Assistant Controller

POSITION TITLE: ASSISTANT CONTROLLER - PROGRAMS

LOCATION: WASHINGTON, DC

DEPARTMENT: FINANCE

SUPERVISOR: DIRECTOR OF FINANCE

ABOUT GREENPEACE:

Greenpeace is the leading independent environmental organization that utilizes bold action, cutting-edge research and creative communications to protect the Earth. We expose global environmental problems and promote the solutions that are essential to a green and peaceful future. We investigate, document, expose environmental destruction in a peaceful manner, and promote open, informed debate about society's environmental choices. To ensure our independence we do not accept donations from corporations or governments. To learn more about us, please visit our website at www.greenpeace.org.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

This position is the perfect opportunity for an experienced Accounting and Grants professional who is looking to join a mission driven organization and to make an impact. The Programs Controller will be responsible for the accounting, planning, reporting and monitoring of all programmatic projects and grants of Greenpeace USA, comprised of two separate legal entities – Greenpeace, Inc., a 501(c)(4) organization and Greenpeace Fund, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization, with a combined annual gross budget of approximately $60 million.  

The Assistant Controller will:

Projects Financial Management and Compliance

• Primarily responsible for maintaining the Organizations’ net assets schedule, monitoring, updating and reporting on restricted net assets (“Funding Model”) on a monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.
• In coordination with programmatic staff, support the budgeting, forecasting, monitoring and reporting of projects and functional units leveraging the capabilities of the Organization’s Financial Planning and Analysis system, “FinPlan” (TAGETIC).
• Oversee the funding and spending of projects during the planning and performance phases.
• Perform financial analyses and summarize year over year and budget to actual variances of projects, units and departments.
• Manage the tracking and allocation of expenditures, especially the budgeting and monitoring of staff and indirect costs allocations across projects and units.
• Support Program Department’s leadership with insightful financial analyses and reports.
• Facilitate the monthly reconciliation of receivable and payable balances between Greenpeace, Inc., Greenpeace Fund, and Greenpeace International and prepare any necessary adjusting journal entries.
• Liaise with Greenpeace International staff, upon the direction of the Director of Finance, to respond to inquiries surrounding reporting.
• Facilitate the creation and modification of new financial reports using FinPlan, the Financial Planning and Analysis system used by Greenpeace.
• Prepare all grant, net asset, and restriction releases related schedules for annual audit requirements and complete other duties related to the annual audit, as needed.
• Perform other special projects as requested by the Director of Finance.

Maintenance of the Grant Tracking and Funding Process

• Primarily responsible for coordinating with programmatic and development staff to ensure all grant transactions are accurately reflected in the accounting system and all grant budgets and financial expenditure reports are completed timely.  
• Work directly with Greenpeace Development and Program managers to ensure compliance with all grants restrictions and the grant policies that govern Greenpeace, Inc. and Greenpeace Fund. This includes generating recommendations for improvements in programmatic and fiscal operations and greater operating efficiencies in the business processes.
• Prepare and/or process grant budgets and expenditure reports in accordance with Funding Management guidelines. 
• Coordinate with Greenpeace Development and Governance liaison to ensure timely presentation of grants to the Greenpeace Fund Board and timely distribution of grants after approval.
• Manage the post award grant accounting life cycle, including but not limited to: as necessary, establishing a new cost center and budget in the accounting system; training the program manager on grant procedures and compliance; and performing compliance analysis of allowable grant expenditures. 
• Prepare the financial information related to reporting to the Greenpeace Fund Board for all Greenpeace, Inc. funding.
• Provide oversight to grants management function including budget development, contracting, reporting/monitoring and grants receivable and payable management. 
• Complete expenditure reports for donor reporting and any special reports as requested by Development, the Program Managers and/or the Controller.   
• Review monthly financial statements for all grants or activities supported by grants to ensure expenses are appropriate.
• Create the journal entries to record the various grant transactions through the general ledger for both Greenpeace, Inc. and Greenpeace Fund.
• Reconcile the grant liabilities and grant receivables on a monthly basis and ensure proper coding of grant revenue and grant expense to applicable cost centers.
• Maintain complete and accurate electronic and hard copy files for all grant transactions.
• Train program managers on their fiscal responsibilities for any grants they administer or oversee.

The Minimum Requirements for the Assistant Controller include:

• Bachelor of Science in accounting or equivalent, CPA strongly preferred. 
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in the nonprofit space, and specifically 501(c)(3)s.
• Experience with large grants/awards, and project accounting.
• Must be able to successfully build relationships and have keen interpersonal skills.  This includes being an excellent listener, approachable and customer service oriented.
• Proficiency in Excel is required with an ability to create and maintain complex spreadsheets.
• Skills with handling high volume of financial data, and familiarity with financial information management systems
• Strong analytical skills with a proactive problem-solving approach.
• Experience with grant reporting and administration of restricted funds is required. 
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities, multi task in a fast paced and deadline driven environment. 
• Ability to work independently, conduct process reviews, and reengineer processes to meet project goals and objectives.  
• A strong attention to detail and willingness to support the Finance team in delivering high quality reporting.
• High level of integrity with a professional attitude in all dealings.
• Strong commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion. 
• Commitment to the values of Greenpeace, including peaceful direct action.

If you want to save the world from climate change and believe in environmental justice, please submit an application on our careers page. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and will conclude once we have found the best candidate.

Greenpeace is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, class, sex, gender, sexual orientation, disability, family/marital status, religion or other protected classes. We strongly encourage applications from marginalized communities. If you require assistance applying to this opportunity, please contact usa-resumes@greenpeace.org.

COVID - 19:

*As of Q1 2022, most Greenpeace employees are working from home due to COVID-19. In accordance with Greenpeace values to maintain a safe and healthy working environment, we have adopted a mandatory COVID-19 vaccination policy to safeguard the health of our employees, supporters, and the community at large from COVID-19.

Current and future employees in need of an exemption from this policy for medical reasons, or because of sincerely held religious beliefs may request exemption. Accommodations will be granted where they do not cause Greenpeace undue hardship or pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

Greenpeace USA values a healthy work-life balance and has flexible, family-friendly employment policies. Our competitive benefits package for full-time employees includes medical, dental, and vision coverage with low contributions from staff. We have options for pretax flexible spending accounts for medical and dependent care costs. Greenpeace employees enjoy generous 6% 401K matching. New staff members receive 3 weeks vacation, 10 sick days, 2 personal days in their first year. Additionally we are closed Christmas Eve through New Year’s Day.

After 1 year of service staff members receive 20 weeks of fully paid parental leave and after five years, staff are eligible for a 12 week paid sabbatical. To encourage public transportation use and biking, we offer subsidies for staff who choose to bike or ride mass transit to work. Greenpeace is committed to the growth and development of staff and fostering a creative workplace culture. For more information, check out our benefits plan.

Only applicants eligible to work and live in the United States without any legal restrictions need apply for this opportunity.

Salary for this position starts at $110,000 and is commensurate with experience.