NOTE: Desert Botanical Garden requires all staff to be fully vaccinated by January 1st, 2022. We do have exemptions for medical reasons or sincerely held religious beliefs that would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine if we can accommodate.

Position Purpose

Responsible for the management and coordination of daily accounting and monthly reporting activities. Coordinate all day-to-day accounting, including management of the general ledger, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and grants management. Develop and maintain accounting practices and procedures to ensure accurate and timely financial statements; provide significant financial leadership for activities including financial reporting, year-end audit, tax reporting, and budget and forecast activities.

The Controller is a member of the Garden’s senior management team, which collaboratively leads all aspects of the Garden’s operations, planning, and budgeting. Therefore, while primarily responsible for leadership in Accounting, the Controller must also develop a strategic understanding of all aspects of the Garden’s mission and operation, and work seamlessly with the senior leadership team in managing the overall operation of the Garden.

Essential Duties

• Develop and maintain financial management policies and procedures that align with the Desert Botanical Garden (DBG) mission, ensuring that DBG is in compliance with applicable accounting standards and best practices
• Maintain monthly documentation for all entities; verify that that all are current and up-to-date
• Maintain internal control and business processes for receipt and recording of revenue (earned and contributed)
• Maintain department procedures manual for daily operations, monthly closing, and year-end processes
• Initiate impactful process improvement actions on a continuous basis
• Advise other departments regarding the handling of non-routine accounting transactions
• Coordinate preparation of monthly financial statements and financial analysis for DBG and the DBG Foundation
• Report revenue streams from special events, facility rentals, admissions, education classes, and complex donor contribution transactions
• Manage monthly reconcilement of bank statements for the DBG accounts
• Manage reporting of pledges, net assets, and funding releases; monitor funding restrictions and available balances
• Manage recording all monthly accruals, 401k, and payroll entries
• Manage all accounts receivable and donor pledges
• Supervise, mentor, coach, and evaluate DBG staff members responsible for the Accounting, Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, and Grants Management functions; manage interns and volunteers
• Coordinate the preparation of IRS Form 990 for the Garden and its Foundation
• Coordinate the preparation of the annual operating and capital budgets
• Provide budget vs. actual and cash flow reports for Senior Management and Board Committees
• Assist in the development of strategic and financial plans
• Lead the annual financial audit of Garden and its Foundation
• Coordinate preparation of all required reconciliations, schedules, and additional auditor requests
• Provide leadership in the oversight and planning for DBG’s financial systems
• Participate in budget preparation for grant applications and provide information and support for financial reporting to grantors
• Ensure appropriate risk management activities are in place including working closely with external insurance brokers
• Serves as an ambassador for the Garden and all of its programs; regularly attend community events to authentically engage with our core audiences and, particularly, with the three audiences identified as priorities in the current strategic plan—Latinx, millennials, and children and their families

• 
  Bachelor’s degree in business, with an emphasis in Accounting/Audit
• CPA Preferred
• Five to seven years of supervisory experience in financial reporting/general ledger management; experience working in a non-profit organization preferred
• Hands-on expertise in monthly closing processes and account reconciliations
• Tech savviness, with experience selecting and overseeing software development and implementation
• Experience managing relationships with software vendors; advanced knowledge of accounting and reporting software
• PC proficiency and ability to thrive in a fast-paced setting; strong experience with Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Strong oral and written communication skills; strong attention to detail
• Exceptional interpersonal, supervisory, and customer service skills
• Ability to multi-task and meet deadlines
• Ability to work off-hours with occasional evenings, weekends, and/or holidays

Equipment Used

Typical office equipment.

Scope of Authority

Review, negotiate, sign, and enforce contracts under direction of the Executive Director. Create and enforce policies/procedures as needed.

Financial Authority

Overall responsibility for the Garden’s budget. Authority to approve expenditures up to amount determined by Sr. Director of Finance and Administration.

Internal Communication

Frequent interaction with all Garden employees and members of the Board of Trustees.

External Communication

Frequent communication with vendors.

Working Conditions

No physical effort beyond what’s typically required in a normal office environment. Potential for tight deadlines or time periods of high workload may require additional hours. The noise level in the work environment is usually minimal.

Must be able to walk, sit, stand, stoop, kneel, bend, see, hear, speak, read, and type. Manual dexterity and the ability to lift up to 10 pounds required.

Reasonable accommodations may be made, when necessary and feasible, to allow a qualified individual to perform essential job functions.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Desert Botanical Garden is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers all applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity and/or expression, sexual orientation, marital or parental status, age, national origin, veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by law.

The Garden fosters and supports workplace diversity, equity, and inclusion to honor the unique perspectives, experiences, and contributions of all, to celebrate successes, and to cultivate individual and institutional excellence.

All employees will help add to the Garden’s diversity and fully embrace it.

Pay Range: $92.000 - $114,000

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and deliverables of the role. This is not a contract and should not be viewed as such. Other duties may be assigned by supervisor and/or his/her/their designee.