Job Description

POSITION TITLE: Controller

LOCATION: Portland, OR

ORGANIZATION: Sustainable Northwest

REPORTS TO: President

SALARY: $120,000 - $150,000 Depending on Experience

BENEFITS: Sustainable Northwest offers a generous benefits package

EMPLOYMENT STATUS: Full-Time Exempt, 35-hour work week

PREFERRED START DATE: August 2025

ABOUT SUSTAINABLE NORTHWEST

Sustainable Northwest forges natural resource solutions that are good for nature, people, and local economies. We partner with rural communities and Tribal Nations throughout the Northwest on projects that promote smart water use, clean energy, and healthy forests, farms, and ranches.

Our solutions are as unique as the problems we solve and include entrepreneurship, policy, market innovations, public or private investment, collaboration, and technical assistance – but the ultimate success of our work is based on relationships, trust, and inclusion. Sustainable Northwest was founded in 1994 to forge collaborative solutions for conserving forest and community health.

Today, our challenges have multiplied with climate change, catastrophic wildfires, and persistent drought plaguing our region. Yet we remain optimistic that nature, people, and local economies can thrive together.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Controller will oversee all aspects of financial management, including accounting, budgeting, reporting, and compliance for a diverse portfolio of funding sources. This role requires a strategic thinker with hands-on experience in nonprofit finance, particularly with grants and contracts from both governmental and philanthropic sources.

We are seeking a seasoned Controller to help steward our financial operations and ensure we meet the highest standards of accountability, compliance, and transparency. This position reports to the president and serves on the leadership team.

RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO:

ACCOUNTING & FINANCIAL REPORTING

• Manage day-to-day accounting operations, including General Ledger, Accounts Receivable, Accounts Payable, Payroll, Employee Reimbursements and Credit Cards.
• Maintain and enhance an internal control environment to safeguard organizational assets, including the recurring preparation and review of reconciliations for all balance sheet accounts, proper expenditure authorizations, segregation of duties, and appropriate review of journal entries.
• Lead the month-end close process to ensure all financial transactions are recorded timely in order to accurately reflect the financial status of the organization.
• Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP).
• Construct and present financial reports to the Board of Directors (BOD) on a quarterly basis. Liaise with the Finance Committee between BOD meetings for guidance on financial matters.
• Lead preparation of the annual audit, including the Single Audit, coordination with external auditors, and review of annual tax return.
• Track restricted and unrestricted funding, ensuring compliance with donor restrictions and grant requirements.
• Assist Program staff and management team with preparation of required financial reports for grant application and management.
• Oversee tracking of grant expenditures for reporting purposes.
• Review contract and grant budget proposals.
• Ensure compliance with all federal and state regulatory filing requirements.

FEDERAL GRANT MANAGEMENT

• Oversee post-award financial management of federal grants, ensuring full compliance with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200).
• Maintain proper documentation and internal controls for cost allowability, procurement, time and effort reporting, and indirect cost allocation.
• Prepare required federal financial reports (SF-425).
• Support internal Program staff in budget monitoring and forecasting.
• Prepare and negotiate NICRA (Negotiated Indirect Cost Rate Agreement) renewal proposals, coordinate with external auditors and federal agencies, and monitor compliance with 2 CFR Part 200.
• Apply NICRA rates appropriately across federally funded programs to ensure accurate cost allocation and recovery.
• Serve as the primary resource on Uniform Guidance requirements for the organization and train staff on compliance and best practices.

BUDGETING & FINANCIAL PLANNING

• Lead the development and monitoring of the annual organizational budget and program-specific budgets.
• Develop comprehensive pricing and costing analyses, emphasis on overhead allocation.
• Prepare cash flow forecasting on a monthly basis.
• Prepare financial analysis, financial forecast and planning to assist and advise Program directors, president and BOD in decision making and strategic planning.
• Perform variance analysis, monitor Program budgets and organizational budgets, provide insights to leadership to ensure revenue goals are met and expenditures are within budget.
• Manage banking relationship to develop and implement investment strategies and maintain line of credit.
• Lead risk management efforts to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks facing the organization.
• Develop, implement, and manage insurance programs, including selecting insurance carriers, negotiating policy terms, and managing claims.

PAYROLL

• Administer PTO, 403(b) and other fringe benefits to ensure compliance with labor laws, federal and state tax law.
• Participate in the annual staff review process and review recommendations for annual salary adjustments while maintaining the organizational salary matrix.
• Support periodic compensation analyses to ensure employee pay grades are fair and competitive.

LEADERSHIP & COLLABORATION

• Manage, guide, and professionally develop a team of three staff which currently includes an Accounting Manager, Senior Grant Accountant and Junior Staff Accountant.
• Collaborate with other teams and BOD to ensure financial alignment across the organization, including training staff as necessary on financial procedures, policies, and compliance.
• Present financial reports to the BOD, Finance Committee, and Leadership team. Provide financial analysis and recommendations to support decision-making.
• Serve on the Leadership Team, providing strategic direction for financial stability.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive accounting experience, including 3+ years in nonprofit.
• Minimum 3 years Controller experience.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP and fund accounting.
• Experience managing federal and private grants and contracts.
• Aptitude in nonprofit ERP systems, preferably MIP funds accounting.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.
• Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to the mission of Sustainable Northwest.
• An eagerness to help implement systems to further improve financial processes; while also possessing keen analytical, organizational and problem-solving skills to interpret data as opposed to simply reporting.

Preferred:

• CPA or MBA.
• Experience with restricted/unrestricted fund tracking.
• Familiarity with Uniform Guidance (2 CFR Part 200) and other federal compliance standards.

PLEASE NOTE

The skills and experience listed above are what we believe is necessary to succeed in this position. However, we encourage all interested applicants to apply even if your skills are not a match with all requested qualifications. Please, underscore applicable skills unique to you in your cover letter.

Sustainable Northwest is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of an applicant or employee’s race or ethnicity, national origin; gender, gender identity or sexual orientation; religion or creed; age, ability, or other legally protected status.

TO APPLY

Send an email with ‘Controller’ in the subject line. Email cover letter and resume to Dassi Owens at dowens@sustainablenorthwest.org. Incomplete submissions will not be considered. Please make no phone calls or email inquiries. Interview questions will be provided in advance. References will be requested from finalist candidates.

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