Job Description

Job Summary

The Controller serves as the organization’s financial operations leader, responsible for ensuring the accuracy, integrity, and reliability of all accounting, financial reporting, and compliance activities across a dynamic nonprofit with complex state and federal funding streams and social enterprise operations.

This role oversees the full accounting cycle, maintains a strong internal control environment, ensures compliance with GAAP, Uniform Guidance, state grant regulations, and internal policies, and strengthens financial transparency across the organization.

The Controller partners closely with the CFO and leadership team to support strategic decision-making and provide financial insights that improve program performance, mission impact, and sustainability. This leader promotes accountability, operational excellence, and a workplace culture grounded in inclusion, and belonging.

Job Responsibilities

Strategic Accounting Leadership

• Lead all core accounting operations, including general ledger, cash management, A/P, A/R, fixed assets, and revenue recognition.
• Develop, enhance, and maintain accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls that ensure compliance, accuracy, and operational efficiency.
• Direct the monthly and annual close processes, including journal entries, reconciliations, variance analysis, and financial reporting packages.
• Ensure financial systems are optimized, well‑maintained, and support real‑time visibility and accountability.

Federal & State Grant Accounting (Expanded Accountability)

• Serve as the organization’s authority on federal and state grant accounting, compliance, and allowable cost standards.
• Ensure full compliance with Uniform Guidance, state grant rules, cost allocation standards, documentation requirements, and audit readiness.
• Oversee end‑to‑end grant accounting, including grant budget development and proposal support; proper allocation and coding of expenditures; and financial reporting and reimbursement requests to state/federal funders.
• Prepare and maintain detailed Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) documentation and single audit support schedules.
• Partner with program leaders to monitor spending, proactively identify risks, and guide financial decision-making related to program delivery.

Annual Program Costing & Operational Analytics

• Lead annual and ongoing program cost analysis to determine true cost of service delivery, including direct and indirect expense allocation.
• Work with program leaders to interpret program financial results and identify opportunities for efficiency, cost reduction, and revenue optimization.
• Develop reports and dashboards that enable leadership to understand program trends, cost drivers, and financial performance across key mission areas.
• Support the CFO in developing long‑term financial models tied to program expansion, social enterprise growth, and strategic initiatives.

Compliance, Audit & Regulatory Oversight

• Prepare and/or oversee preparation of federal, state, and local financial filings (excluding HR‑specific filings).
• Serve as primary liaison for external auditors for the organization’s annual financial statement audit, single audit and Form 990 filing.
• Prepare detailed audit schedules, reconciliations, and documentation required for federal, state, and private grant reviews.
• Serves as primary contact for cash management and credit card services with our banking relationships including any required compliance with debt covenants.
• Maintain and enforce organizational compliance with internal financial policies and procedures.

Budgeting, Forecasting & Organization‑Wide Support

• Support the CFO and leadership team in the annual budgeting process by preparing forecasts, modeling scenarios, and providing departmental budget guidance.
• Provide high‑quality financial analysis to program teams, development staff, and leadership to support organizational priorities, grant applications, and operational planning.

Technology, Systems & Process Improvement

• Oversee the financial technology ecosystem, including invoice workflow platforms, automated A/P systems, and expense management tools.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts aimed at automating manual processes, strengthening internal controls, and enhancing financial reporting capabilities.
• Collaborate with Technology to ensure financial systems integrations are reliable, secure, and aligned with organizational needs.

Leadership & Team Management

• Provide training, mentorship, cross‑training, and clear expectations to build a resilient and high‑performing finance team.
• Champion an inclusive, mission‑aligned culture where staff feel safe, valued, and empowered.

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting or related areas required; Master’s degree preferred; CPA strongly preferred.

Experience: 5+ years of progressive experience in accounting positions with 2+ years of direct managerial

experience in accounting units required. Strongly preferred: non-profit accounting, federal/state grant

management, single audit experience.

Skills & Capabilities:

• Deep knowledge of GAAP, internal controls, and nonprofit accounting principles
• Advanced Excel and strong financial systems proficiency; NetSuite experience a plus
• Excellent analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills; strong intellectual curiosity
• Strong time management and project leadership abilities
• Ability to clearly explain financial concepts to non-financial stakeholders

Additional Information

Benefits

Work with a purpose: As one of middle Tennessee’s largest nonprofits, our local hunger relief work is uniquely rewarding, hands on and solutions oriented. We are innovative, mission-focused, diverse, collaborative, values-driven and focused on results. A career with Second Harvest ensures that you not only earn a paycheck, but also help your local community through meaningful work. If you are passionate about serving your neighbors in need and are committed to our mission to nourish and empower people, we invite you to join our 120+ person team in the fight against hunger, as we work to achieve our vision of a community where everyone has equitable access to the food and resources they need.

Award winning workplace: we are a best-in-class workplace because we are passionate and people focused – we listen, respect, care and challenge each other, so that our neighbors can count on us. Our employees have identified us among The Tennessean’s Top Workplaces based solely on employee surveys and feedback. There is ample opportunity to be engaged, have work-life-balance and grow with Second Harvest.

Compensation & Benefits: Second Harvest is proud to offer rich and affordable total compensation packages. Full-time employment includes 34+ days off, medical (employee-only is 100% employer paid), dental, vision, 403b retirement (up to 3% match, 5% base, length of service vesting), disability insurance (short and long term) and long-term care insurance.

How to Apply

Online: employment application on our website: secondharvestmidtn.org/job-opportunities. Resume and cover letter can be uploaded with applications on the website as well.

Details

• Date Posted: February 10, 2026
• Type: Full-Time
• Job Function: Accounting / Financial Management
• Service Area: Social / Human Services
• Working Hours: • Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 4:30pm.

Job Tags

Similar Jobs