Controller

Saint John’s Program for Real Change mission is to provide a safe space for women and children to heal and develop the skills necessary to transform their lives. We accomplish our mission by holding to our vision to end the generational cycle of trauma and homelessness. 

We operate the largest residential program for formerly homeless women and children in the Sacramento region providing services 24 hours/day, 365 days/year, offering shelter, meals, childcare, and comprehensive support services, including Behavioral Health Services, Hands-on Employment Training, Career Education, and Family Services. 

Joining our team means becoming part of a community dedicated to making a real difference in the lives of those we serve. At Saint John’s, you ‘ll be part of something bigger – a mission-driven organization committed to making a lasting impact on our community. We are committed to fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment where teamwork, compassion, and empathy are valued. You’ll be surrounded by dedicated colleagues who share your passion for service to others. We believe in investing in our staff and providing opportunities for professional growth and development because we recognize your work here will truly make a measurable difference. 

BENEFITS OVERVIEW 

• Choice of 8 medical plans 

• Choice of 3 dental plans 

• Vision, Life and Accident and Injury Insurance 

• Employee Assistance Program 

• 403 (b) 100% match for 1%–6% of pay 

• Paid Time Off includes: 11 paid holidays, 2 floating holidays, 7 sick days and up to 18 days of vacation per calendar year. 

TITLE ​                      Controller​  

SALARY                  From $​100,000​ To $​115,000​ ​Annually​ 

CLASSIFICATION ​  Full-Time​, ​Exempt​ 

LOCATION ​             On Site - Jackson Rd. Sacramento, CA (possibility for hybrid based on job requirements)​ 

SCHEDULE ​            Monday- Friday​, ​9:00 am​ to ​5:30 pm​  

About the Position… 

The Controller will lead all accounting and financial operations at the organization, overseeing day-to-day accounting functions and long-term fiscal strategy. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer and the Board of Directors, the Controller will ensure accurate, GAAP-compliant financial reporting, supervise a small team, serve on the Management team, and implement efficient, compliant systems that support our growing programs and funding streams. This role is ideal for someone who finds joy in accounting, welcomes critical feedback, and is excited to build processes that align with our mission and scale. 

You’ll be responsible for… 

Accounting and Financial Operations 

• Oversee all accounting operations including general ledger, grant allocations, AP/AR, payroll, reconciliations, and monthly close 

• Maintain and improve internal controls, ensuring GAAP compliance and audit readiness 

• Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements and reports for stakeholders, leadership, and the Board of Directors 

• Lead grant and restricted fund accounting; ensure proper tracking and reporting in collaboration with the development and program teams 

• Support annual audit, Single Audit, and 990 preparation, working directly with auditors and external consultants 

• Coordinate multi-entity and consolidated financial reporting 

Budgeting and Financial Planning 

• Lead the annual budgeting process, collaborating with directors and leadership 

• Create and maintain forecasting tools and dashboards to support decision-making 

• Track financial performance against budget and identify risks or variances early 

• Offer actionable insights and support departments in making data-driven financial decisions 

Financial Reporting and Budgeting 

• Work closely with the program and development teams to assist in creating expenditure tracking and ensure funds are allocated according to grantor specifications. 

• Gather detailed financial reports for funders, ensuring compliance with all reporting requirements. 

• Coordinate with program, development and finance teams to check grant spending and address variances from budgeted costs. 

• Support the annual budgeting process by providing grant revenue forecasts and financial data analysis.  

• Track variances between the planned and actual expenditures and flag any concerns. 

• Work with the finance team to ensure that all grants and donations are spent per funder guidelines, documenting compliance for audits and reports. 

Team Leadership and Collaboration 

• Supervise and coach 2 finance staff with a collaborative and growth-minded approach 

• Define team roles and workflows based on individual strengths and evolving organizational needs 

• Champion accuracy, process improvement, and timely completion of finance deliverables 

• Communicate financial concepts clearly to non-financial staff and coach directors on budget management 

Systems, Tools, and Compliance 

• Build out efficient, scalable systems for a growing organization with multiple funding sources 

• Stay current with nonprofit regulations, GAAP changes, and best practices 

• Be proficient in finance-related tools including QuickBooks Online, Excel models, and supplementary systems like Paycom, Ramp, and PEX 

• Manage relationships with banks, insurance providers, and other financial partners 

You must have... 

• At least 3 years of experience as a Controller or senior-level finance leader in the nonprofit sector 

• At least 5 years of experience leading a team of finance professionals 

• Demonstrated ability to manage and mentor staff 

• Deep knowledge of GAAP, grant accounting, fund accounting, and nonprofit financial regulations 

• Audit and Single Audit experience 

• Strong budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis skills 

• Advanced Excel proficiency; familiarity with QuickBooks Online and other ERPs 

• Hands-on work style; willing to dig into details while also leading strategy 

It's a plus if you have... 

• Experience with residential rental accounting and/or government contracts 

• Familiarity with Paycom, Ramp, Brex, PEX, Asana, and SharePoint 

• Sales tax and state compliance filing experience 

Physical Requirements 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The physical requirements for performing the essential functions of this position require the employee to be able to: 

• Standing/walking approximately 20% and sitting 80% of the time 

• Close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 

• Ability to hear and respond to simple and sometimes critical messages exchanged in noisy/high traffic areas. 

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

You'll be successful if... 

You’re a strong communicator. 

You take your role seriously and are a great communicator in verbal and written communication. You’re intentional about giving internal and external clients a positive interaction. 

You're organized and diligent. 

You can multitask because you keep things in order. You can handle and prioritize multiple projects of various origins at once. You follow through on every request, no matter how big or small. You keep your cool under pressure and know how to prioritize your responsibilities. And when you need help, you’re not afraid to ask. 

You’re exceptionally people oriented. 

You can relate to all types of people and you’re a skilled conversationalist. You enjoy meeting new people; developing and maintaining relationships is a natural tendency. 

You’re a problem solver and a strategic thinker. 

You find new and efficient ways to streamline and create processes to make things run more smoothly. You are analytical and can infer the implications and consequences of approaches and anticipate potential issues before they occur. 

You are a team player. 

You care more about overall results than personal recognition. You genuinely love collaboration and the process of working together to accomplish objectives. You thrive in an environment where people are passionate about their work and mission. You’re excited to work cross-functionally with other departments. 

You are committed to promoting dignity, diversity, and equality. 

You believe in focusing on the solution, not the problem, and always write with dignity and respect at the forefront. 

You're detailed. 

You double and triple-check your work because you know that accurate data is crucial for an Accounting Department to operate successfully. You pay strong attention to detail, have excellent math, grammar, spelling, and proofreading skills. You care about the numbers being right and take the time to make sure everything reconciles or is set up to be error-proof. 

You're a self-starter. 

You can work unaccompanied, and you work just as hard and thoroughly by yourself as you do when someone is looking. 

Saint John’s Program for Real Change is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate because of age, color, gender, sexual orientation, disability, national origin, race, religion, marital status, or veteran status.