Controller, Accounting, & Financial Operations

First Book•Washington, DC

10h•Hybrid

About The Position

First Book is a leading nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to removing barriers to quality education for children in need. Through innovative public–private partnerships and a national network of more than 600,000 educators, program leaders, and community organizations, First Book has distributed over 250 million books and educational resources to under-resourced communities. Our work spans e-commerce (First Book Marketplace), research and insights (First Book R&I), and tailored program development (First Book Accelerator), all designed to elevate the voices and needs of educators serving children in low-income communities. ABOUT THE ROLE The Controller, Accounting & Financial Operations is responsible for the integrity, accuracy, timeliness, and scalability of First Book’s accounting and financial reporting functions. This role leads the day-to-day accounting operation and serves as a key financial partner to Finance and organizational leadership, ensuring that financial information supports sound operational and strategic decision-making. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller leads the accounting team and will move the function from reporting historical results to providing forward-looking financial insight and decision support.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field required.
Active Certified Public Accountant (CPA) license in good standing required.
Minimum of ten years of progressive accounting or finance experience, including a senior-level finance or accounting position, required; prior Controller and/or nonprofit accounting experience strongly preferred.
Demonstrated expertise in U.S. GAAP and nonprofit accounting, including contributions, grants, restricted funds, and revenue recognition.
Proven experience owning the financial close, leading annual audits, and designing and maintaining internal controls.
Experience developing budgets, forecasts, and financial models, including during a period of organizational growth.
Exceptional financial analysis skills, including variance, margin, working capital, and cash flow analysis.
Experience implementing or optimizing accounting systems and automating financial processes.
Demonstrated experience supervising and developing accounting staff.
Ability to communicate financial results and recommendations clearly to non-financial stakeholders, executive leadership, and the Board.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; proficiency with Word and PowerPoint.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA) or Accounting (MAcc) preferred.
Experience with inventory accounting or earned-revenue/e-commerce business lines preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead all accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, fixed assets, inventory, and revenue recognition.
Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close processes, delivering accurate and timely financial statements, management reporting, and Board-level reporting in compliance with U.S. GAAP and applicable nonprofit requirements.
Partner with Finance leadership and business/program leaders to develop budgets, forecasts, financial models, and operating plans; lead variance analysis and translate results into actionable insights for management.
Develop meaningful financial and operating metrics and evaluate cost structures, pricing, margins, and the financial implications of new programs, partnerships, and revenue opportunities.
Design, implement, and continuously strengthen internal controls, including segregation of duties, approval processes, and reconciliations.
Monitor compliance with financial, tax, regulatory, and contractual requirements; identify financial and operational risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
Lead the annual financial statement audit and partner with external tax advisors on tax filings and required regulatory reporting.
Oversee accounting and financial systems, ensuring data integrity and driving automation and scalable processes.
Oversee cash management, banking relationships, cash forecasting, and liquidity planning.
Lead, supervise, and develop the accounting team, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and financial stewardship.
Serve as a trusted financial resource across the organization.
Other duties as assigned.