Controller

Description

POSITION SUMMARY

The Controller leads SCCS's Accounting function and owns the completeness, accuracy, timeliness and integrity of the organization's accounting and financial reporting. Reporting to the CFO, the Controller is responsible for the monthly and annual close, general ledger, balance sheet reconciliations, accounts payable, County and other billing activities performed by Accounting, payroll accounting and review, fixed assets, tax reporting (Form 990), accounting policies, internal controls, and Accounting's execution of financial statement and other required audits.

This is a hands-on leadership role. The Controller is expected to stay close to the work, apply sound accounting and analytical judgment, investigate issues independently, and ensure that financial information is complete, accurate and ready for CFO review. The Controller leads and develops the Accounting team, establishes clear ownership and accountability, and builds the team's technical capability and judgment.

SCCS is growing significantly and continuing to modernize its Finance organization. The Controller will play a key role in scaling Accounting by improving processes, controls, systems and reporting; increasing automation; and helping SCCS use NetSuite and other tools more effectively. The role partners closely with other groups in Finance (FP&A and Revenue Cycle Management) as well as other corporate departments and and operational leaders while maintaining clear ownership of the Accounting function.

This role is based in Orange County, California, and requires working in the office at least three days per week.

JOB DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead, manage and develop the Accounting team by establishing clear responsibilities and deadlines, providing ongoing coaching and feedback, substantively reviewing work, resolving issues, and building the team's technical capability and judgment.

• Own the monthly and annual financial close processes end-to-end. Establish and manage the close calendar, ensure reconciliations and supporting schedules are complete, investigate unusual or unexpected results, resolve open items, and deliver accurate financial statements that have been fully reviewed before submission to the CFO.

• Own the integrity of the general ledger and ensure all balance sheet accounts are reconciled monthly with appropriate supporting documentation, substantive review of reconciliations and reconciling items, and timely resolution of required adjustments.

• Research, evaluate and resolve accounting issues using sound accounting judgment and authoritative guidance, documenting conclusions as appropriate and escalating significant or complex matters to the CFO.

• Establish, maintain and continuously improve accounting policies, procedures and systems of internal control.

• Own Accounts Payable and continuously improve the AP process, including controls, workflow, automation, vendor management and timely and accurate processing.

• Own County and other billing activities performed by Accounting and ensure related accounts receivable are accurately and timely billed, recorded and reconciled. Partner with Revenue Cycle Management as responsibilities and processes evolve.

• Own Accounting's review, recording, reconciliation and controls related to payroll, benefits and other payroll-related liabilities. Payroll processing is administered by Human Resources.

• Own Accounting's execution of the annual financial statement audit and other financial or contract audits, including management of the PBC process, assignment and review of work, coordination with external auditors, resolution of open items and achievement of established deadlines.

• Ensure accurate and timely completion of contract-required financial reports and compliance with applicable County, grant and other financial reporting requirements.

• Partner with FP&A on budgeting, forecasting, cash flow forecasting and financial analysis by ensuring actual financial results are complete and accurate and investigating and explaining significant or unusual accounting-driven variances.

• Partner with Program Directors and Managers, other Finance functions, and other corporate departments to obtain information needed for accurate financial reporting, understand transactions and results, and resolve accounting or reporting issues.

• Monitor cash balances and banking activity, ensure bank reconciliations and cash accounting are timely and accurate, and support the CFO's liquidity and investment management activities and FP&A's cash forecasting.

• Ensure required non-payroll tax and regulatory filings, including 1099s, are completed accurately and on time.

• Maintain accurate fixed asset records and depreciation schedules.

• Develop and improve financial reporting in NetSuite and related tools so that reporting becomes more automated, timely, relevant and useful to management.

• Continuously improve and scale Accounting processes, systems and controls. Identify repetitive or manual work that can be standardized, automated or eliminated, and work across departments to address upstream process issues that create accounting inefficiency or risk.

• Contribute to the ongoing development of SCCS's monthly financial reporting package, with a focus on increasing relevance, clarity, automation and usefulness to management.

• Perform other related duties as required and assigned.

CORE COMPETENCIES

Ownership and Accountability: Takes responsibility for outcomes, follows issues through to resolution, meets commitments and does not rely on the CFO or others to identify problems or define the next step.

Hands-On Leadership: Stays close enough to the work to understand it, review it substantively and step into the details when needed. Comfortable working directly in NetSuite, Excel and supporting schedules rather than managing only through others.

Accounting and Analytical Judgment: Understands what the numbers should mean, recognizes when something does not make sense, asks the right questions, researches issues and reaches well-supported conclusions.

Team Leadership and Development: Sets clear expectations, provides constructive review and coaching, explains the why behind the work, develops staff judgment and creates increasing ownership and capability across the team.

Continuous Improvement: Challenges existing processes and looks for better ways to work through system improvements, automation, standardization and elimination of unnecessary manual activity.

Systems Mindset: Uses NetSuite and other technology as tools to improve the Accounting function, reporting, controls and efficiency rather than simply operating inherited processes.

Communication and Partnership: Communicates clearly and directly, works effectively across Finance and the broader organization, and can explain accounting issues and financial results to non-accounting colleagues.

Adaptability and Growth: Learns new areas quickly, including SCCS's not-for-profit, Medi-Cal/Medicaid, County contracting and grant environment, and adapts processes as the organization grows and changes.

Requirements

 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration or a related field required.

• CPA required; active CPA license preferred.

• Progressive accounting experience with demonstrated responsibility for financial reporting, close, audit and internal controls.

• Prior public accounting experience strongly preferred, particularly audit experience.

• Demonstrated experience leading, reviewing and developing accounting staff.

• Experience with ERP systems required. NetSuite experience preferred, with a strong interest in using financial systems to improve reporting, controls, automation and efficiency.

• Not-for-profit accounting experience preferred.

• Medi-Cal/Medicaid accounting, reporting or billing experience preferred.

• Experience with government contracts, grants, Uniform Guidance or similar compliance environments preferred.

• Strong technical accounting skills, including the ability to research accounting issues, evaluate alternatives, document conclusions and determine when matters require escalation.

 PHYSICAL / WORK REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to work in an office environment and use a computer and other standard office equipment for extended periods.

• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 20 pounds.

• Regular in-person presence in the Orange County office at least three days per week; additional in-office presence may be required based on business needs.

EOE, INCLUDING DISABILITY/VETS

We are an equal opportunity employer and consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, age, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic under California law.

Management reserves the right to add, change, delete or rescind duties or responsibilities of positions within the job classification at any time.