Position Overview
The Controller is the senior accounting leader responsible for the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of Change Church's accounting operations and financial reporting. Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, the Controller owns the general ledger, monthly and year-end close, financial statement preparation, accounting policies, and the internal control environment across the church's multi-site operations.
This leader provides technical accounting direction, develops the accounting team, and ensures daily financial activity is executed through clear ownership, disciplined review, and reliable systems. The Controller maintains appropriate oversight without becoming the primary processor of work assigned to the Assistant Controller or Accounting Coordinator and equips the CFO with dependable financial information for planning and decision-making.
Core Competencies
- Technical Accounting Leadership: Applies GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards to complex transactions, financial reporting, policies, and accounting judgments.
- Close and Financial Reporting: Leads disciplined monthly and year-end close processes and produces timely, accurate, decision-useful financial statements and supporting schedules.
- Internal Controls and Stewardship: Designs and maintains controls, approval workflows, and accounting procedures that protect resources and strengthen accountability.
- Financial Systems and Process Optimization: Strengthens Sage Intacct, Ramp, integrations, documentation, and workflows to improve accuracy, visibility, and efficiency.
- Team Leadership and Delegation: Establishes clear ownership, develops accounting leaders, delegates operational work appropriately, and holds the team accountable for outcomes.
- Analysis and Executive Support: Identifies trends, variances, and accounting concerns and communicates clear findings and recommendations to the CFO and other leaders.
Character Traits
- Integrity: Exercises uncompromising honesty, confidentiality, and ethical judgment in all financial matters.
- Accountability: Owns the quality and timeliness of accounting outputs and addresses missed expectations promptly.
- Discernment: Distinguishes between matters requiring direct involvement and work that should be delegated and reviewed.
- Analytical Thinking: Evaluates complex information, identifies root causes, and reaches sound accounting conclusions.
- Clarity: Communicates expectations, financial information, and concerns in a direct, respectful, and understandable manner.
- Servant Leadership: Develops others, collaborates across functions, and supports the ministry with humility and excellence
Spiritual Responsibilities
- Uncompromised commitment to Change Church's vision, values, core beliefs and statement of faith.
- Agree to be an active participant in Change Church's ministry.
- Be a born-again Christian who conducts affairs in accordance with the Bible and maintains a lifestyle consistent with the Scriptures.
- Understand that in this role, you are a critical part of Change Church's mission to help change people's lives with the Gospel so that they can change the world, and that part of your responsibilities as a church employee includes being considered a spiritual leader in the church.
- Commit to pray for the first family, leadership, and membership of Change Church.
- Lead in generosity to the church through consistent giving of tithe and offerings.
- Champion, support, and advocate for the vision of the church.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
General Expectations:
- Serve in excellence by being early and prepared for all scheduled meetings.
- Establish and foster an exemplary relationship with staff, volunteers, church members, and the community at large.
- Demonstrate a servant’s heart with a willingness to perform additional duties as needs arise.
Accounting Leadership and Department Oversight
- Lead the accounting function and establish clear standards, workflows, deadlines, and accountability across the team.
- Supervise, coach, and develop the Assistant Controller, ensuring appropriate delegation and review throughout the accounting operation.
- Evaluate team capacity, role clarity, and performance and recommend staffing, training, or process changes as needed.
- Partner with the CFO to align accounting operations with organizational priorities and reporting needs.
General Ledger, Close, and Financial Reporting
- Own the general ledger and lead monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes.
- Review and approve complex or material journal entries, account reconciliations, accruals, allocations, and closing schedules.
- Prepare or oversee accurate GAAP-aligned financial statements, supporting schedules, and management reports.
- Ensure all campuses, ministries, funds, departments, and revenue streams are accurately reflected in financial reporting.
- Investigate material discrepancies, unusual transactions, and unresolved reconciling items and ensure timely resolution.
Financial Operations and Controls
- Maintain executive accounting oversight of accounts payable, receivables, giving and revenue accounting, cash receipts, disbursements, contractor payments, expense reporting, and related workflows.
- Develop, document, and maintain accounting policies, standard operating procedures, approval requirements, and internal controls.
- Ensure accounting activity follows established authorization, coding, documentation, and segregation-of-duties requirements.
- Monitor close calendars, recurring accounting activities, and key control deadlines across the department.
Budget and Financial Analysis Support
- Support the CFO's budgeting and forecasting processes through accurate historical data, schedules, assumptions, and accounting analysis.
- Produce or review budget-to-actual and variance reports and identify significant trends, risks, and discrepancies.
- Provide reliable financial data and operational insight to support CFO-led planning and executive decision-making.
Systems, Sage Intacct, and Ramp
- Serve as the accounting owner for Sage Intacct and the financial control owner for Ramp workflows and integrations.
- Maintain the chart of accounts, reporting dimensions, close workflows, permissions, and accounting-system controls.
- Ensure Ramp coding, approvals, card activity, reimbursements, and system integrations support accurate accounting and established spend controls.
- Lead financial-system training and partner with the Assistant Controller to support effective user adoption and workflow compliance.
Audit, Compliance, and Cross-Functional Partnership
- Partner with the Executive Accountant/Compliance and Risk leader by providing accurate financial records, schedules, explanations, and requested documentation for audits and compliance reviews.
- Review accounting-related audit findings and ensure assigned corrective actions are implemented and sustained.
- Collaborate with Human Resources on payroll and contractor-payment accuracy and with Supply Chain on procurement and vendor processes.
- Perform other related duties and special projects as assigned.
WWE Experience & Special Event Support
- When assigned, serve as a visible leader during weekend worship experiences.
- Support church-wide conferences, leadership gatherings, special events, and outreach initiatives.
- Represent Change Church with professionalism, humility, and servant leadership during all ministry opportunities.
- Other related duties as assigned.
Supervisor Responsibilities:
- Assistant Controller
Pay Transparency Notice: At Change Church Inc, we value transparency in compensation. The target annual salary for this position ranges from $80,000.00 to $95,000, based on relevant experience, qualifications, skills, and work location.
We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes, but is not limited to:
- Medical, dental, and vision insurance
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) and Health Savings Account (HSA) options
- 401(k) retirement plan
- Paid time off (PTO)
- Paid holidays
Equal Employment Commitment:
Change Church Inc is an equal opportunity employer.
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, or related field.
- Seven years of progressively responsible accounting experience.
- Three years of accounting leadership or supervisory experience.
- Advanced GAAP, financial reporting, general ledger, close, and internal-control knowledge.
- Experience leading monthly and year-end close.
- Proficiency with Sage Intacct, Ramp, and advanced Excel.
- Strong leadership, communication, and analytical skills.
Preferred
- CPA
- Master’s degree in accounting, finance, or business.
- Church, nonprofit, or multi-site experience.