations, financial reporting, and strategic financial initiatives.

This role ensures financial stability and transparency by managing, budgeting, nonprofit and property accounting, and the design and execution of internal controls, while providing essential financial insights to support organizational growth and decision-making. 

Key Responsibilities

Financial Reporting & Analysis

• Ensure timely, accurate, and GAAP-compliant financial reporting across all entities.
• Lead monthly and annual financial close processes, including journal entries, account reconciliations, and preparation of financial statements.
• Conduct variance analysis, financial modeling, and scenario planning to provide strategic insights to leadership.
• Manage multi-entity consolidations, including eliminations, intercompany allocations, and reconciliations.

Accounting Operations

• Oversee the full accounting cycle across all business units, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Maintain compliance with accounting standards and regulatory requirements.
• Manage complex property and real estate development accounting, including capital project tracking and depreciation schedules.
• Implement and monitor intercompany transactions to ensure accurate recording and reconciliation across entities.

Audit, Tax, and Compliance

• Lead annual financial audits and ensure timely, accurate tax filings (including IRS Form 990).
• Coordinate with external auditors and tax advisors, serving as the primary liaison.
• Oversee grant and fund accounting, ensuring accurate tracking of restricted funds and compliance with grantor requirements.

Internal Controls & Financial Systems

• Develop, implement, and regularly update internal controls, accounting policies, and financial procedures to ensure operational integrity and risk mitigation.
• Champion the use of automation, reporting tools, and process improvements to streamline workflows and improve efficiency.
• Ensure ERP and financial systems (e.g., Sage Intacct, Vena) are optimized for multi-entity reporting, allocations, and consolidations.

Budgeting & Financial Management

• Oversee organizational and program budgets in collaboration with department leaders.
• Monitor expenditures to ensure alignment with budgetary goals, funder requirements, and grant terms.
• Support budget holders with training and tools to promote financial literacy and accountability.

Strategic Partnership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with departments such as Programs, Operations, People Operations, and Fund Development to align financial operations with strategic goals.
• Provide financial analysis and forecasting to inform decision-making, resource allocation, and long-term planning.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing accounting team, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide coaching and development opportunities.

Organizational Training & Capacity Building

• Develop and lead training initiatives to enhance financial literacy and compliance across the organization.
• Implement project management tools and reporting frameworks to track financial deliverables and ensure accountability. 

Key Responsibilities 

• Ensure timely, accurate, and compliant financial reporting in line with GAAP and regulatory standards.
  
  Provide actionable insights through variance analysis and financial modeling to inform decision-making by senior leadership. 

• Prepare and deliver timely, accurate, and compliant financial reports. 

• Ensure that all financial statements, internal dashboards, and external reporting meet organizational, GAAP, and regulatory standards.
  
  Provide actionable insights and variance analysis to support decision-making by senior leadership. 

• Lead and optimize the monthly and annual financial close processes, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and alignment with deadlines.
  
  Oversee all aspects of the accounting cycle, including journal entries, reconciliations, and financial statement preparation. 

• Lead and manage monthly and annual financial close processes. 

• Oversee the full accounting cycle, including journal entries, reconciliations, and closing activities.
  
  Ensure deadlines are met and that the close process is efficient, accurate, and well-documented. 

• Oversee external audits and ensure compliance with tax filings, including the 990.
  
  Manage grant and fund accounting, ensuring proper tracking of restricted funds and compliance with grant requirements. 

• Oversee audits, tax filings, and grant/fund accounting. 

• Coordinate annual financial audits and 990 filings with external auditors.
  
  Ensure proper accounting for restricted funds, and compliance with grant and contract requirements, including tracking expenditures against budgets and funder-specific reporting. 

• Manage relationships with external auditors and accounting firms. 

• Serve as the primary liaison to auditors and third-party accounting providers.
  
  Address inquiries, provide documentation, and ensure transparency and timeliness in all interactions. 

• Develop, implement, and regularly update internal controls, accounting policies, and reporting systems to ensure financial integrity, mitigate risk, and adapt to organizational growth. 

• Develop and implement internal controls, accounting policies, and reporting systems. 

• Establish and enforce financial protocols to ensure compliance, risk mitigation, and operational integrity.
  
  Regularly review and update accounting policies and systems to adapt to organizational growth and regulatory changes. 

• Monitor departmental spending to ensure alignment with program and grant budgets.
  
