THE NEIGHBORHOOD DEFENDER SERVICE is building a community-based, client-centered, holistic public defense office in and we invite you to join our team as we represent our clients with excellence. Building on 30 years of experience of providing high quality representation, we are expanding our efforts to bring the same caliber of representation to the communities served by our NDS locations. We are seeking a team of highly organized, self-driven, and resilient individuals dedicated to our mission. Our clients are represented by teams composed of lawyers, investigators, social workers, client advocates, and team administrators. NDS adheres to a client-centered approach to representation that emphasizes a heightened responsiveness to clients’ needs prior to arrest, while a case is pending, and after the case concludes.  NDS is committed to addressing the comprehensive legal and social service needs of clients while treating each client with dignity and respect.  

The Controller is an integral part of the defense team who demonstrates a commitment to serving marginalized persons and communities. The Controller will help shape our present and future—contributing to a collaborative environment and culture of excellence in alignment with our values. We represent our clients is as important as individual case outcomes and our ideal Controller approaches the cultivation of a positive office culture and the representation of indigent clients with equal rigor and commitment.

1. Embrace NDS’ philosophy of client-centered, community-based, holistic representation and commitment to excellence by providing vigorous representation with energy and enthusiasm to the communities we serve.
2. Oversee financial operations for all or designated segments of the organization. 
3. Ensure that NDS has the systems and procedures in place to support effective program implementation and conduct flawless audits.
4. Maintain responsibility over accounting, accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and grants administration.
5. Provide short-term analysis of all financial information, forecast for future needs as well as provide long-term projections to support the growth of the organization.
6. Create, monitor and maintain internal controls and safeguards for the receipt of revenue, costs, and program budgets and actual expenditures.
7. Oversee all audit activity in conjunction with the CFO.
8. Ensure the thorough and consistent analyzing of all financial data and creation of financial reports in an accurate and timely manner; clearly communicate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements; monitor progress, changes and keep senior leadership abreast of NDS financial status.
9. Assist NDS management in the annual budgeting and planning process; administer and reviews all financial plans and comparison to actual results.
10. Prepare and process payroll.
11. Actively engage in financial, project/program and grants accounting; ensure that expenditures are consistently aligned with grant and program budgets throughout the grant/fund period; collate financial reporting materials for government, corporate, and foundation grants.
12. Partner with all department functions to enhance and better integrate finance, HR, and IT functions.

The ideal candidate will bring:

1. Substantial accounting and finance experience, ideally beginning in accounting and audit, followed by experience gathering, evaluating, presenting and reporting financial information to executive teams and external stakeholders. Experience in a complex nonprofit that has multiple activities is preferred.
2. A bachelor’s degree, preferably in accounting or finance.
3. Demonstrated experience coordinating audit activities and managing reporting, budget development and analysis, accounts payable and receivable, general ledger, payroll, and accounting for investments.
4. Demonstrated experience in grants management as it relates to compliance and reporting of government, corporate and foundation grants is essential.
5. Technology savvy with experience selecting and overseeing software installations and managing relationships with software vendors; advanced knowledge of accounting and reporting software.
6. An ability to quickly build relationships across varying identities, income levels, races and ethnicities. 
7. Clear and effective communication skills, both orally and in writing, particularly in communicating key data.
8. Keen analytic, organizational and problem-solving skills which allows for strategic data interpretation.
9. Ability and desire to translate complex financial concepts to individuals at all levels including non-finance managers.

Compensation: Compensation is commensurate with experience. Full medical and dental benefits, as well as retirement plan with company match, robust time off perks, paid parental leave and other benefits, are provided. The salary range for this position is $100,000 – 150,000.

How to Apply: Interested applicants should submit a resume with their application as one document, preferably PDF. For more information about NDS, please visit our website at https://neighborhooddefender.org/jobs/list/

The Neighborhood Defender Service is committed to creating a diverse environment that reflects the community we serve. NDS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. NDS encourages people with incarcerated loved ones, formerly incarcerated people, people of color, women, queer, transgender, gender non-confirming, and gender fluid people to apply.