Controller

About Baltimore Hebrew Congregation

Baltimore Hebrew Congregation (BHC) is a Reform Jewish congregation in Baltimore, Maryland, with a long history of worship, learning, community engagement, lifecycle support, music, family programming, and service. The Controller will support this broad mission by building reliable financial operations, clear reporting, strong internal controls, and thoughtful stewardship of the congregation’s resources.

Position Summary

The Controller is the congregation’s senior hands-on accounting leader and is responsible for the integrity, accuracy, and timeliness of financial information. This role oversees the general ledger, monthly and year-end close, financial reporting, budgeting, payroll accounting, cash management, billing and receivables, payables, grants, and restricted and unrestricted funds. The Controller partners with clergy, senior leadership, department leaders, staff, lay leaders, committees, auditors, payroll providers, banks, and other external partners.

Key Responsibilities

Financial Accounting and Close

• Own the monthly, quarterly, and annual close process, including journal entries, accruals, allocations, reconciliations, and review of unusual or aging balances.
• Maintain an accurate and well-structured general ledger and chart of accounts in QuickBooks Online, including departments, programs, funds, grants, and other tracking dimensions.
• Prepare timely financial statements and management reporting
• Supervise reconciliation of all key accounts.
• Maintain appropriate accounting documentation, schedules, and workpapers to support management review, audit readiness, and institutional continuity.
• Monitor cash position and near-term liquidity needs and provide leadership with practical, decision-useful analysis.

Budgeting, Forecasting, and Departmental Reporting

• Lead the annual operating and capital budgeting process in collaboration with senior leadership and department owners including  templates, assumptions, calendars, and procedures that support consistent planning across numerous departments and programs.
• Prepare regular budget-to-actual reporting, investigate material variances, and work with department leaders on forecasts and corrective actions.

Fund, Grant, and Donor-Restricted Accounting

• Maintain accurate accounting for restricted and unrestricted funds, including clear documentation of purpose, available balance, releases from restriction, and authorized use.
• Track grant awards and related expenditures by funding source, program, period, and restriction; reconcile grant records to the general ledger.
• Maintain contribution and fund records in a manner that supports donor stewardship, financial statement presentation, and audit requirements.

Payroll and Benefits Accounting

• Oversee the accounting and control environment for a complex payroll population that includes salaried and full-time and part-time hourly employees.
• Review payroll inputs, employee changes, time and attendance information, department and program coding, deductions, employer taxes, and benefit-related entries before or after processing, as appropriate.
• Reconcile payroll registers and tax filings to the general ledger and investigate variances promptly.
• Prepare and review monthly, quarterly, and year-end payroll schedules and support annual reporting and audit requests.

Billing, Receivables, Payables, and Cash

• Oversee congregant billing and receivable processes in ShulCloud (CRM), including dues, tuition or program charges, payments, credits, deposits, and account adjustments.
• Monitor receivable aging and support respectful, confidential, and consistent collection practices in partnership with authorized staff.
• Oversee accounts payable, vendor setup, invoice coding, approval workflows, payment processing, expense reimbursements, and Form 1099 preparation.

Controls, Compliance, Audit, and Governance

• Design, document, and maintain practical internal controls that fit the congregation’s staffing model and reduce the risk of error, fraud, or unauthorized activity.
• Coordinate the annual financial statement audit or review, employee benefit plan work, and other external accounting or compliance engagements, as applicable.
• Support required federal, state, and local filings in coordination with external advisors, including nonprofit, payroll, information-return, property, and other filings applicable to the organization.
• Prepare financial materials for senior leadership, the Treasurer, Finance Committee, Board, or other authorized groups and explain key results, risks, and decisions in plain language.

Systems, Process Improvement, and Team Leadership

• Establish consistent data standards, workflow, and reconciliation procedures across QuickBooks Online, ShulCloud, payroll, banking, and payment platforms.
• Document recurring procedures and maintain calendars, checklists, and cross-training materials so essential work is not dependent on one person.
• Supervise, coach, and review the work of accounting staff or outsourced service providers

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in accounting, finance, business administration, or a related field; equivalent depth of relevant accounting experience may be considered.
• At least 8 years of progressive accounting experience, including ownership of the general ledger, close, reconciliations, financial reporting, and budgeting.
• Demonstrated experience with nonprofit, fund, or grant accounting, including restricted and unrestricted net assets or funds.
• Experience supporting a complex payroll and allocating personnel costs across departments, programs, grants, or funds.
• Strong proficiency with QuickBooks Online and Microsoft Excel, including reconciliations, data analysis, and management-ready schedules.
• High standards of integrity, discretion, accuracy, responsiveness, and service.

Preferred

• Hands-on experience with Customer Relations Management software.
• Experience in a synagogue, church, school, membership organization, human-services nonprofit, cultural institution, or similarly complex mission-driven environment.
• Experience with grant reimbursement, government grants, annual audits, investment accounting, fixed assets, and capital projects.

Success Profile

• A hands-on controller who can move comfortably between detailed reconciliations and organization-wide financial strategy.
• A patient translator of financial information who equips department leaders to understand and manage their budgets.
• A rigorous steward of restricted resources, grant requirements, payroll allocations, and confidential information.
• A collaborative colleague who respects the rhythms, values, calendar, and community-centered nature of congregational life.
• A practical process builder who strengthens controls without creating unnecessary complexity.

Baltimore Hebrew Congregation provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Baltimore Hebrew Congregation complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment.