Controller - Prairie State Legal Services

Every day, people across Illinois are denied the basic rights to which they are entitled under the law simply because they can't afford a lawyer. It's our mission to change that.

PSLS is currently seeking a Controller. This role reports to the Finance Director and is responsible for planning, implementing, managing, and controlling all financial-related activities of the organization. This includes accounts payables, accounts receivable, general ledger, the implementation and enforcement of internal controls, as well as significant engagement with grants accounting compliance and administration. The Controller will partner with the Finance Director on budgeting and policy development and will leverage the use of technology to ensure that systems and procedures are in place to ensure strong controls and accurate tracking of revenue and expenses.

Responsibilities
Among other duties as assigned, the Controller will:

• Oversee the organization's accounting processes, ensuring accuracy and integrity of all financial activities
• Ensure that effective internal controls are in place and that the organization remains in full compliance with GAAP and applicable federal, state, and local regulatory laws and rules for financial and tax reporting
• Work closely with the Finance Director in preparation for and responsiveness to queries and document requests from the organization's Independent Public Accountants relating to audits of the consolidated financial statements, single audit report for federal awards, 403(b) plan audit, and Form 990 preparation and submission
• Analyze balance sheet and expense accounts and oversee the preparation and entry of recurring and adjusting journal entries
• Serve as a leader in the Finance Department and maintain working knowledge and collaboration with the finance team for all aspects of organizational financial operations
• Prepare timely financial statements, both for the organization as a whole and for individual projects as assigned
• Manage key accounting functions, including accounts payable and accounts receivable, the general ledger, bank reconciliation process, grant cost allocations, and the payroll and other interfaces to the financial system
• Ensure prompt and accurate month-end and year-end close processes
• Assist in the development and the continuous evaluation of short and long-term strategic financial objectives
• In partnership with the Finance Director, develop budgets and forecasts for the organization

Salary and Benefits
The Controller position is a full-time, In-Person at 37.5 hours per week. PSLS offers a salary that is competitive with similar organizations. The salary range for this position is $70,000 to $98,078 annually. The starting salary for the successful candidate will be determined based on prior relevant experience. PSLS is committed to providing an excellent, comprehensive benefits package to its full-time employees that includes:

• Health insurance, including the opportunity to qualify for a wellness credit
• Dental Insurance
• Vision insurance
• 403b retirement plan, including employer contributions
• Training and education programs
• PTO that starts at 3 weeks/year and increases with additional years worked at PSLS
• Paid sick leave
• 6 weeks of paid parental leave after one year of employment
• 12 paid holidays

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting with 7 years of experience or equivalent combination of education in a related field and professional experience
• Demonstrated leadership and excellent collaboration with team members within and between departments
• Familiarity with database software and proven track record of creating and modifying software to produce results
• Excellent analytical skills and sound understanding of accounting principles
• Demonstrated ability to maintain a high level of organization and time management and to meet deadlines consistently
• Strong computer competency, including solid working knowledge of Access and the Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel
• Prior experience working in a non-profit organization is preferred, as is prior system experience with Blackbaud Financial Edge software
• Strong oral/written communication
• Some travel is necessary; valid driver's license and/or reliable transportation is required

The Organization
PSLS is a nonprofit civil legal aid organization that has served northern and central Illinois for more than 45 years, maintains 11 office locations, and has a staff of over 200, including training and litigation staff with extensive experience. Our 36-county service area includes rural communities, suburban areas, and mid-size urban cities, which necessitates the development of diverse strategies, and we encourage our staff to cultivate and utilize creative approaches to reach and serve our client population. Employees of PSLS benefit from the expertise and community connections of their local office staff, along with robust program-wide resources. We strive to provide an array of services responsive to the needs of our clients. PSLS has excellent fiscal controls and upholds the highest rating from Charity Navigator and Guidestar. For more information regarding PSLS services and operations, please visit our website at https://pslegal.org.

Prairie State Legal Services is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment and is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We recruit, employ, pay, and promote qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, gender, gender identity, expression or presentation, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or any other legally protected status.