Controller

Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc.•New York, NY

39d•$130,000 - $150,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Apollo is an American cultural treasure. It is a vibrant non-profit organization rooted in the Harlem community that engages people from around New York, the nation, and the world. Since 1934, The Apollo has celebrated, created, and presented work that centers Black artists and voices from across the African Diaspora. It has also been a catalyst for social and civic advocacy. Today, The Apollo is the largest performing arts institution committed to Black culture and creativity. Role Summary The Controller is the Apollo Theater Foundation's senior hands-on accounting leader, responsible for executing the full month-end close, producing consolidated financial statements, and maintaining the integrity of the general ledger. Reporting to the CFO, this role owns the day-to-day accounting function so the CFO can focus on strategy, planning, and board relationships. The Controller is accountable for the accuracy of all financial information and serves as the primary coordinator for the annual audit. The Controller works across organizational boundaries — partnering with program leaders on budget-to-actual reporting, coordinating with external auditors and tax advisors, and supporting the CFO in preparing materials for board and leadership review. This role requires the ability to build trust with non-financial stakeholders and translate accounting into language that informs decisions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Accounting or Finance; CPA strongly preferred
7+ years of progressive accounting experience, with at least 3 years in a Controller or senior accounting manager role
Proven supervisory experience directly managing and developing accounting staff
Experience managing consolidated financial statements with intercompany eliminations
Direct experience with nonprofit accounting — fund accounting, restricted and unrestricted net assets, Form 990
Demonstrated audit coordination experience, including PBC management and auditor relationship ownership
Working knowledge of current lease accounting standards
Hands-on experience with Blackbaud Financial Edge or a comparable nonprofit ERP
Strong Excel skills; ability to build and maintain complex reconciliation schedules

Nice To Haves

CPA license
Experience in a nonprofit or mission-driven organization
Experience supporting a first-time or newly independent external audit
Familiarity with multi-entity consolidations involving for-profit subsidiaries and pass-through LLCs
Experience with debt covenant compliance and lender or funder reporting
Prior experience in a finance function transformation or organizational turnaround context

Responsibilities

Directly supervise the Accountant, and oversee the AP / Accounting Clerk through that role
Serve as the anchor of the finance team's reporting structure, establishing and maintaining segregation of duties across accounting, accounts payable, and payroll
Set close-cycle priorities, review staff work product, and develop the accounting team's technical capability
Provide coverage planning and cross-training to eliminate single-owner dependencies within the finance function
Execute the consolidated month-end close, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and proper documentation
Prepare multi-entity financial statements with full intercompany eliminations in accordance with GAAP
Maintain the general ledger, chart of accounts, and annual approved budget across all accounting systems
Own and enforce the close calendar; coordinate the monthly close process across departments
Deliver monthly budget-to-actual reporting with narrative to the CFO on a timely basis
Oversee the monthly bank reconciliation process
Review and approve all payments before final executive sign-off
Monitor daily cash balances and maintain cash flow forecasts
Maintain the debt covenant compliance framework and calendar across all active financing instruments
Track financial and reporting covenants; escalating potential defaults or breaches to the CFO
Oversee the accounting for donor-restricted net assets, ensuring proper classification, tracking, and release from restriction in accordance with donor intent and GAAP
Supervise grant expenditure reporting and draw documentation in coordination with program teams
Maintain lease accounting schedules, journal entries, and disclosures in accordance with applicable accounting standards
Research and document accounting positions on complex or emerging issues
Ensure GAAP compliance and identify areas of accounting risk across all consolidated entities
Document, implement, and govern internal controls across all finance processes
Develop and maintain standard operating procedures for the finance function
Identify control gaps and implement remediation plans
Ensure segregation of duties and appropriate authorization protocols are always maintained
Serve as day-to-day audit coordinator with the external audit firm
Manage the PBC list, auditor requests, and fieldwork timelines; ensure audit readiness throughout the year
Own internal controls testing and serve as primary control owner of record
Coordinate regulatory filings — including Form 990 and state registrations — with external advisors
Coordinate entity-level tax compliance across all legal entities with external tax advisors
Prepare quarterly sales tax filings in coordination with external advisors
Serve as functional owner of the core accounting system — COA governance and system integrity
Identify and drive process improvements that reduce manual error and increase efficiency
Support the CFO with financial analysis and board reporting as needed
Other duties as reasonably assigned by the CFO in support of the Foundation's finance operations.