The Controller is responsible for leading the accounting operations of IBTS and ensuring the accuracy, integrity, timeliness, and compliance of the organization’s financial records and reporting. This position oversees general ledger accounting, month-end and year-end close, financial statement preparation, audit coordination, internal controls, project accounting support, compliance reporting, and process improvement initiatives. The Controller serves as a key financial partner to the CFO, senior management, division directors, project managers, and external auditors.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Financial Accounting and Reporting

• Oversee the general accounting functions, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, cash management, fixed assets, leases, prepaid expenses, accrued liabilities, revenue recognition, and subsidiary consolidation.
• Lead accurate and timely monthly, quarterly, and year-end financial close activities.
• Prepare, review, and analyze financial statements, schedules, reconciliations, journal entries, and supporting work papers.
• Ensure financial reporting is prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP, applicable nonprofit accounting standards, federal award requirements, contractual requirements, and IBTS policies.
• Review financial information for completeness, accuracy, appropriate classification, and proper supporting documentation.

Internal Controls, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Maintain, monitor, and strengthen internal controls over financial reporting, accounting operations, billing, cash receipts, disbursements, payroll, procurement support, and project accounting activities.
• Evaluate existing practices, procedures, and segregation of duties; identify control gaps, process weaknesses, and opportunities for improvement.
• Coordinate internal control reviews and support annual financial controls audit activities.
• Promote a strong control environment by reinforcing accountability, documentation, compliance, and timely communication of issues.
• Help ensure compliance with federal, state, local, nonprofit, grant, contract, tax, banking, and audit requirements.

Audit and External Reporting

• Lead preparation for the annual financial statement audit, internal control reviews, and other external reviews.
• Serve as a primary liaison with external auditors and coordinate audit requests, schedules, explanations, supporting documentation, and management responses.
• Review and ensure appropriate recording of audit adjustments, accounting estimates, depreciation, lease accounting, accruals, and other complex accounting matters before audit fieldwork begins.
• Support preparation of bank reporting, covenant compliance information, and other external financial reporting requirements.
• Assist with indirect cost rate proposals, grant compliance schedules, and other financial submissions as needed.

Project Accounting and Operational Support

• Partner with accountants, project managers, division directors, contracts staff, and business development personnel to support accurate project setup, billing, revenue recognition, backlog reporting, cost tracking, and contract financial compliance.
• Improve the quality, timeliness, and usefulness of division-level and project-level financial reporting.
• Review project financial activity to identify risks related to billing, collections, unbilled revenue, project profitability, contract funding, and cost allocation.
• Support formal division and project reviews by providing financial analysis, trend information, and recommendations.
• financial processes provide decision makers with accurate and timely information while maintaining appropriate controls.

Leadership, Supervision, and Process Improvement

• Supervise, coach, and develop accounting staff, including staff assigned to general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll accounting, project accounting, reconciliations, and reporting functions.
• Establish clear expectations, deadlines, review procedures, and accountability measures for the accounting team.
• Document, standardize, and improve accounting workflows, financial reporting processes, internal procedures, and system use.
• Coordinate with Technology Services and other stakeholders to improve system functionality, reporting tools, automation, and data integrity within Deltek Costpoint, ADP, and related systems.
• Perform special projects, ad hoc analysis, and other finance-related duties as assigned by the CFO.

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, Finance, or related field required.
• CPA required
• Minimum of eight to ten years of progressive accounting experience, including supervisory responsibility.
• Experience in nonprofit, government contracting, federal awards, project accounting, or professional services environment preferred.
• Strong knowledge of U.S. GAAP, internal controls, financial reporting, audit preparation, reconciliations, accrual accounting, revenue recognition, and month-end/year-end close.
• Experience with Deltek Costpoint, ADP, Microsoft Excel, and automated accounting systems preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to prepare, review, interpret, and explain financial reports to finance and non-finance stakeholders.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Strong technical accounting, analytical, and financial reporting skills.
• High attention to detail and commitment to accuracy, documentation, and compliance.
• Ability to identify risk, strengthen controls, and solve complex accounting or process issues.
• Strong leadership, coaching, prioritization, and team management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate financial information clearly to executives, managers, auditors, and staff.
• Ability to work under pressure, meet deadlines, manage multiple priorities, and maintain confidentiality.
• Process-oriented mindset with a focus on continuous improvement, accountability, and operational efficiency.

Worsite Location

The expected work arrangement is regular presence at the IBTS office in Ashburn, Virginia.

Personal Qualities

IBTS places a high value on certain personal traits that work toward creating a positive, supportive work environment, which is essential for working together and achieving success.  We believe that the manner in which you achieve your results is equally important as the results themselves. The following are key personal traits essential for success in senior leadership roles within our organization.

• Strategic/Innovative Thinking
• Professional and Effective Interpersonal Skills
• Delegation with Team Accountability
• Risk Evaluation/Management/Mitigation
• Relationship Building: Internal and External

Pay Range for this position is $98,000–$108,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

This position operates primarily in a professional office environment and routinely uses standard office equipment, including a computer, phone, and related technology. The employee must be able to communicate effectively in verbal and written form, sit or stand for extended periods, and occasionally lift or move office materials up to 20 pounds.

Bring your passion, expertise, and experience to IBTS, where we appreciate and are committed to our employees. We offer outstanding benefits, growth opportunities, and work hard to maintain a culture that values our employees. 

The Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS) is a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization established to provide unbiased professional building code compliance services, while enhancing the communities in which we work. At IBTS, our mission is to deliver quality services to meet the challenges of governance at all levels while enhancing public safety, economic development, and the general welfare of the community. Our services include Building and Community Development, Energy and Sustainability Services, Disaster Planning and Recovery, Quality Assurance, as well as Compliance and Risk Monitoring.

IBTS is headquartered in Ashburn, VA, with additional offices in Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Puerto Rico, and Washington, DC.

We are committed to building a community of experts with diverse backgrounds, disciplines, and perspectives who are passionate about our mission. IBTS is proud to be an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer that maintains a diverse and inclusive workforce.  All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or sexual orientation. This opportunity is open to Section S3 Residents.  Veterans and individuals with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

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