Controller

POSITION: Controller

LOCATION: Northwest Youth Corps Headquarters – Eugene, Oregon

COMPENSATION: $95,000- $100,000 DOE

BENEFITS OVERVIEW: Personal Leave, Paid Holidays, Medical and Dental Coverage, Disability/Life Insurance, 401(k) investment plan, Wellness Benefit, Professional Development and other perks!

Timeline

Please note, initial review begins 11/23/26

Organizational Background

Since 1984, Northwest Youth Corps (NYC), a non-profit organization, has given tens of thousands of youth and young adults opportunities to learn, grow, and experience success.

Through partnerships with conservation agencies, youth and young adults gain the personal and professional skills needed to carry out a variety of stewardship projects, from which they can earn a stipend, high school credit, and/or an AmeriCorps educational award.

More importantly, these young people gain skills needed to become economically and socially self-sufficient, benefit their communities as citizen stewards, and recognize that they can make a positive difference. NYC also operates an accredited charter school, internship program, and the Idaho Conservation Corps (ICC).

Position Summary

The Controller provides leadership and oversight for Northwest Youth Corps' accounting operations, financial reporting, internal controls, and stewardship of organizational resources. The Controller builds the financial structures, systems, policies, and procedures needed to support NYC's mission and maintain accurate, organized financial records.

Reporting to the VP of AdministrationSystems and collaborating with the Executive Team, the Controller supports financial planning, anticipates operational challenges, and leads the finance team in maintaining reliable books and effective accounting practices.

Position Details

This role emphasizes hands-on financial leadership and responsibility for a dependable finance operation. Supervises finance team to complete daily, weekly, monthly, and annual tasks. The Controller establishes orderly accounting and reporting cycles, clear staff responsibilities, and financial accountability throughout the organization.

Department Supervision and Collaborations

The Controller shares a strong commitment to NYC's mission and values and directly supervises, develops, and supports Finance Department staff, setting clear priorities and following through on the quality and timely completion of their work. The Controller partners with the President, VP of AdministrationSystems, department leaders, and the Board's Finance Committee to guide financial decisions and planning.

The position collaborates with VP of PeopleCulture on payroll and benefits-related financial matters and manages relationships with auditors, tax professionals, banking partners, and other financial service providers.

Position Qualifications and Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and progressively responsible financial leadership experience; CPA, CMA, or an advanced degree preferred.
• Eight or more years of progressively responsible accounting and finance experience, including responsibility for supervising accounting staff and managing accounting operations.
• Experience supporting financial planning and forecasting is preferred; further development in these areas can occur in the position.
• Demonstrated success leading an accounting team to organize and reconcile financial records, strengthen internal controls, and implement documented procedures that staff use consistently.
• Nonprofit financial management experience strongly preferred, including restricted and unrestricted funds, grant and contract accounting, cost allocation, and federal award compliance.
• Strong knowledge of GAAP, nonprofit financial reporting, audit processes, and applicable tax and payroll reporting requirements.
• Strong financial systems expertise, including QuickBooks Online and advanced Excel skills; experience with Salesforce and Paylocity preferred. Ability to assess system limitations and guide improvements and integration.
• Ability to communicate complex financial information clearly, provide candid recommendations, and build financial understanding and accountability among non-finance leaders.
• Demonstrated judgment, integrity, change leadership, and ability to manage confidential information and competing organizational priorities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Structures Systems and Procedures

• Assess the finance function and lead staff in carrying out a prioritized improvement plan for financial records, accounting workflows, and procedures, with clear milestones, assigned responsibilities, and measures of progress.
• Design, document, implement, and maintain financial policies and procedures covering budgeting, purchasing, approvals, disbursements, revenue recognition, billing, reconciliations, close, and reporting.
• Establish clear financial authority, approval thresholds, segregation of duties, and accountability across departments, with appropriate leadership and board approvals.
• Build consistent structures for tracking Northwest Youth Corps and Twin Rivers Charter School financial activity separately, including programs, grants, contracts, departments, and cost centers; establish documented methods for allocating shared costs that reflect applicable funding requirements and provide reliable financial data.
• Evaluate and improve financial systems, integrations, and workflows to reduce manual work, improve data quality, and provide timely information for decisions.
• Establish an annual finance calendar, reporting standards, documentation requirements, and cross-training so essential processes are consistent and resilient.
• Train staff and department leaders on financial procedures and evaluate whether new systems and processes are being used effectively.

