Controller

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW:

Food Forward fights hunger and prevents food waste by rescuing fresh surplus produce, connecting this abundance with people experiencing food insecurity, and inspiring others to do the same. Fruits and vegetables are collected from backyard fruit trees, farmers' markets, growers, and wholesalers, and then provided free of charge to people experiencing food insecurity through more than 250 hunger-relief partner organizations serving communities across the region.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

Food Forward seeks a strategic and experienced Controller to serve as a trusted partner to the Chief Operating Officer. As the organization's senior financial manager, the Controller will have oversight and execution responsibility for all accounting, reporting, auditing, and payroll activities, and will play a central role in supporting presentations to the Board of Directors and its Finance and Audit Committees.

• The Controller will lead all day-to-day finance operations for a $10 million budget and supervise a team of two staff members, with functional responsibility for part-time, full-scope accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, monthly and annual closings, and tax return preparation, including Food Forward's Form 990. The Controller will also oversee the organization's outsourced bookkeeping contractor, manage cash flow and liquidity to support operational needs, and maintain Food Forward's banking relationships and compliance with its investment policy.
• The Controller will coordinate the annual budgeting process, support forecasting and variance analysis, and provide financial projections for the Chief Operating Officer to evaluate with the Finance Committee.
• The Controller will prepare monthly financial statements for the senior leadership team, including budget-to-actual variance analysis, and deliver quarterly financial reporting to the Finance Committee.
• The Controller is responsible for maintaining strong internal controls and ensuring organization-wide compliance with GAAP and applicable federal, state, and funder requirements, state charitable registration obligations, and grant reporting requirements. The Controller will work closely with the Development team on grant applications and financial reporting, and with Human Resources on payroll administration.
• A key priority for this role is ensuring that Food Forward has the systems and procedures in place to support effective program implementation and annual audits without findings. The Controller will work closely with program leaders not only to build financial literacy across the organization, but to identify opportunities for the finance function to better support program operations. The Controller will also oversee the documentation and design of financial policies and procedures, as well as the design and maintenance of internal control policies.
• Food Forward seeks candidates who combine technical and financial expertise with the collaborative spirit and mission alignment that define our culture

EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, or a related field required; MBA preferred

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum seven years of progressive accounting or finance experience, with demonstrated growth in responsibility
• Prior experience in a Controller or senior finance role strongly preferred
• Nonprofit sector experience preferred; familiarity with restricted fund accounting, grant revenue recognition and compliance, cost allocation methodologies and the regulatory environment governing 501(c)(3) organizations is a meaningful advantage
• Experience managing or supporting an annual audit process

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Deep working knowledge of GAAP, including standards applicable to nonprofit organizations (FASB ASC 958)
• Proficiency with accounting software and financial reporting tools; experience with nonprofit-specific platforms (QuickBooks Nonprofit)
• Strong Excel skills and comfort working with data across systems

LEADERSHIP AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS

• Proven ability to supervise staff and manage external contractors with clarity and accountability
• Skilled communicator who can translate complex financial information for non-financial audiences, including program staff and board members
• Collaborative and approachable, with a track record of building trust across departments
• High integrity, sound judgment, and a commitment to transparency

MISSION ALIGNMENT

Genuine commitment to Food Forward's mission of fighting hunger and reducing food waste; understanding of or experience in the food security, public health, or social services sectors is a plus.

Food Forward is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and experiences and are dedicated to creating a workplace where all employees feel valued and respected.

CORE VALUES:

– COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Working together, we inspire and are inspired by the people in the communities we serve.

– EQUITY AND INCLUSION We cultivate a diverse workforce that nurtures equity and inclusion.

– FOOD JUSTICE We share the abundance of fresh produce and prevent food waste because everyone deserves access to fresh and nutritious food.

– INTEGRITY We are honest, accountable, and authentic in our words and actions.

– JOYFULNESS We embrace a creative, spirited, and fulfilling environment

BENEFITS:

Medical, Vision, Dental, and Life/Voluntary Insurance coverage

FSA/Dependent Care, Pet insurance

Retirement plan with up to 4% employer matching

Generous paid-time-off policy and holiday allocation

Cell phone and internet monthly allowance

Hybrid work schedule