Controller

ANN ARBOR, Michigan, The Hope Foundation for Cancer Research Position: Controller Job Type: Exempt Location: Hybrid- Ann Arbor, MI Compensation Package: Competitive salary and benefits package with employer matched 403b Description: Reporting to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), the Controller is a key strategic and operational finance leader responsible for the integrity, accuracy, and effectiveness of The Hope Foundation for Cancer Research’s accounting operations. This role oversees day-to-day accounting, financial reporting, grants and clinical trial finance administration, internal controls, audit readiness, and compliance with applicable nonprofit accounting standards and sponsor requirements. Leading a team of four finance professionals, the Controller ensures that systems, processes, and reporting practices support a complex portfolio of federal and non-federal grants, clinical trials, restricted funding, and multi-funder budgets. The successful candidate will bring strong nonprofit controllership experience, deep knowledge of 2 CFR Part 200/Uniform Guidance, excellent judgment, and the ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights for organizational leadership. About: The Hope Foundation for Cancer Research is a national, nonprofit public charity with the mission of supporting clinical research and educational programs for SWOG Cancer Research Network, aimed to eradicate adult cancers. We are a progressive organization, interested in innovation and new ideas. We welcome input and value our team, encouraging collaboration across the organization. For more information, please visit our websites: http://www.thehopefoundation.org or http://www.swog.org SWOG Cancer Research Network is one of five National Cancer Institute (NCI) supported Network Groups that comprise the National Clinical Trials Network (NCTN) and the NCI Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP). SWOG designs, conducts, and publishes multidisciplinary clinical trials and translational research to improve the practice of medicine in preventing, detecting and treating cancer, and to enhance the quality of life for cancer survivors. Key Responsibilities: Accounting and Reporting Leadership:

Oversee all day-to-day accounting operations, including accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash receipts, cash and investment reconciliations, payroll-related accounting, general ledger maintenance, and account analysis. Lead monthly, quarterly, and year-end close processes, ensuring timely, accurate, and complete financial statements prepared in accordance with nonprofit GAAP and internal reporting deadlines. Coordinate the review journal entries, reconciliations, schedules, and supporting documentation to ensure accuracy, consistency, and appropriate classification across funds, grants, programs, departments, and clinical trial activity. Oversee the allocation of shared costs, indirect costs, administrative overhead, and restricted funding across diverse program, grant, and clinical trial structures. Prepare, review, and analyze financial reports for the CFO, leadership team, board committees, funders, and other stakeholders, highlighting trends, risks, variances, and opportunities for improved financial management. Maintain strong accounting calendars, workflows, documentation standards, and close checklists to promote accountability, timeliness, and continuous process improvement. Supervise, mentor, and develop finance team members, fostering a collaborative, service-oriented, accurate, and deadline-driven finance function. Partner closely with the CFO to strengthen financial strategy, reporting infrastructure, cash management, forecasting inputs, and organizational decision support.

Grant & Clinical Trial Administration:

Oversee post-award financial management for federal, non-federal, foundation, and industry-sponsored awards, including budget setup, expenditure monitoring, billing, reporting, closeout, and compliance documentation. Serve as a finance subject matter expert for Sage Intacct’s grant tracking, project, billing, revenue recognition, and reporting functionality, ensuring accurate use of dimensions, funding sources, restrictions, and billing rules. Collaborate with budgeting, grants management, program, and clinical trial teams to develop, monitor, and revise budgets; track milestones; identify eligible costs; and trigger accurate sponsor invoicing and reimbursement requests. Ensure accurate revenue recognition for clinical trials and conditional or restricted awards, including reconciliation of deferred revenue, milestone payments, sponsor receivables, and related expenses. Monitor spending against approved budgets and award terms, identifying variances, potential overruns, underutilization, cost-sharing obligations, and compliance concerns in a timely manner. Ensure federal and non-federal expenditures comply with sponsor requirements, organizational policies, allowability standards, documentation requirements, and 2 CFR Part 200/Uniform Guidance. Support funder reporting, drawdowns, reimbursement packages, audit requests, and closeout deliverables with complete, accurate, and well-organized financial documentation. Communicate complex financial, grant, and clinical trial accounting matters clearly to non-financial stakeholders, promoting shared understanding and timely action.

Internal Controls & Audit Coordination

Protect organizational assets by designing, implementing, documenting, and enforcing effective internal controls, accounting policies, approval workflows, segregation of duties, and risk-mitigation practices. Continuously evaluate finance processes and systems to improve efficiency, strengthen compliance, reduce manual work, and enhance data integrity across the accounting function. Serve as the primary liaison with external auditors for the annual financial statement audit, coordinating schedules, documentation requests, management responses, and timely completion of audit deliverables. Coordinate preparation of the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA) and support accurate, well-documented execution of the annual Single Audit, as applicable. Lead preparation and review of tax, compliance, and regulatory filings in partnership with external advisors, including Form 990 support schedules and other required financial submissions. Maintain audit-ready records, policies, reconciliations, and supporting documentation for grants, clinical trials, restricted funds, and general operating activity.

Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Business Administration, or a related field required; CPA, CMA, MBA, or relevant advanced coursework strongly preferred. Seven or more years of progressively responsible accounting and financial management experience, including at least four years in a senior nonprofit accounting leadership, controller, or assistant controller role. Demonstrated hands-on experience managing complex federal grants, restricted funds, and/or clinical trial financial activity, including budget-to-actual monitoring, sponsor billing, revenue recognition, reporting, and closeout. Deep working knowledge of nonprofit GAAP, fund accounting, internal controls, audit preparation, SEFA support, Single Audit requirements, and 2 CFR Part 200/Uniform Guidance. High proficiency with Sage Intacct or comparable nonprofit accounting systems, including grants/projects, dimensions, reporting, billing, and revenue recognition functionality; strong Microsoft 365 and advanced Excel skills required. Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop accounting staff while building clear expectations, accountability, cross-training, and a culture of accuracy and continuous improvement. Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with strong attention to detail, sound professional judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines. Ability to work collaboratively with financial and non-financial stakeholders, explain complex accounting concepts clearly, and support mission-driven decision-making.

The Hope Foundation is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, sexual orientation, gender identity or transgender status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Competitive benefits, 403b with match