Career Center

Sidwell Friends, a PK-12 Quaker day school located in Washington, DC seeks an Assistant Controller in the Finance Department.

The Assistant Controller role is an integral part of the Finance Office, assisting in preparing financial reports, such as income statements, balance sheets, cash and budget tracking, and other special reports that may be needed. The Assistant Controller also supports the functions of accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and audit preparation. The role is a supervisory role within the business office and reports to the Director of Business Operations.

Essential Functions:

General Accounting and Financial Reporting

• Responsible for supervising and leading accounts payable and accounts receivable; ensuring accurate and timely financial information.
• In consultation with the Director of Business Operations, assisting with the selection and implementation of new software to streamline all processes of the finance functions while ensuring appropriate segregation of duties.
• Reviewing account reconciliations on a monthly basis.
• Providing support training of accounting department staff.
• Ensuring timely and accurate revenue and expense recording:
• Assist the Director of Business Operations in the preparation and monitoring of departmental budgets and forecasts, working with other administrators and department heads concerning budget performance.
• Communicating accounting policies to employees and ensuring compliance with such policies.

Audit Duties

• Partnering with the Director of Business Operation to prepare schedules and work papers for the annual audit (school and 403b plan).
• Assisting with form 990 preparation.
• Maintaining permanent office files for all audit schedules prepared by the School.

Surveys and Peer Reporting

• Preparing all surveys and reports for the school’s trade organizations (e.g. , NAIS, NBOA, AIMS, etc.)
• Preparing other similar data as requested.

Other Duties

• Other miscellaneous tasks may be assigned.

Qualifications:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Ability to learn and teach others established processes. Recognizes the importance of learning and motivates others. Can learn and reproduce the current processes and recommend best practices to streamline them.
• Time Management Skills - Manages tasks and projects simultaneously, adhering to deadlines and promises. Maintains work/life balance without compromising the expectations of others. Respected for the ability to “find” or “make” time to finish things.
• Organizational Skills - Creates action plans to meet divisional goals and objectives. Conducts periodic reviews of progress and measures against goals. Assist with the development of broad policies for the office to ensure success.
• Communications Skills - Effectively communicates accounting, financial and service issues that are complex in nature. Maintains open communications channels with peers, administrators, and customers at the School.
• Written Communication Skills - Effectively communicates broad and very complex business issues.
• Problem-Solving Skills - Considers a broad range of internal and external factors when solving problems. Grasps complexities and perceives relationships among different problems or issues.
• The Assistant Controller must have excellent client service skills, including excellent oral and written communication skills, high levels of empathy and patience, and sense of humor.

Education and Experience:

The ideal candidate will be a CPA with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and at least 5 years of experience in non-profit accounting, including leadership experience. The candidate must have experience in a similar role. Independent School experience is a plus. Working knowledge of nonprofit accounting is essential.

As a condition of employment, all employees who are employed with the school are required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and able to provide proof of such vaccination. To make application for a medical or religious exemption, please contact the human resources department.

Applicants should upload a resume, cover letter and contact information for three professional references via our on-line application.

About Sidwell Friends School - Washington, DC

Sidwell Friends School (SFS) is a PK-12, co-educational Quaker day school with campuses in Washington, D.C., and Bethesda, Maryland. Founded in 1883, the School is a nonprofit, tax-exempt institution governed by an independent Board of Trustees. A Sidwell Friends education aims to help students become the leaders of the future. To that end, the School seeks qualified individuals with the knowledge, skills, and ability to enhance the student experience and strengthen our community. Sidwell Friends maintains a generous salary and benefits package that supports and rewards our employees while helping them to deepen their professional expertise and grow as individuals. For teaching positions, a master’s degree and teaching experience in the field are preferred; a bachelor’s degree is required. For staff positions, we seek candidates with relevant experience, a commitment to excellence, and an enthusiasm for being a member of our vibrant and diverse community.

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