Job Summary:
Reporting to the CFO, the Controller is responsible for overseeing all accounting and finance operations, ensuring compliance with nonprofit GAAP standards, managing restricted and grant funding, and maintaining strong internal controls. This role provides strategic insight, operational leadership, and financial expertise that supports the sustainability, transparency, and long-term impact of Pace’s work with girls.
Who We Are:
At Pace we transform girls’ lives through academic and counseling programs based on girl-centered, strength-based and trauma informed framework. Team members create a safe place for girls to learn, process, heal and begin again.Founded in 1985, Pace Center for Girls is a nonprofit organization that believes all girls, regardless of their story, deserve a safe and supportive space where they can become strong, compassionate and successful women.
Our Culture:
At Pace, our culture is built on core beliefs that foster a supportive, mission-driven, and empowering environment where girls can thrive and reach their full potential. Our culture is rooted in the following foundational behaviors:
- Caring – We are warm, sincere, compassionate, and collaborative, fostering an environment of support and connection.
- Purposeful – We are focused on our mission and committed to social responsibility, ensuring our efforts make a meaningful impact.
- Learning Oriented – We are open, inventive, and exploratory, continuously seeking growth and improvement.
- Results Driven – We are focused on achieving goals and measurable success, ensuring accountability and progress.
- Girl-Centered – The ways that girls learn and develop are unique. That's why we've created an environment that responds to their needs so they can feel safe enough to develop meaningful and trusting relationships while embracing their capabilities, strengths and autonomy.
- Using Your Strengths – Every girl brings something exceptional to the table. At Pace, we focus on developing these special characteristics. By supporting a girl's talents and positive attributes we help her achieve her goals.
- Understanding Trauma – Trauma can alter the course of a girl's life. At Pace, we recognize that trauma may be the root cause of unhealthy behaviors, which is why we work hard to help heal and empower girls.
What We Offer:
- Growth and Development - Competitive salaries, ongoing learning and development opportunities, and subject-specific instructional coaching to support growth and success.
- Work Life Balance – Team members benefit from 20 paid time off days, 14 paid national holidays, and an additional 5 days for wellness week. Center based team members observe a balanced schedule with 230 academic days and 20 dedicated in-service planning days. Teachers become eligible to receive an additional 2 weeks of paid time off after one year of employment.
- Comprehensive Benefits - Full-time team members are eligible for a range of benefits, including medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, critical illness, accident coverage, legal and identity theft protection, and a 403(b)-retirement plan. Team members working 30 or more hours per week are eligible for medical, dental, FSA, HSA, and the 403(b)-retirement plan. Those working less than 30 hours per week are eligible for the 403(b)-retirement plan.
- Mental Health and Well-Being - All team members have access to wellness resources, offering wellness rewards, counseling sessions, leadership coaching, mindfulness resources, and more to support their overall well-being.
What This Role Does:
Financial Leadership – Drive Accountability and Integrity
- Lead all accounting operations, ensuring timely and accurate financial reporting, account reconciliation, and general ledger integrity.
- Maintain strong internal controls and financial procedures that protect organizational assets and ensure compliance with GAAP.
- Prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements, presentations and dashboards for leadership, Board, and funders.
- Support CFO in financial strategy, forecasting, and scenario modeling.
Grant & Restricted Funds Oversight – Ensure Compliance and Transparency
- Oversee financial management of restricted funding, including federal, state, and private grants.
- Collaborate with Development and Program teams to ensure budgets, expenditures, and reporting align with funder requirements.
- Monitor and ensure compliance with relevant federal and state laws impacting not-for-profit fiscal compliance and reporting and other grantor regulations.
- Provide financial reports, documentation, and analysis for grant audits, renewals, and funder communications.
Audit & Compliance – Uphold Financial Excellence
- Lead all audit processes, including annual financial and Single Audit preparation.
- Ensure the timely completion of IRS Form 990 and all other compliance filings.
- Maintain detailed, audit-ready documentation of accounting practices, grant tracking, and internal controls.
- Monitor evolving nonprofit financial regulations and implementing changes as needed.
Budgeting, Forecasting & Reporting – Align Resources with Strategy
- Support the CFO in annual organizational budgeting and rolling forecast process.
- Work with department leads to develop, monitor, and manage project and grant budgets.
- Develop and maintain financial models, cost allocations, and cash flow forecasts to support data-driven decision-making.
- Create and distribute variance reporting to Budget and Forecasting for action plans to be developed and executed to drive performance improvement leading to achieving Budget goals
Team Leadership – Build Capacity and Collaboration
- Supervise and develop the accounting team, fostering a collaborative, mission-focused, and high-performing culture.
- Ensure team adherence to company policies and applicable laws in all supervisory activities.
- Provide financial guidance and training to non-financial staff to build organizational financial literacy.
- Partner cross-functionally to strengthen financial systems, operational efficiency, and shared accountability.
- Performs other duties as assigned
What We Require for the Job:
- Master’s degree in accounting, finance, or business required.
- Certified Public Accountant (CPA) or Certified Management Accountant (CMA) certification is highly preferred.
- Minimum of 10+ years of related experience, with additional training in accounting and MIS areas preferred.
- In-depth knowledge of accounting processes, principles, practices, and reporting systems; prior experience with Financial Edge and Crystal Reports is a plus.
- Advanced analytical and critical thinking skills.
- Strong written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills to work effectively across management levels.
- High business acumen and proven ability to collaborate with cross-functional leaders.
- Capacity to manage regular responsibilities and ad-hoc requests effectively.
- Advanced mathematical skills, including probability, statistical inference, and practical application of fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions.
- Knowledge of relevant federal and state laws impacting not-for-profit fiscal compliance and reporting.
Other
- Expected to complete and participate in all required trainings and drills
- Required to align with the Mission, Values, and Guiding Principles, maintain ethical standards, and comply with all policies and procedures of Pace Center for Girls
