The Organization
About the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation
The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation (“Foundation”) is an organization in transformation. Five years ago, the Foundation set a course to achieve its vision of a more equitable New Jersey. Given the devastating events of the last two years, it has accelerated this commitment and further refined its vision and strategic direction to center racial equity and justice, where people of all races and communities have equal access to opportunities and can thrive and achieve their full potential.
The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation has a long history of cultivating vibrant ecosystems and resourcing efforts to promote the wellbeing of people across New Jersey. In its grantmaking, the Foundation prioritizes networks, movements, organizations, and leaders closest to the harms and solutions to inequity and injustice and who have been historically excluded from investment and opportunity. In doing so, it is shifting wealth, power, and other critical resources to changemakers on the frontlines of communities and movements in ways that enable them to accelerate, deepen, and advance their work on their terms.
Foundation Board and Staff are energized by the progress the organization is making in investing in emergent and historically under-resourced communities, namely communities of color:
- In 2021, the Foundation launched the first round of Imagine a New Way grants to organizations advocating for just systems and tackling barriers to equity in New Jersey.
- In January 2022, the Foundation introduced its inaugural Momentum Fund cohort–ten organizations selected by a panel of community leaders employing diverse strategies to address root causes of structural racism across the state. The Momentum Fund provides cohort members with three years of flexible funding to support them as they explore new approaches and self-determine the best course forward in their work.
This is a critical time at the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation as it works to transform its grantmaking, partnerships, and internal operations to center racial equity and justice and ensure that these values and capabilities are central to all that it is and all that it does. This is a “build moment” for the Foundation. As such, it is seeking entrepreneurial team members who are excited about opportunities to create and who are energized by working in deeply collaborative ways, actively learning, building new relationships, and leveraging and amplifying community expertise and solutions.
For more information on the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, please visit the organization’s website. The Strategic Direction and President’s Messages include additional details about the Foundation’s transformation.
The Opportunity
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and talented Controller to join an exceptional team committed to building and refining a new way of operating. The Controller’s work will support the Foundation’s core operations as it works to deepen its impact in the pursuit of racial equity and justice in New Jersey.
A newly created role reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), the Controller will be responsible for the day-to-day financial transactions, as well as for developing, implementing, and ensuring compliance with financial policies and procedures consistent with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”). The Controller will be responsible for maintaining and continuously improving the financial controls systems, including general accounting, investment accounting, tax compliance and planning, budgeting, banking, payroll, and benefits.
The Controller’s duties and responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:
General Accounting and Reporting
The Controller will develop, administer, and ensure compliance with generally accepted accounting policies and procedures. This work will include:
- Posting day-to-day transactions, maintaining the general ledger and other accounting records needed to prepare the financial statements and other required financial data, and posting journal entries.
- Performing monthly bank reconciliations on a timely basis.
- Updating charts of accounts, vendor listings, and accounting system reports.
- Collecting supporting documents for payment of vendor invoices and grants.
- Depositing cash or check receipts and posting them to the general ledger.
- Preparing periodic financial statements and analysis.
- Maintaining current relevant knowledge of GAAP by participating in professional accounting societies, trainings, and continuing professional education.
In close partnership with the CFO and the Director of Operations, the Controller will also help select and implement a new accounting system for greater accuracy, simplicity, automation, and robust reporting. The Controller will be expected to manage this process and maintain the current accounting system until the new system is in place.
Investment Accounting and Custody
The Controller will act as the liaison with the custodial bank, investment advisors, and investment managers for all necessary documents and transactions. Moreover, the Controller will post investment activity and reconcile investment balances, per books to the custodial bank, monthly. Additional responsibilities include processing capital call and distribution wires and reporting on investment cash flows, which the CFO will include in updates to the Finance Committee and Board of Trustees.
Audit, Tax Compliance
The Controller will prepare IRS Forms 1099 and 1096 and, with the support of tax consultants, will assist in preparing tax returns IRS 990PF, IRS 990T, and state UBIT payments. Alongside tax consultants, the Controller will also estimate excise payment calculations. In coordination with the Foundation’s auditors, the Controller will audit schedules, financial statements, and footnotes for the Foundation’s year-end financial statement audit. The Controller will also liaise with and provide support to auditors during the annual audit. Additional expectations include maintaining current knowledge of regulatory requirements affecting foundations/philanthropy.
