Controller

Newark Academy • Livingston, NJ

44d • Onsite

About The Position

Newark Academy seeks a skilled, collaborative, and highly-organized Controller to lead the school’s accounting operations and financial reporting functions. The Controller will play a central role in maintaining the integrity of the school’s financial systems, ensuring accurate and timely reporting, strengthening internal controls, and overseeing key compliance responsibilities. This role will serve as the lead on the annual audit, Form 990, and tax compliance processes, while managing accounting staff and supporting strong business office operations across the institution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Master’s degree in accounting, or CPA required
• Minimum of 5–7 years of nonprofit accounting experience, including management of accounting staff
• Strong knowledge of nonprofit accounting, financial reporting, audit processes, and tax compliance
• Strong proficiency with Excel, Microsoft Office, and computerized accounting systems
• Excellent organizational, analytical, written, and verbal communication skills
• High degree of professionalism, discretion, and ethical judgment

Nice To Haves

• CPA strongly preferred
• Independent school or higher education experience strongly valued
• Experience with Blackbaud Financial Edge and related systems is highly beneficial

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, student billing, cash receipts, deposits, and reconciliations
• Manage the monthly close process and prepare accurate monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial reports
• Produce budget-to-actual reports, cash analyses, variance reporting, and dashboard summaries for school leadership
• Maintain the chart of accounts and ensure accurate coding and approval of financial transactions
• Monitor cash activity and support effective cash reporting and oversight
• Serve as the lead on preparation for the annual financial audit, including schedules, workpapers, reconciliations, and coordination with external auditors
• Lead preparation of the school’s Form 990 and support completion of other required federal, state, and local tax filings and compliance reporting
• Maintain permanent finance files and ensure organized, timely documentation for audits, filings, and regulatory review
• Resolve reporting issues with applicable agencies, as needed
• Recommend and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls that protect school assets and support accurate reporting
• Support the CFO with preparation and monitoring of the annual budget and ongoing forecasts
• Prepare monthly departmental budget reports and variance analyses for administrators and budget managers
• Identify trends, discrepancies, and follow-up items in a timely manner
• Train, and support accounting staff across core business office functions
• Help ensure strong coverage and cross-training across payables, receivables, budgeting, and billing
• Promote consistent procedures, accountability, and high standards of accuracy and service within the Business Office
• Partner effectively with colleagues across the school to support sound financial practices and responsive service

Benefits

• Paid time off (PTO)
• paid holidays
• retirement
• medical
• dental
• vision insurance
• short-term and long-term disability
• life insurance
• a variety of other benefits

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager