Controller

CCSWW•Seattle, WA

23d•Onsite

About The Position

Catholic Community Services of Western Washington (CCSWW) is seeking a highly collaborative, mission-driven Controller to lead accounting operations for the King County accounting department. This role is critical to ensuring financial integrity, compliance, and operational excellence across a diverse and complex portfolio of government-funded and mission-based programs. Reporting to the Executive Finance Director, the Controller oversees full-cycle accounting functions for King County operations and plays a key leadership role in supporting program growth, staff development, and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate brings deep nonprofit accounting expertise, strong people leadership skills, and the ability to translate complex financial information for non-financial partners. The King County accounting department supports multiple lines of business with significant annual revenue and expenses funded primarily through government contracts and grants. The Controller partners closely with the Agency Director, Program Directors, and Finance leadership to ensure timely, accurate financial reporting and strong internal controls in compliance with GAAP and applicable regulatory requirements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from an accredited institution.
Audit experience.
Minimum of 8 years of progressive accounting experience, including at least 2 years of direct people management overseeing multiple accounting functions.
Strong working knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and complex general ledger reconciliations.
Experience with payroll accounting, including payroll tax and benefit reporting.
High proficiency with Excel and enterprise accounting systems.
Demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities, meet deadlines, and adapt to changing operational needs.
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

Active CPA license.
4+ years of experience in a nonprofit, government-funded, or social services environment.
Strong knowledge of federal compliance and audit requirements, including 2 CFR 200 (Uniform Guidance).
Experience training and supporting non-financial staff in financial management, budgeting, and internal controls.
Experience working in large, complex organizations with multiple funding streams and stakeholders.

Responsibilities

Directly supervise Accounting Managers who collectively oversee accounting staff responsible for multiple transaction cycles.
Foster a collaborative, respectful, and continuous-improvement-focused culture that prioritizes communication, staff engagement, and retention.
Provide mentorship, coaching, performance evaluations, hiring support, and professional development opportunities for staff.
Proactively identify workload challenges and staffing needs to ensure sustainable operations and high-quality output.
Oversee all accounting functions, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, contract billings, general ledger, and month-end close.
Establish, monitor, and enforce monthly closing procedures and deadlines; ensure financial statements accurately reflect activity and results.
Review and approve journal entries, reconciliations, and financial reports prepared by accounting staff.
Maintain a strong working knowledge of contract terms to support accurate revenue recognition and timely billing and collection.
Maintain effective internal controls over regional accounting activities
Ensure compliance with CCSWW accounting policies, procedures, and internal control standards
Support internal and external audits related to regional operations
Identify control issues and coordinate corrective actions
Ensure compliance with GAAP, federal and state funding requirements, and CCSWW policies.
Act as a trusted financial partner to program leadership by providing guidance on budgeting, financial reporting, contract monitoring, and fiscal controls.
Translate financial information clearly and effectively for non-financial stakeholders to support informed decision-making.
Proactively communicate significant financial risks, issues, or trends to the Finance Director.
Contribute to enterprise initiatives such as ERP optimization, process standardization, and systems improvements.