  Collaborate with budget holders to ensure fiscal responsibility and provide tools and training to manage budgets effectively. 

• Ensure expenditures align with program and grant budgets. 

• Monitor spending across departments and funding sources to ensure accountability and fiscal discipline.
  
  Support budget holders with training and tools to manage resources effectively. 

• Partner with cross-functional teams, such as Programs, People Operations, and Fund Development, to align financial operations with broader organizational goals.
  
  Provide financial analysis and scenario planning to inform strategic initiatives. 

• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align financial operations with organizational strategy. 

• Partner with departments such as Programs, People Operations, Operations, and Fund Development to ensure that financial systems and decisions support broader organizational goals.
  
  Provide financial modeling and scenario planning to inform strategy. 

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing accounting team, fostering a culture of accountability and professional growth.
  
  Provide performance feedback and support the team’s continuous improvement. 

• Supervise, mentor, and grow the accounting team. 

• Lead, train, and support accounting staff, creating professional development plans and performance benchmarks.
  
  Build a high-performing, mission-aligned finance team through coaching, collaboration, and accountability. 

• Develop and lead training initiatives to enhance financial literacy across the organization, empowering non-finance staff to manage budgets effectively.
  
  Implement project management systems to track financial milestones and ensure timely deliverables. 

• Lead development of financial training and project management frameworks. 

• Design and implement training for non-finance staff to strengthen budget literacy and compliance.
  
  Develop systems for tracking financial projects, deliverables, and milestones to improve departmental effectiveness. 

• Lead efforts to streamline financial workflows, automate reporting, and implement new tools to improve accuracy, efficiency, and timeliness, ensuring a smooth and compliant monthly close.
  
  Drive implementation of standardized reporting and promote data-driven decision-making. 

• Lead the adoption of reporting tools and automation strategies to streamline financial workflows.
  
  Champion the use of financial data in organizational planning, resource allocation, and performance measurement. 
• Streamline and automate business processes to increase accuracy, compliance, and a timely monthly close. 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
• CPA or CMA preferred; MBA or Master’s in Accounting is a plus.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive experience in nonprofit or public accounting.
• At least 10 years of experience managing and developing accounting teams.
• Strong experience with:
• Multi-entity consolidations and intercompany transactions
• GAAP compliance and financial audits
• Sage Intacct, Vena, or similar ERP systems
• Property management and real estate development accounting
• Payroll and Human Capital Management (HCM) systems

Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills.
• Proven leadership in managing cross-functional teams and complex projects.
• Strategic thinker with a systems mindset.
• High level of integrity, fiscal responsibility, and alignment with mission-driven work.

Core Competencies

• Dealing with Ambiguity – Navigates change and uncertainty with resilience.
• Building Effective Teams – Creates and leads high-performing, collaborative teams.
• Priority Setting – Focuses on high-impact work aligned with strategic goals.
• Managing Through Systems – Leverages systems to drive efficiency and scalability.
• Functional/Technical Expertise – Brings depth in accounting and financial operations.

Organizational Values

• Humanity:Putting people first: We are committed to meeting people where they’re at, honoring their dignity, diversity, and experience.
  
   

• Community:Building a better future: Sustainable housing solutions are fostered through partnership, collaboration, and human connection.
  
   

• Ingenuity:Innovating for transformation: Systems-change requires relentless determination, thinking outside the box and challenging the status quo.
  
   

Physical Requirements 

Candidates should have physical mobility for tasks such as standing, bending, stooping, kneeling, crouching, reaching, twisting, and walking on uneven surfaces.

They should be capable of performing stationary tasks like sitting for up to 6 to 8 hours a day.  Additionally, candidates should be able to lift, carry, push, pull light to moderate weights up to 15 pounds safely.

Requires mental acuity for analytical reasoning and document interpretation. 

Salary range for this position is $145,000-165,000 annually.

This position is being offered at $145,000-$165,000 annually. 

Brilliant Corners does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.

These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services.

We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors, and clients. 

Benefits

• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental, & Vision) 

• Retirement Plan (With 5% Match) 
• Life Insurance (Basic, Voluntary and AD&D) 
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays) 
• Family Leave (Maternity, Paternity) 
• Short Term & Long-Term Disability 
• Training & Development 
• Wellness Resources 
• Hybrid Work 

Required Skill Profession

Operations Specialties Managers