Sisters of St Joseph - CONTROLLER

Diocese of St. Augustine•Saint Augustine, FL

15h•Onsite

About The Position

St. Joseph Ministries, Inc. (SJM) is the canonical and ministerial stewardship entity of the Sisters of St. Joseph (SSJ) congregation — a community of Catholic women religious whose roots in St. Augustine run more than 159 years deep. SJM exists to carry forward the congregation's mission as it navigates a significant generational and structural transition: formalizing its governance model, stewarding its assets, and ensuring its charism endures beyond the active years of its founding members. The Controller steps into a moment of institutional consequence. This is not a maintenance role. The person in this seat will help maintain the financial infrastructure that supports a congregation in transition, a capital campaign in motion, and a governance structure being shaped in real time. We are looking for a seasoned financial professional with genuine depth in nonprofit accounting who also brings something harder to teach: the disposition of a steward. The right person understands that in a religious congregation, the numbers are never just numbers. A budget line reflects a ministry decision. A restricted fund carries a donor's hope. An audit finding touches institutional trust. The Controller we are seeking holds that weight with care — without losing the analytical rigor or professional independence that the role demands. Day to day, this person is hands-on and precise: they close the books, catch discrepancies before they become problems, and make sure leadership always has a clear and honest picture of financial reality. They supervise the HR Specialist not as a title but as an investment — developing that person's skills, delegating well, and building a team that functions with or without them in the room. They are also an effective communicator. The Board, the Sisters, the Chief Operating Officer, and outside auditors all need financial information, but not the same information in the same way. The Controller translates fluently between those worlds.

Requirements

Genuine financial depth. You have managed the full accounting function for a nonprofit — general ledger, close process, restricted funds, audit preparation, and 990 filing. You know where things go wrong and why, and you catch problems before they surface.
A steward's instincts. You understand that a religious congregation's finances are held in trust — for its mission, its members, and those it serves. You approach that responsibility with appropriate gravity, without being rigid or remote.
The ability to explain money in plain language. You can sit across from a Sister, a Board member, or an auditor and give each of them what they need in terms they can use. You don't hide behind jargon, and you don't oversimplify to the point of distortion.
A supervisor's mindset. You know that developing your direct report is part of your job — not a distraction from it. You delegate on purpose and follow through.
Discretion and steadiness. Financial information in a congregation is sensitive — it involves personal circumstances, institutional vulnerabilities, and strategic decisions in formation. You hold that information with care and don't let pressure compromise your judgment.
Attention and follow-through. You catch the small things. You close loops. You don't let reconciliations slide or let an unanswered auditor inquiry age in your inbox.
Comfort with complexity and transition. SJM is not a static organization. You are comfortable working in an environment where structures are still being built, priorities can shift, and the work sometimes requires building the plane while flying it.
Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, or Business Administration.
Minimum five (5) years of progressive accounting experience, with at least two (2) in a senior or supervisory role.
Demonstrated experience in nonprofit accounting: fund accounting, restricted gift management, and Form 990 preparation are essential.
Advanced proficiency in QuickBooks Online and Microsoft Excel.
Strong knowledge of GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present financial information to nonfinancial audiences.
A valid Florida driver's license, current auto insurance, and reliable transportation.

Nice To Haves

CPA licensure (active or inactive).
Experience with a Catholic, faith-based, or other religiously affiliated nonprofit — diocese, religious congregation, or similar.
Experience managing or supporting an independent audit engagement.
Exposure to capital campaign accounting, endowment management, or major gift fund administration.
Familiarity with donor database software (e.g., Bloomerang, Raiser's Edge, Virtuous, DonorPerfect) and reconciliation to the general ledger.

Responsibilities

Own the full close cycle — monthly, quarterly, and annual — reviewing and approving all journal entries, account reconciliations, and financial statements across all SJM entities (SSJ Trust, SSJ Congregation, SJNC, SJM Inc.).
Prepare consolidated and entity-level financial statements and ensure they are accurate, timely, and presented in a form that is genuinely useful to leadership.
Maintain the general ledger, chart of accounts, and all subsidiary reconciliations; reconcile the donor database to the general ledger each month.
Oversee accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll review, and the accounting for all restricted gifts, grants, and designated funds — ensuring donor intent is honored and restrictions are properly documented and released.
Verify that all disbursements carry proper approval; maintain check request and authorization procedures.
Serve as the primary point of contact for the annual independent audit — preparing schedules, coordinating with auditors, and following through on any recommendations.
Coordinate the preparation and timely filing of all required tax returns (Form 990, state equivalents) in partnership with legal counsel or the organization's CPA firm.
Ensure the organization remains current on all regulatory requirements: IRS, state charitable solicitation, and any diocesan financial standards that apply.
Maintain and annually update the Accounting Policies & Procedures Manual.
Design and maintain an internal control environment strong enough to protect the congregation's assets and its reputation — including appropriate separation of duties and authorization protocols.
Monitor the control environment continuously; identify weaknesses and implement corrections before they become audit findings.
Act as a backup for incoming mail procedures when needed, in line with established cash receipt controls.
Lead the annual budget process in close collaboration with the COO/CFO; ensure the budget reflects operational reality and mission priorities.
Produce monthly budget-versus-actuals analyses with clear variance explanations; update rolling forecasts and flag concerns early.
Provide financial modeling and scenario analysis to support major decisions — including the congregation's ongoing governance transition, the Toward a Place of Pilgrimage capital campaign, and property or investment matters.
Develop and maintain financial dashboards and KPI reporting for the Board Finance Committee and congregational leadership.
Manage daily cash flow, bank reconciliations, and treasury operations; maintain current banking authorizations and relationships.
Monitor investment account activity and coordinate with investment advisors on distributions, contributions, and reporting.
Directly supervise the HR Specialist: set clear expectations, provide regular feedback, delegate appropriately, and invest in that person's professional growth.
Ensure the accounting team is cross-trained and operationally resilient.
Oversee QuickBooks Online and related systems; maintain data integrity and recommend improvements when the tools aren't serving the work.