Controller

Meridian Institute has an immediate opening for a full-time Controller. This position may work in a hybrid fashion near our Frisco, CO or Washington, DC offices, or fully from a remote home office based in the United States.

Meridian is a nonprofit consultancy that engages in dynamic problem solving with global leaders in business, government, civil society, philanthropy, and beyond. We bring people together, helping them navigate the dynamic variables that shape any collaborative search for solutions—from individual relationships to geopolitical considerations. Our work spans industries and sectors and includes projects focused on agriculture and food systems, climate change, forests, oceans and coasts, resilience, and science and technology, among others. Across these areas, we build and support partnerships that address our world’s complex challenges.

A leader within the Finance Team, the Controller provides strategic financial leadership and oversight for finance and accounting functions at Meridian Institute. Reporting to the Director of Finance and Accounting, the Controller is responsible for developing and implementing financial policies, procedures, and controls to safeguard assets and ensure transparency and accuracy in financial reporting. They collaborate closely with internal stakeholders, including Project Directors and finance personnel, to develop and manage organizational budgets, project finances, and revenue projections. Additionally, the Controller identifies areas of financial risk and opportunities for improvement, proactively addressing challenges to support the long-term sustainability of Meridian Institute.

The starting pay range for this position is $118,372 – $153,884 annually, based on the level of education and relevant experience. This is a salary, exempt position. In following our commitment to principles of justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion, maintaining pay equity when hiring is extremely important to us. For this reason, salary offers with Meridian are non-negotiable.

Meridian is dedicated to advancing our employees’ professional growth, supporting employee wellbeing, and helping them meet their healthcare and retirement needs. Meridian provides a competitive benefits package, including:

• A dynamic and inclusive work environment
• Flexible work schedules and locations for proven high performers
• Professional development opportunities
• Comprehensive medical and dental insurance, including fully employer paid premium options at the employee only level
• A variety of voluntary benefits for employees, their families, and their pets
• Generous vacation and sick time, plus 12 paid holidays
• A robust Employee Assistance Program
• Meridian partner benefits such as discounts and wellbeing opportunities
• DC Office Employees Only – Metro expense reimbursement for commute into work  
• Remote Workers Only – home office internet allowance  

About the Position:

All Meridian positions require individuals to be self-starters with exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills, a high level of organization and attention to detail. Working at Meridian requires the ability to excel in a team environment while also juggling multiple deadlines and project teams. The areas of responsibility for this position are as follows:

Financial Leadership

In collaboration with the Director of Finance and Accounting:

• Creates and implements financial policies, procedures, and processes to ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations governing financial matters; regularly reviews and updates these policies to adapt to changes in regulations and organizational needs.
• Coordinates training for both finance and non-finance personnel to ensure understanding and compliance with financial policies and procedures; provides ongoing support and guidance to staff regarding financial systems and best practices.
• Supports the implementation, integration, and administration of finance systems to streamline processes and enhance efficiency; collaborates with relevant stakeholders to identify and address system needs and improvements.
• Collaborates with members of Finance to oversee financial planning, accounting, reporting, and compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP); implements and maintains financial controls to safeguard organizational assets and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Identifies areas of financial risk and opportunities for risk mitigation, particularly related to contractual agreements and financial obligations.
• Proactively addresses ambiguities, omissions, and conflicts to minimize potential risks to the organization.

Organizational Budget Management and Reporting

• Develops and maintains well-informed revenue and expense projections for the organizational budget by consolidating input from relevant stakeholders and ensuring accuracy and completeness.
• Maintains and updates labor rate structures in line with organizational objectives.
• Enters budget data into financial tracking systems for monitoring and forecasting purposes.
• In collaboration with the Director of Finance and Accounting, oversees and directs all organizational and programmatic financial audits, both internal and external, ensuring compliance with audit requirements and deadlines.
• Coordinates with the Finance Team to complete audit-related tasks and provide necessary documentation.

Project Finance Administration

• Liaises with Project Directors to establish project budgets and monitor financial performance throughout the project lifecycle.
• In collaboration with the Project Accountant, generates monthly financial progress reports for each project, analyzing variances and ensuring adherence to budgetary constraints.
• Identifies and addresses potential budget overruns early to minimize financial losses and maintain project profitability.
• Ensures proper recognition of restricted and unrestricted revenue for ongoing projects.
• In collaboration with the Senior Accountant, AR, oversees the billing process to ensure accurate invoicing and timely receipt of payments.

