Controller

Woodland School•Portola Valley, CA

14d•$130,000 - $148,000•Onsite

About The Position

Woodland School is an independent day school located west of Stanford University, serving approximately 315 students from early childhood through eighth grade. The school offers a joyful approach to learning in a diverse, respectful, and inclusive environment, with small class sizes averaging 14-18 students. Woodland specializes in education that inspires students by nurturing individual voice, intellect, and character through inquiry-based and student-driven projects. The faculty fosters a supportive, nurturing, and challenging environment, embodying the school's core values: stewardship, integrity, curiosity, resilience, equity, and respect. The school is committed to building a culturally diverse and pluralistic faculty and encourages applications from candidates who reflect such diversity.

Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of progressive accounting experience, including prior experience as a Controller
Bachelor's degree in accounting or finance required
Significant experience in non-profit accounting, preferably within an independent school, foundation, or other educational institution Including expertise in fund accounting, including restricted and endowed funds
Strong knowledge of GAAP, audit processes, and internal control best practices
Proven experience supervising accounting staff
High proficiency with accounting and ERP systems
Excellent analytical, organizational, interpersonal and communication skills
Hands-on manager who is comfortable both executing and overseeing work with a great attention to detail
Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, mentor, and manage staff.
Excellent interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills.
High level of integrity, discretion, and commitment to the school’s mission and values.
Eagerness to engage in the life of an elementary school campus.
Visible presence on campus and highly engaged in the daily life of the school.
Actively engaged in the community with genuine enthusiasm and a proven passion for finance.

Nice To Haves

CPA strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and continuously strengthen internal controls to safeguard institutional assets.
Ensure segregation of duties, approval workflows, and documentation standards across all financial processes.
Monitor compliance with internal policies, donor restrictions, and Board-approved financial practices.
Serve as a key guardian of fiduciary discipline across the institution.
Assist the CFO with the preparation of the annual budget to align with the school’s goals and mission and maintain account records related to the school’s budget.
Monitor budget-to-actual performance and identify discrepancies or emerging issues. Support the CFO in forecasting, and variance analysis.
Partner with department leaders to ensure accurate expense coding and financial accountability.
Be responsible for and be the primary leader in the annual financial audit and any other audits by outside authorities.
Ensure timely completion of audit schedules, confirmations, and required disclosures.
Support preparation of Form 990 and other regulatory filings in partnership with the CFO and external advisors.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local financial and tax regulations applicable to independent schools and nonprofit organizations.
Oversee accounting for restricted, temporarily restricted, and unrestricted funds.
Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of endowed funds, capital gifts, and donor-restricted contributions.
Partner with Advancement and the CFO to ensure compliance with gift agreements and donor intent.
Maintain and optimize the School’s financial systems, including ERP/accounting platforms and reporting tools.
Lead process improvements to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and transparency.
Ensure consistent financial procedures across departments, and programs.