Controller (Remote)

Focus Areas: Accounting, Financial Reporting, Compliance, Audits, Accounting Operations, Internal Controls, Systems & Workflow Management, Team Leadership
Location: Remote (U.S. only)
Eligibility: Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

JOB HIGHLIGHT

The Controller leads the organization’s accounting operations and ensures the timeliness, accuracy, integrity, and compliance of financial reporting. The Controller leads the accounting team, maintains strong internal controls, oversees audits and regulatory filings, and partners closely with the CFO and cross-functional leaders to support effective financial operations.

JOB SUMMARY

The Controller is responsible for day-to-day accounting operations and for building and managing a high-performing accounting team serving both the US and UK entities. This includes ownership of the monthly close process, accounts payable and receivable, payroll, GAAP application, financial reporting, reconciliations, transactional workflows, and internal controls.

Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller ensures the accuracy of the general ledger and financial statements, oversees restricted fund accounting, supports accounting systems and integrations, and helps identify risks and improvement opportunities across financial operations in the US and the UK. The role also leads the annual audit process and ensures timely completion of all external compliance and regulatory filings including the 990.

YOU’LL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR

• Leading accounting operations, reporting systems, and transaction processing in compliance with GAAP and regulatory requirements
• Ensuring timely and accurate month accounting close that provides the FP&A team with data for variance analysis and reporting
• Coordinating and completing annual external audits and required filings, including IRS Form 990
• Managing external compliance such as tax receipts, 1099’s, and state registrations.
• Overseeing treasury operations and related internal controls
• Designing, implementing, and maintaining internal controls that safeguard organizational assets
• Developing and maintaining policies and training related to procurement, payments, employee expenses, and supporting processes
• Ensuring proper stewardship and compliance related to donor-restricted funds
• Identifying and assessing accounting, compliance, and operational risks
• Managing, coaching, and developing the accounting team
• Managing the relationship with Charity Navigator, including overseeing all required portal submissions
• Ensuring timely submission of federal, state, and local regulatory filings and registrations
• Supporting the implementation and optimization of accounting and financial reporting systems (e.g., NetSuite and related tools) with a specific focus on:
  • maintaining robust system security and controls and
  • optimizing the chart of accounts to more fully support critical business needs
• Maintaining the organization's insurance portfolio to ensure adequate coverage and protections.
• Collaborating with leaders across the organization to support cross-functional initiatives and operational need

YOU MUST HAVE

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or a related field
• 10+ years of progressive accounting experience including non-profit accounting experience and successful management of audits
• Active CPA license
• Strong experience managing clean financial statement audits and internal controls
• Experience partnering with senior leaders on financial reporting and operational matters
• Demonstrated ability to manage and develop a high-performing accounting team
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite) and CRM platforms such as Salesforce
• Comfort operating in fast-paced or evolving environments
• Ability to work cross-functionally with FPA, engineering, HR, and fundraising teams

IT’S AN ADDED PLUS IF YOU HAVE

• Deep curiosity and proven ability to explore innovative solutions to improve business support
• Prior demonstrated experience implementing new financial systems with NetSuite Social Enterprise strongly preferred
• Prior international accounting experience such as supporting entities under UK GAAP or IFRS
• A thirst for innovation and creating processes that leverage AI tools

YOU’LL BE SUCCESSFUL IF...

You're passionate about accuracy and continuous improvement

You double and triple-check your work because you know that accurate data is crucial for an Finance department to operate successfully and you make judgements based on accurate data. You value leveraging your and your team’s creativity toward continuously improving operations.

You communicate with ease

You pay strong attention to your audience and can communicate complicated concepts in a simple way. You are concise and operate with poise, dignity and reliability.

You're a proactive coach and developer

You excel at managing, motivating, and supporting the accounting team through consistent supervision, feedback, and coaching. You prioritize the professional development of your team members to build capacity and future capabilities

You get things done

You’re a multitasking machine and you don’t have a problem getting your hands dirty. You follow through on every task, no matter how big or small, and when duty calls you take matters into your own hands. You live for hitting deadlines and understand the importance of keeping on schedule and on budget.

You're organized and diligent

You can multitask because you keep things in order. You're timely. And you leave breadcrumbs so others could figure out how you got the job done.

TEAM OVERVIEW

The Finance team, which includes Accounting and Strategic Finance, works diligently to support our entire organization. This includes keeping our financial books and reporting timely and accurate, staying compliant with laws and regulations, safeguarding our financial assets, ensuring that donated Water funds are being allocated as intended, managing and investing operating funds in line with our strategic goals, and ensuring we maintain strong financial health in all that we do. The team also helps guarantee our donor promise and core pillar that 100% of our public donations are utilized for water projects.

HIRING TIMELINE

This role was posted on June 8, 2026 and will be open for approximately 90 days.

SALARY RANGE

This is an exempt role with a range of $140,903 - $154,993 a year.

BENEFITS & PERKS

Unlimited PTO

Summer Fridays

6-week paid sabbatical leave after 5 years of employment

Annual bonus potential through The Pool

401k plan + employer match

Medical covered at 85% + Dental/Vision contributions

FSA + dependent day care FSA

Employer-paid life insurance, STD, LTD

16-week paid maternity and paternity leave for new parents

Stipends for Home office, Professional Development, and a You-do-You Perk

TSA Pre-check reimbursement

Flexible working hours; team members are expected to be online 10am - 4pm ET regardless of location, plus three hours per day asynchronously, which factors in an hour for lunch

2-4 annual travel requirements that foster team alignment, connection and in-person collaboration

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

At charity: water, we believe that water changes everything. We work with local implementing partners to fund sustainable solutions that provide clean and safe drinking water to people around the world. Since 2006, with a diverse team of world-changers and an unstoppable community of supporters, we’ve brought clean water to more than 20 million people worldwide. With the makings of a mid-size tech startup, we’re reinventing charity through endless innovation, contagious passion, beautifully crafted stories, and a powerful brand that inspires a new kind of generosity.

At charity: water, we value every background, identity, and experience. We believe that a diverse team, informed by different cultures and perspectives, makes us stronger. We are committed to doing the work and challenging each other to be an organization in which everyone is respected and heard. We commit to providing genuine opportunities for all people to thrive. And we will continue to embed diversity, inclusion, belonging, and equality in everything we do.

Note, charity: water will never ask you for your credit card or financial information during the interview process. Should you receive a message requesting this information, please mark the email as spam and report here.