Neighborhood Defender Service (NDS) is a national nonprofit public defense organization that pioneered the holistic defense model more than 30 years ago. Founded in Harlem, NDS was built to challenge the traditional public defense model by centering clients, communities, and interdisciplinary advocacy. Today, NDS operates community-based offices in Harlem; the Bronx; Detroit; and Hays County, Texas, supported by a unified national infrastructure that allows local teams to deliver high-quality, responsive representation rooted in the communities they serve.

Across all locations, NDS provides client-centered legal representation through interdisciplinary teams composed of attorneys, investigators, social workers, client advocates, and team administrators. Our approach emphasizes early and ongoing engagement with clients—before arrest where possible, throughout the life of a case, and beyond case resolution—while addressing the legal, social, and systemic challenges that impact long-term stability. NDS is committed to treating every client with dignity and respect and to advancing justice for individuals and communities that have been historically marginalized and over-policed.

The Controller is a senior finance leader for NDS, based in Harlem and a key member of both the local office leadership and the national administrative team. Working under the direction of the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller plays a central role in overseeing day-to-day accounting and financial operations across the organization while serving as the day-to-day finance contact for the Harlem office.

While budget authority ultimately resides with the CFO, the Controller maintains deep operational responsibility for and fluency in the Harlem budget. In Harlem, the Controller supports staff and leadership by answering budget and financial questions, managing day-to-day financial activity, and serving as a trusted resource in a complex, community-based public defense environment.

Across NDS, the Controller is responsible for core accounting functions, including general ledger oversight, month-end and year-end close processes, financial reporting, and the supervision of accounting operations. The role contributes to the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of standardized financial systems, policies, and internal controls, ensuring accuracy, compliance with accounting standards, and consistency across all offices.

This role is intentionally embedded locally and accountable nationally. By working closely with local leadership and national finance colleagues, the Controller helps align local operations with national infrastructure and strengthens collaboration across offices.

The Controller is integral to sustaining a culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence at NDS. The ideal candidate brings a strong commitment to serving marginalized communities, values transparency and partnership, and understands that strong financial stewardship is essential to delivering dignified, client-centered representation.

The Controller provides senior financial leadership for NDS, supporting consistent, high-quality financial management across the organization. This is a hybrid position, with a minimum of 2-3 days in the Harlem office requirement.

Key responsibilities include:

Financial Management & Reporting

• Own and oversee the general ledger, including account structure, journal entries, reconciliations, and month-end and year-end close processes for all or designated segments of the organization.
• Review and approve journal entries and oversee the accuracy and integrity of transactions within the accounts payable and accounts receivable systems.
• Perform regular reconciliations of bank accounts, balance sheet and income statement accounts, interfund activity, and federal payroll tax filings (including Form 941).
• Oversee payroll and benefits reconciliations, ensuring that payroll registers and benefit deductions align with vendor invoices, ADP records, and general ledger records.
• Ensure the timely and accurate preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and applicable accounting standards.
• Maintain consistent accounting policies, internal controls, and documentation across locations, with direct responsibility for general ledger integrity and accuracy.
• Monitor financial performance, trends, and variances; prepare and clearly communicate monthly, quarterly, and annual financial reports.
• Provide short- and long-term financial analysis, forecasting, and projections to support organizational planning and growth.

Audits, Compliance & Internal Controls

• Lead and support audit activities, including serving as a primary point of contact for external auditors and coordinating Single Audits, as applicable.
• Identify and implement improvements to accounting processes, internal controls, reporting efficiency, and data accuracy to support strong audit outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with accounting standards, grant agreements, donor requirements, and reporting deadlines.

Grants & Restricted Funds

• Oversee accounting for grants and restricted funds, including proper classification, tracking, release of restrictions, and alignment with approved budgets.
• Ensure grant invoicing and financial reporting are accurate, timely, and prepared directly from general ledger data, with appropriate reconciliations between grant activity and the general ledger.
• Partner with program staff to support grant budgeting, monitoring, variance analysis, and financial reporting for government, corporate, and foundation funders.

Budgeting & Planning

• Assist with the annual budgeting and financial planning process, including reviewing financial plans and analyzing actual results against budget.
• Monitor program budgets and expenditures to ensure alignment with approved funding and organizational priorities.

Systems, Supervision & Collaboration

• Supervise accounting staff as assigned and support collaboration across locations and teams.
• Support the implementation, optimization, and effective use of accounting and financial systems.
• Partner with colleagues across finance, HR, IT, and program teams to strengthen systems integration and organizational effectiveness.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or a closely related field.
• At least 7-10 years of progressive accounting and financial management experience, including direct ownership of a general ledger in a complex organization.
• Minimum of 4 years in a senior accounting or Controller-level role with responsibility for journal entries, account reconciliations, month-end and year-end close, and financial statement preparation.
• Demonstrated experience preparing financial statements in accordance with GAAP and maintaining strong internal controls.
• At least 3 years of experience coordinating audits, including serving as a primary point of contact for external auditors and managing audit schedules, documentation, and follow-up.
• Substantial experience in grants accounting and compliance, including financial reporting and invoicing for government, corporate, and foundation funders.
• Advanced proficiency with accounting and financial reporting systems and demonstrated experience maintaining accurate, reliable financial data.
• Ability to clearly communicate financial information, risks, and trends to non-finance managers and senior leadership.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills, with consistent attention to detail, accuracy, and follow-through.
• Demonstrated ability to build effective working relationships across diverse teams, roles, and identities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in a multi-site or nationally structured nonprofit organization with complex funding streams.
• Prior background in public accounting or audit earlier in career progression.
• Experience supporting or leading Single Audits and managing compliance requirements associated with federal funding.
• Experience selecting, implementing, or significantly optimizing accounting or financial systems, including managing vendor relationships.
• Experience translating complex financial data into practical guidance for program, operations, or executive leadership.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity-driven, client-centered work and to organizations serving historically marginalized communities.

Perform other related duties as needed to support evolving organizational needs and priorities. 

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 $130,000-$180,000.

How to Apply: Interested applicants should submit a resume and cover letter 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-conforming, and gender fluid people to apply.