Budget
The Controller will partner with the CFO to prepare annual capital and operating budgets, assist in calculating cash flow projections, and prepare other financial analyses, memos, and reports as requested. The Controller will also perform periodic reviews of budget versus actuals with variance analyses and track disbursements to ensure minimum distribution requirements are met.
Banking
The Controller will ensure compliance with the management of internal banking policies and procedures, promptly reconcile all monthly bank statements, including custodian cash, and initiate interbank transfers as necessary.
Manage Accounts Payable Function for Vendors and Employees
The Controller will review and approve invoices (in Concur) for payment and integration into the accounting system and manage and track credit card use and personal expense reports, ensuring these are done on a timely basis.
Payroll
The Controller will process semi-monthly payroll and 403(b) contributions and prepare 403(b) filing and testing with the support of the retirement account vendor. In coordination with the CFO and Vice President of People, Culture, and Equity, the Controller will also administer and process employee benefits paperwork (with Insurance Agent).
Additional duties include reconciling quarterly payroll tax returns to accounting books/records with AD, completing industry benchmarking surveys, and managing and monitoring employee time tracking and PTO accruals.
Candidate Profile
The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation values a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The Foundation employs qualified people without regard to: race; color; ethnicity; religion; creed; sex; national origin; age; ancestry; disability; sexual orientation; pregnancy or breastfeeding; veteran or military status; marital status; civil union or domestic partnership status; citizenship; genetic information; gender identity or expression; status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking; or any other characteristic protected under federal or state law.
While it is understood that no one candidate will bring every desired skill, characteristic, and experience, the following offers a reflection of the ideal candidate profile.
Finance Expertise & Acumen
Adept at presenting financial information to leadership, the Controller will possess strong quantitative and analytical skills. The Controller will be tactical, with the ability to “deep dive” into the details. The Controller will bring a depth of knowledge of GAAP and a track record of working with a high degree of efficiency and transparency, assuring leadership that the Foundation’s financial oversight is of the highest caliber.
Orientation for Action with Strong Execution Skills
The Controller will be tactical and results-oriented and able to set priorities decisively. An aptitude for honing organizational systems and processes will be crucial to success, and the Controller will bring experience in helping to identify and refine new systems. Most importantly, the Controller will bring an ability to exercise discretion, work independently, take the initiative, meet multiple and competing deadlines, problem-solve, participate as an effective team member, and follow tasks through to completion.
Passion for the Mission
The Controller will be deeply committed to the vision, mission, and strategic direction of the Foundation. As a result, the Controller will be driven to help advance the Foundation’s work in collaboration with leadership and external partners. Moreover, the Controller will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics, and values, someone who can be trusted without reservation.
Note: A CPA or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required. Knowledge of nonprofit GAAP, experience with nonprofit accounting, and Sarbanes-Oxley provisions is required. Experience working on nonprofit/ private foundation audits and 990 tax filings is desired.
In addition, strong candidates will bring a personal commitment to the Foundation’s mission and vision of achieving a just and equitable New Jersey.
Compensation & Benefits
The Controller position has a salary range of $125,000 – $140,000, commensurate with experience.
The Foundation recognizes the myriad benefits of flexible work arrangements and is actively building and supporting a hybrid work environment. This includes primarily remote work, with regular commuting to the Foundation’s office in Morristown, New Jersey, or other locations within the state.
The Foundation also offers a complete benefits package that includes, but is not limited to, full medical and dental insurance, generous retirement contributions, paid medical and parental leave programs, professional development, cell phone reimbursement, and 20 days of vacation for full-time employees.
How To Apply
Contact
Koya Partners, the executive search firm that specializes in mission-driven search, has been exclusively retained for this engagement. Molly Brennan and Chartise Clark are leading this search. To express interest in this role please submit your materials here. All inquiries and discussions will be considered strictly confidential.
Koya Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.
About Koya Partners
Koya Partners, a part of Diversified Search Group, is a leading executive search and strategic advising firm dedicated to connecting exceptionally talented people with mission-driven clients. Our founding philosophy—The Right Person in the Right Place Can Change the World—guides our work as we partner with nonprofits & NGOs, institutions of higher education, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.
For more information about Koya Partners, visit www.koyapartners.com.