Compliance

• Manages state registrations and ensures compliance with relevant regulatory requirements in states where the organization operates.
• Monitors lease agreements to ensure adherence to terms and timely payment of obligations.
• Identifies and addresses instances of non-compliance with organizational policies and procedures, reporting any issues to senior management for resolution.
• Conducts regular reconciliations of organizational accounts to verify accuracy and identify discrepancies for timely resolution.
• Ensures proper documentation and recording of financial transactions to maintain integrity and transparency in financial reporting.

Eligibility Requirements

• Minimum of 8 or more years of progressive experience in financial management, accounting, or auditing roles, preferably within the nonprofit sector, with at least 3 years within a Controller or similar role.
• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field is required; Master’s degree, CPA (Certified Public Accountant), or CMA (or Certified Management Accountant) designation preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and implementing financial policies, procedures, and controls.
• Strong knowledge of nonprofit accounting principles, including fund accounting, grant management, and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Strong understanding of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and financial reporting requirements.
• Proven ability to lead and motivate finance teams, providing guidance, training, and mentorship to ensure high performance and professional development.
• Excellent decision-making skills with the ability to analyze complex financial data and make strategic recommendations to senior management.
• Proficiency in enterprise financial management software with the ability to leverage technology to streamline processes and enhance efficiency; NetSuite preferred.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively interact with internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion (JEDI); ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds with humility, ease, and enthusiasm.
• A high degree of proficiency with Microsoft 365 tools, including but not limited to: Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, OneNote, and SharePoint; advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel for financial analysis, modeling, and reporting purposes preferred.
• Fluency in English; professional fluency in an additional language is highly valued, particularly Spanish and French.
• Passion and curiosity about the issues and areas of Meridian’s work.

The full job description can be found here.

How to Apply: 

The application deadline is Wednesday, June 5, 2024

Please submit the following application materials using our applicant portal:

1. Cover Letter – 1 page
   Drawing from your personal and professional experiences, please explain how you hope to contribute to Meridian in this role.
2. Resume – 1-2 pages 
   Detail relevant education, training, experiences, and accomplishments.
3. Three Professional References

Please note: All applications will be reviewed by our team. We thank all applicants for their interest and will be in contact only with those chosen to interview. Due to capacity constraints on our hiring team, we are unable to provide specific status updates beyond these parameters. Our ideal start date for this role is July 2024.

About Meridian Institute: 

Meridian Institute is a mission-driven, nonprofit consultancy that has helped clients and partners develop and implement solutions to complicated, often controversial problems—big and small, global and local—for over two decades.

Effective collaborative decision-making involves bringing together participants with diverse backgrounds and differing viewpoints. As an organization, we seek staff that reflects and values that same diversity; successful Meridian team members are experienced working in multicultural settings and welcome new opportunities to widen their own perspectives.  We bring integrity, inclusiveness, and respect for differences to every project we undertake. We are working to ensure that Meridian possesses the expertise needed to partner with—and build trust among—marginalized and disenfranchised communities, while advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) within our organization and our work.

Accommodation 

Meridian Institute complies fully with the relevant Disability Acts and Laws in local countries. If you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Meridian Institute, please contact us at hr@merid.org.

COVID-19 Consideration 

At this time, Meridian Institute requires that all employees be fully vaccinated, including booster shots. In circumstances where an applicant communicates that he or she is not able to be vaccinated for COVID-19 because of a sincerely held religious belief, practice, or observance or because of a disability, then Meridian, in accordance with applicable law, will engage in the interactive process to determine if a reasonable accommodation is feasible that will not pose an undue hardship or create a direct threat to safety.

Equal Opportunity Employment 

Meridian’s work is made stronger and more impactful by the contributions of diverse groups from around the world. At Meridian, we welcome people from all backgrounds and do not discriminate based on race, ethnicity, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, national origin, creed, class, ancestry, or other grounds.

Meridian Institute is a participating employer in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security program, E-Verify.