Controller

POSITION SUMMARY  

The Controller is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day accounting function of the Finance Department.  This person will establish and maintain internal controls to support the financial infrastructure of CPF while ensuring policies and procedures are in compliance with GAAP and regulatory requirements.  This role also manages grant revenues, grants provided by CPF to community organizations, and funds held for organizations fiscally-sponsored by CPF.  

The Controller reports to the Chief Operating Officer with a dotted line to the CFO, and also works closely with the Executive Director and Department leaders.  The Controller manages two Staff Accountants who carry out all routine department functions.

COMPENSATION: commensurate with experience and can range from $100 to $120K Annually

RESPONSIBILITIES

General Accounting 

• Assure that appropriate accounting principles and practices are understood and followed and that financial is maintained according to GAAP
• Establish and assure effective internal controls and maintain up-to-date, written accounting policies and procedures
• Assure that financial processes are timely and efficient, including 
  • Monthly closings 
  • The identification, tracking and collection of all receivables 
  • The identification, coding and payment of all payment obligations
  • Grant management, allocations, and funder reporting
• Seek to understand, and provide timely reports to meet, the financial information needs of internal managers and the board, and to assure accountability to funders, fiscally sponsored organizations, the Parks Department, government agencies and other oversight bodies as needed
• Support the CFO with the annual budgeting process, assuring that managers have the information they need to build accurate and useful budgets 
• Manage financial and other audits as may be required
• Attending to any other financial matter affecting the organization

Management

• Provide direction, supervision and coaching to finance department staff to assure their effectiveness and professional growth to meet the needs of the organization
• Provide teaching and other support to staff across the organization to support them in using the financial information needed to do their jobs effectively
• Lead process improvements in the finance department as needed to streamline financial operations

Grant Reporting

• Collaborate with the Development Department and program staff as needed to prepare budgets and provide other supporting financial information for proposals for public and private contracts, grants and gifts
• Prepare contractual material as required for funding awards and manage compliance with contractual administrative terms
• Provide invoices, payment instructions and other materials as may be needed to draw down funding and assure that all awarded funding is correctly recorded and actually received
• Prepare financial reports for grantors
• Provide budget vs actual reports to support managers in expending grant funds.  Identify spending that is not consistent with grant purposes as well as areas of over- and under-spending and provide timely suggestions for appropriate solutions, from staffing shifts to budget modifications
• Identify and track the satisfaction of restrictions and conditions on funding, and prepare journal entries as needed to release funds from restriction

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required, preferably in Accounting or Finance
• 5-7 plus years accounting experience
• Strong knowledge and experience in US-GAAP
• Experience in managing a team of Staff Accountants/Finance Managers
• Proven experience working with Google Sheets
• A self-starter attitude that can work independently and under pressure to meet strict deadlines
• Detail-oriented with a high level of analytical and professional skills
• Passionate about working in or supporting non-profit organizations

• CPA certification is a plus

WORKING FOR CITY PARKS FOUNDATION

Benefits include excellent healthcare and dental package, vacation, paid holidays, 403(b) Retirement Plan and flexible spending plan. City Parks Foundation is a collegial, mission-focused organization that values its employees and encourages professional growth and advancement. 

Thank you for your interest in City Parks Foundation, an equal opportunity employer. Only potential candidates will be contacted. No calls, please.

ABOUT CITY PARKS FOUNDATION

At City Parks Foundation (CPF), we are dedicated to invigorating and transforming New York City parks into dynamic, vibrant centers of urban life through arts, environmental education, sports, and community building programs for all New Yorkers. Our ethos is simple: we believe thriving parks mean thriving communities.

Community engagement includes Partnerships for Parks, a public-private program of City Parks Foundation and NYC Parks, which supports and champions a growing network of community leaders who care and advocate for the transformation of our neighborhood parks and the Parks and Open Space Partners-NYC coalition of conservancies and alliances. We also administer the NYC Green Fund, a regranting program for parks and open space nonprofits and grassroots organizations.

We produce SummerStage, the iconic free, outdoor performing arts festival in NYC, presenting world-class artists from across the globe and our own neighborhoods on our mainstage in Central Park and in local parks in all five boroughs, and our Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre and roving PuppetMobile present marionette puppet theater throughout New York City.

We connect youngsters to nature in the urban environment through progressive, experiential teaching. Using parks as classrooms, we provide learning experiences and hands-on activities in urban forests, coastal areas, and gardens.

Free golf, tennis, track & field, soccer, and fitness programs bring high-quality instruction and equipment into areas where few organized athletic opportunities exist. We offer leveled training, year-round scholarship coaching, and special pro events.