Budgeting Forecasting and Performance

• Coordinate preparation and ongoing monitoring of the annual Northwest Youth Corps and Twin Rivers Charter School budgets in collaboration with the President, VP of AdministrationSystems, and department and school leaders.
• Maintain rolling forecasts and short- and long-term cash flow projections for NYC and TRCS, with separate visibility into each budget and an overall organizational view; regularly update assumptions as conditions change.
• Establish financial dashboards and performance measures that show budget variances, liquidity, funding exposure, program costs, and other indicators relevant to NYC.
• Provide separate budget-to-actual reporting and variance analysis for NYC and TRCS, together with an overall organizational financial view. Explain projected outcomes and recommended corrective actions; partner with leaders to implement and monitor responses.
• Build department leaders' ability to plan, understand financial reports, and manage their budgets; establish regular financial review meetings.

Financial Operations Reporting and Controls

• Lead and review staff work throughout the full accounting cycle, including general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, payroll accounting, reconciliations, fixed assets, and cash management; provide hands-on guidance and resolve accounting issues as needed.
• Ensure accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and annual close and financial statements, with reconciled balance sheet accounts, supporting schedules, clear review responsibilities, and established deadlines.
• Ensure accurate accounting for restricted and unrestricted funds, grants, contracts, and projects and consistent expense coding and allocation.
• Provide leadership and the Finance Committee with clear financial reports, analysis, forecasts, and actionable recommendations.
• Design and periodically evaluate internal controls that safeguard assets, prevent errors and fraud, and support reliable reporting.

Audit Tax and Financial Compliance

• Lead preparation for the annual financial statement audit and Single Audit, when applicable; coordinate with external auditors and ensure timely resolution of findings.
• Oversee financial information and coordination needed for Form 990, Oregon CT-12, payroll tax filings, and other applicable reporting with external professionals as appropriate.
• Ensure financial compliance with grant, contract, and assistance-agreement requirements, including allowable costs, match, invoicing, cost allocation, and financial reporting.
• Maintain current knowledge of relevant accounting standards and financial requirements; translate changes into procedures, controls, and staff guidance.
• Ensure financial records are retained appropriately and financial responsibilities associated with tax-exempt status are fulfilled.

Finance Team and Organizational Leadership

• Establish a finance team structure with clear roles, work assignments, priorities, and performance standards; monitor completion of accounting tasks and resolve backlogs or recurring errors.
• Supervise, mentor, and evaluate Finance Department staff; develop technical skills, leadership capacity, and continuity through cross-training.
• Build a service-oriented finance function that helps departments plan ahead, resolve issues, and use resources responsibly.
• Coordinate with PeopleCulture on payroll and benefits-related financial data, controls, and cost planning.
• Lead financial change initiatives from design through implementation, assess results, and continuously improve processes.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

• The position is primarily performed in an office setting and requires regular use of a computer, telephone, and standard office equipment.
• The employee is regularly required to sit, communicate, and use hands for computer and office work, and may periodically stand or walk during the workday.
• The employee may occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Complies with attendance and punctuality standards and all organizational policies.

This Position Description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

Terms of Employment

This is a full-time, exempt position based at Northwest Youth Corps Headquarters in Eugene, Oregon. Typical hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with periodic longer days and/or evening or weekend responsibilities during audit, budget, year-end close, or other peak finance periods. Remote-work eligibility is governed by current NYC policy.

All job offers are contingent upon completion of the background-check requirements applicable to the position and current NYC policy.

To Apply

Send a cover letter and resume to Jessica Johnson, Human Resources Officer, at [email protected] with "Controller" in the subject line and attachments in Word or PDF format. Online application and more information can be found at: https://www.nwyouthcorps.org/ Please do not call or drop in.

Northwest Youth Corps is an Equal Opportunity Employer - At Northwest Youth Corps, we believe diversity is an essential source of strength for our communities, and we strive to create a safe and empowering environment for all participants and staff from the widest range of backgrounds and abilities.

We are privileged to facilitate conservation service on our public lands with humility and are deeply invested in supporting youth and young adults of all races, ethnicities, gender identities, religions, sexual orientations, economic status, and/or other socio-cultural identifiers to learn, grow, and experience success in our programs, and beyond.