Controller/Finance Director
Remote
Philanthropy Advisory – Foundation Finance & Accounting /
Full-time /
Remote
WHO WE ARE
Third Plateau is a social impact and philanthropy consulting firm. We partner with nonprofits, philanthropists, families, and the public sector to achieve transformative, community-centered impact.
OUR PHILOSOPHY
We work with clients and communities as partners in achieving a future where people and the planet thrive – creating meaning and joy in the process. At Third Plateau, we lead with partnership, evidence, equity, and optimism for a fundamentally better world. Everything we do, internally and externally, is rooted in our four core values:
TEAM UP
We recognize that people are at the center of social change and approach our interactions with the belief that we will go further together than we can alone. We cultivate relationships and collaborations rooted in trust and shared purpose. Centering empathy, we develop deep and authentic connections with those around us. We ask for what we need and lead with generosity to provide for others.
STEP UP
We passionately rise to the challenge of co-creating a just world we have yet to see but know is possible. We courageously and boldly advocate for the health, vibrancy, and prosperity of all and advance equity for current and future generations. We embrace our work with purpose, intention, and creativity. We experiment, take calculated risks, and question the status quo in an effort to design solutions that can scale impact swiftly and broadly.
LEARN UP
We know that communities closest to the challenge are closest to the solutions, so we stay insatiably curious and lead with humility and an open mind. We actively listen, reflect, and explore with individuals from varied backgrounds, perspectives, and lived experiences to address gaps in our understanding. We push the boundaries of our thinking by asking powerful questions and integrating diverse ways of learning. We commit to continuous learning and adaptation, celebrating progress over perfection for ourselves and those around us.
LIVE UP
We believe all people are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole. We care for ourselves, each other, and our communities by finding meaning and joy in our work, practicing balance, and prioritizing wellness. We center authentic connection to help nurture a resilient, creative, and vibrant team, which is vital for fostering fulfillment in our work. We are here to improve our communities and live fully while we do it.
Position Overview: Third Plateau, a growing multi-disciplinary social impact strategy firm, is looking for an intelligent, self-directed professional to serve as a Controller/Finance Director. Under the guidance of Third Plateau’s Senior Director, the Controller/Finance Director will work to provide financial administration and accounting for Third Plateau’s primary fiscal sponsor client. Top candidates will be highly organized self-starters, able to work under tight deadlines, able to juggle multiple assignments simultaneously, and be hungry to learn.
WHAT YOU’LL DO
The Controller/Finance Director will serve as an integral member of the Third Plateau team. Under the guidance of Third Plateau’s Senior Director, the Controller/Finance Director will provide accounting and administrative support to Third Plateau’s client, a fiscal sponsor organization, as well as external philanthropic management clients.
The Controller/Finance Director’s primary client will be a fiscal sponsor organization serving Model C projects and Model A pooled funds. This role will help the fiscal sponsor’s CFO build and implement an array of accounting systems that are intended to provide close to real-time insight and transparency for the numerous fiscally sponsored projects. The Controller/Finance Director will be responsible for ensuring best practices for fiscal sponsorship accounting and customer service are implemented day in and day out.
Duties include, but are not limited to:
1. Financial Budget, Grant, and Investment reporting—
• Preparing monthly, quarterly, annual and interim financial statements;
• Preparing grant reports to funders and fiscally sponsored projects;
• Determining grant and expense revenue recognition;
• Client investment accounting and reconciliations;
• Preparing annual budgets; and
• Creating and entering month end journal entries.
2. Audit, Tax, and Other Regulatory Compliance—
• Preparing annual client compliance documents and forms;
• Assisting with preparation of annual Federal and State and local tax returns, including forms 990, 199, RRF1 and others as needed;
• Supporting client annual audits, including preparation of PBC schedules; and
• Preparing annual 1099 and other required forms.
• Entering and reviewing client debit and credit card transactions;
• Reconciling bank, credit card, and other balance sheet accounts;
• Tracking client cash flows and initiating transfers when necessary; and
• Preparing and recording check deposits, wires, ACH and EFT transactions.
4. General Ledger—
• Entering journal entries in QuickBooks Online;
• Preparing and maintaining sub ledgers as required in accordance with GAAP;
• Reconciling general ledger accounts for monthly close;
• Ensuring that fiscal sponsees’ restricted accounts are accurate; and
• Reviewing financial statements for irregularities (and researching and resolving them).
