Comptroller

Position description

Comptroller

Digital Promise

Status: Full-time, exempt employee

Reports to: Vice President and Chief Operating Officer

Deadline: Resume reviews begin immediately. Best considered by mid-April.

About Digital Promise

Digital Promise is a global nonprofit working to expand opportunity for every learner. They work with educators, researchers, technology leaders, and communities to design, investigate, and scale innovations that support learners, especially those who’ve been historically and systematically excluded. Their vision is that every person engages in powerful learning experiences that lead to a life of well-being, fulfillment, and economic mobility.

Digital Promise embeds research and development throughout their work. The organization investigates how people learn and create sustainable solutions to improve learning opportunities for all. Digital Promise brings together systems leaders, educators, researchers, entrepreneurs, and developers to improve learning with the power of technology and innovation through a variety of networks and programs, including the League of Innovative Schools, Verizon Innovative Learning Schools, and a robust micro-credentials platform.

Digital Promise has a 230-person team with annual revenue of $135 million and an $85 million operating budget. With a diverse funding base, major revenue sources include philanthropic grants (70%), federal grants (10%), earned revenue (10%), and contributions and other sources (10%); Digital Promise is in a strong financial position with a strong cash position and reserves. Digital Promise is a fast-paced, high-growth organization with a diverse, hardworking team. 

Learn more about Digital Promise’s work to shape the future of learning at digitalpromise.org.

Position Summary

Digital Promise seeks an experienced certified public accountant to lead its finance functions. The Comptroller will bring expert financial strategy and sound fiscal management to support the organization’s growth and development. With functional responsibility over all accounting operations, including AR/AP, payroll, revenue recognition, and grant compliance, the Comptroller plays a critical role in advancing Digital Promise’s mission. 

In 2025, Digital Promise will transition its accounting system from NetSuite to Sage Intacct. The incoming Comptroller will be able to configure the new system, including design and implement new procedures, protocols, and tools to adopt the new system and associated software. 

Ideal candidates will have managed nonprofit financial operations for budgets exceeding $50 million and thoroughly understand Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), including GAAP for nonprofits, OMB’s uniform guidance for federal awards, and Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) pronouncements. Sound judgment while evaluating financial processes and making recommendations to senior leadership is required experience.

The incoming Comptroller will be highly collaborative and comfortable working in a fast-paced, high-growth environment. They will have passion for Digital Promise’s mission, strong business acumen, and a record of managing a small team. The Comptroller reports to the Vice President and Chief Operating Officer (VP & COO), and leads a five-person team including an Accounting Supervisor, two Senior Staff Accountants, a Payroll Administrator, a Federal Grants Specialist, and a Staff Accountant. The Comptroller is a member of the board of directors’ Finance and Audit Committees, and has a consultative relationship to the CEO and senior leadership.

Specific areas of responsibility include:

Financial Management

• Lead the finance department to ensure proper maintenance of all accounting systems and functions to ensure fidelity of data and timely monthly, quarterly, and year-end reporting.
• Oversee all accounts, ledgers, and reporting systems, ensuring compliance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), 2 CFR Part 200, other and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure accurate accounting functions using Sage Intacct, and manage AP/AR, bank reconciliations, and track restricted and board-designated funds.
• Evaluate current systems, processes, and policies ensure accurate and timely financial management, adequate controls, and an efficient interface between accounting and programs. Review and update manuals; train team members on new material.
• In consultation with the VP & COO, prepare the annual budget and projections to inform short-term and multi-year projections.
• Oversee cash management strategies and relationships with banks and investment advisors.  Negotiate contracts and pricing options with outside vendors.
• Oversee the payroll function and related systems.

Reporting and Compliance

• Analyze financial data and present monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports in an accurate, timely manner; monitor progress and communicate changes about the organization’s financial status to VP & COO, senior leadership, and board, as needed.
• Oversee all program and grants accounting and reporting; ensure that expenditures are consistently aligned with grant and program budgets throughout the grant/fund period.
• Oversee the full coordination of all the audits and the gathering of required audit schedules and reconciliations, IRS Form 990 preparations, and filing activity.
• Monitor grant budgets and financial reports to funders; advise program teams on allocations, expenditures, reports, and overall grant compliance.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and legal requirements for financial, labor, and retirement implementation and reporting; manage required state and corporate business filings.

Leadership and Strategy

• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and implement strategic financial strategies and goals that support the organization’s mission and vision.
• Provide strategic guidance to senior leadership and board about cash projections, investments, cash management, and expenditure management.
• Partner with VP & COO to assess short- and long-term organizational performance against budgets, projections, and strategy. Maintain continuous lines of communication to keep the VP & COO informed of all accounting issues.
• Develop, analyze, and recommend improvements to accounting and financial systems to ensure effective and efficient financial operations.
• Lead, develop, and inspire a team of talented accounting professionals.
• Serve as the liaison to the board’s Finance and Audit Committees, providing accurate and current financial reports, risk analysis, and forecasts.

Location & Travel

Digital Promise is a bicoastal organization with offices in Washington, D.C., and California. Digital Promise meets at least four times a year for in-person team retreats, and on an as-needed basis. Otherwise, employees work remotely across the United States.

Compensation

Digital Promise is committed to creating and maintaining equitable compensation practices by offering competitive salaries, conducting equity audits, and utilizing marketplace research and tools. Digital Promise’s salary bands are based on geography. The range for this position is $167k – $188k, and up to $209k for DC and New York City, and up to $230k for California. Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance, employer-sponsored 401(k), and paid time off, including paid parental leave.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Digital Promise is an equal opportunity employer and considers all applications without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital or veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected status.

Qualifications

Experience, Skills, and Qualities

The Comptroller position will be a challenging and rewarding opportunity that requires a diverse set of skills and experiences. While we understand that no single candidate can possess every qualification listed below, the following are priority areas:

• Education in accounting, finance, or relevant fields. An active CPA or CMA license is required.
• No less than 15 years of responsibility for financial management functions, including at least five years of general ledger and financial statement responsibility.
• Knowledge of the principles and methods of accounting, budgeting, auditing, purchasing, risk management, and benefits administration.
• Experience in nonprofit settings with a variety of complex, restricted funding sources.
• Knowledge of, and experience with, GAAP including nonprofit accounting, new revenue recognition standards, and uniform guidance.
• Demonstrated ability to structure, lead, and inspire a team of talented accounting professionals.
• Systems-oriented; adept at successfully implementing/integrating systems, policies and protocols and training teams on how to adopt new ways of working.
• Experience working with general ledger accounting systems required; experience with Sage Intacct is considered a plus.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to present accounting and financial requirements to diverse and non-expert audiences including program teams, leadership, and board members.
• A high level of emotional intelligence, integrity, cultural sensitivity, and interpersonal skills; ability to effectively engage and influence key stakeholders and decision-makers.

Application instructions

Application Process

Digital Promise is conducting this search in partnership with Good Insight, a national executive search firm serving the nonprofit sector. Interested applicants should upload a resume and a detailed cover letter to www.good-insight.org/careers. 

Resume reviews begin immediately. For best consideration, please apply by early April. Early applications are encouraged due to the pace of the search. Please direct confidential inquiries to Carlyn Madden and Danielle Soba at [email protected].