5. Accounting Payable—
• Reviewing client vendor invoices for accuracy;
• Obtaining client authorization to pay vendors.
6. Payroll and HR—
• Assisting with employee onboarding and/or offboarding, insurance, benefit enrollments, and employee records for philanthropic management clients;
• Preparing, reviewing, and processing client expense reimbursements;
• Preparing, reviewing, and processing any needed payroll and/or retirement contributions;
• Documenting and incorporating any payroll updates; and
• Ensuring client personnel handbooks are up to date as directed by HR staff.
7. Other—
• Serving as a contact for general fiscal sponsee and client inquiries;
• Maintaining schedule of client activities including grant reporting, insurance renewals, reporting timelines, regulatory compliance, tax filings and annual audits;
• Maintaining accounting documents for all functions according to document retention policies, utilizing cloud storage system;
• Downloading, reviewing and filing statements and other relevant client documents;
• Utilizing miscellaneous online platforms and/or site logins as preferred by each client; and
• Other miscellaneous client-related tasks that may arise
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
The Controller/Finance Director will have at least 6 years accounting experience (minimum of 3 with fiscal sponsor organizations). We don’t know everything, and we know you don’t know everything – yet we live in a world flush with information. This position requires intense curiosity, an ability to ask the right questions, good listening skills, an eagerness to learn, an open mind, and resourcefulness. The Controller/Finance Director should have extensive accounting experience (e.g., journal entries, final review of monthly closes, reconciling of bank and investment accounts, exposure to endowment/investment advisors) with the ability to pick up new skills as needed.
The Controller/Finance Director will have a commitment to quality client service and own your work product. You should have some client-facing experience in your background (paid nonprofit or foundation experience required) that demonstrates the attention to detail, timeliness, and the ability to follow directions while juggling multiple tasks needed to be successful in this role. You should be able to accurately review final closes, as well as willing to roll up your sleeves and perform data entry.
Other important things to note:
• Top candidates will also have a strong attention to detail, be highly relational, possess a calmness under pressure, and be passionate about their work.
• Experience ensuring compliance with GAAP, nonprofit accounting (FASB ASC 958), and internal policies.
• Ability to manage and monitor grants, restricted/unrestricted funds, and compliance with donor requirements.
• Implement and maintain strong internal controls, financial policies, and procedures.
• Preferred experience with ERP Accounting Software (i.e. Sage Intacct, MIP, NetSuite, etc)
• Preferred experience with other Software (i.e. Salesforce, Monday, Airtable)
BENEFITS + PERKS
- Remote-First Approach
- Flexible & Generous Time Off
- 100% employer-paid options for medical, dental, and vision coverage for you, with employer contributions toward dependent coverage
- Employer-paid short- and long-term disability and life insurance
- Employer contribution of up to $825 to your Health Savings Account
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA, DCFSA and Commuter)
- Initial home office stipend of $550, with $250 provided annually thereafter
- $110 cell phone and home internet stipend
- 13 weeks paid parental and medical leave
- Annual year-end bonus based on both company performance and individual performance
- $500 annually to invest in your mental, emotional, and physical well-being
- Access to curated learning opportunities and team-based growth experiences to support the professional development of our team
$90,000 - $110,000 a year
A compensation committee of at least one department head, co founder, and the COO will meet to discuss potential starting salary within the band by weighing the candidate's expected contribution in terms of previous experience and expertise against current Third Plateau employees. We commit to sharing the reasoning used to determine starting salary with you. The expectation is not for new team members to be hired with a starting salary at the top of the band, but to have a salary that adequately compensates experience and expertise while countering pay inequality and upholding internal parity.
Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and considered for positions as vacancies arise. We encourage interested and qualified applicants to apply at any time.
Not sure you meet 100% of our qualifications? Research shows that men apply for jobs when they meet an average of 60% of the criteria. Yet, women and other people who are systematically marginalized tend to only apply if they meet every requirement. If you believe you could excel in this role, we encourage you to apply. We are dedicated to considering a broad array of candidates, including those with diverse workplace experiences and backgrounds. Whether you're new to this field, returning to work after a gap in employment, looking to transition, or taking the next step in your career, we would be glad to have you on our radar.
At Third Plateau, we believe in the power of diverse teams. In our recruiting efforts, we always seek to reach a broad and diverse pool of applicants to ensure our final candidates are not a homogeneous group in terms of demographics or experience. You can read more about our commitment to Equity & Belonging here. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds. Third Plateau is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to their race, color, age, religious creed, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics.
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