Controller

Unite America seeks a full-time Controller. Reporting to the Sr. Director of Finance & Strategy and serving as a key member of the Strategy & Operations team, the Controller will lead accounting operations across a portfolio of affiliated entities. This role owns the accuracy, timeliness, and integrity of financial reporting—including close, controls, and cash management—ensuring leadership has clear, decision-ready financial information. This is a hands-on role in a lean, multi-entity environment, with direct responsibility for executing core accounting processes. Over time, the Controller will build and scale the function, strengthening infrastructure, systems, and team capacity as the organization grows. The ideal candidate brings deep technical expertise in GAAP and multi-entity financial management, paired with the ability to translate complex financial data into clear, decision-ready insights on financial performance, variances, and risk. They proactively identify issues, implement practical solutions, and continuously improve processes and controls. This person is a strong communicator who can partner across teams, align stakeholders around financial realities, and exercise sound judgment in navigating the complexities of related but distinct entities. This role is open to remote candidates, with the option to be based in Denver, CO. Travel 1–2 times per quarter for team meetings and retreats is required. Unite America offers a relocation stipend for those interested in moving to Denver. Unite America believes that there is strength in diversity and strongly encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds and from across the political and ideological spectrum to apply. OUR ORGANIZATION Unite America is a non-partisan, philanthropic venture fund (composed of several legal entities) that invests in candidates, campaigns, and organizations in order to advance nonpartisan election reforms that will foster a more representative and functional government capable of solving America’s most pressing challenges. Founded in 2014, Unite America and its 35+ person team has grown to be a leader in the democracy reform movement. The organization has existed in its current form, and with its current primary focus, since 2019; in that time, we have successfully mobilized tens of millions of dollars from scores of philanthropists to candidates and reform campaigns across the country. Recent victories where we played a leading or a major supporting role to win: a major anti-gerrymandering campaign in Virginia; a first-of-its-kind, top-four open all-candidate primary system in Alaska that helped elect one of the most ideologically diverse slates of statewide officeholders in recent history; and a ballot initiative in Nevada to implement Alaska-style reforms in that state. We are poised to dramatically scale our impact in the years to come. At Unite America, we are working to build a more representative and functional government that puts voters first and reflects the diversity of our country, and an inclusive democracy in which leaders embrace problem-solving over fueling divisiveness. Likewise, we have a vision of building an organization that reflects diverse identities, experiences, and perspectives, a culture of working across differences toward common goals, and a workplace where everyone feels included, respected, and heard. To that end, Unite America is proud to have made diversifying our team, ensuring more equitable opportunity, and fostering a culture of belonging a priority. Our organizational values reinforce this commitment as we work to model the leadership we seek, solve problems together, and take care of one another, to name a few. RESPONSIBILITIES Financial Management & Reporting Lead month-end close and financial reporting across multiple (5+) entities, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timeliness Direct day-to-day accounting operations, including general ledger, AP/AR, allocations, reconciliations, and inter-entity transactions Deliver clear reporting and analysis to leadership, including variances, trends, and emerging risks Technical Accounting & Accounting Policy Establish and enforce accounting policies in accordance with GAAP and other applicable requirements and policies Define and document key accounting positions (e.g., revenue recognition, expense classification, allocations) Interpret grant agreements and contracts to ensure appropriate financial treatment Serve as the internal authority on technical accounting matters Internal Controls & Compliance Design and maintain an effective internal control environment across entities Lead audit readiness and the annual audit process; serve as primary liaison with auditors and external partners and advisors Manage tax compliance and filings in coordination with external advisors Cash Management & Treasury Lead cash management across entities, maintaining visibility into balances, timing, and restrictions Manage bank accounts, inter-entity transactions, and disbursements with strong controls Partner on cash forecasting, liquidity planning, and alignment with organizational priorities Monitor cash activity to identify risks, variances, and optimization opportunities Planning & Financial Leadership Support annual budgeting, including coordination, templates, and consolidation Provide financial insights to guide planning, resource allocation, and decision-making Conduct variance analysis and communicate key drivers and implications Deliver ad hoc financial analysis to support organizational priorities WHO WE’RE LOOKING FOR An experienced accounting leader with deep expertise in multi-entity environments, ideally within highly regulated settings. They combine technical rigor with the ability to operate quickly and exercise sound judgment in a fast-evolving organization. They bring: Strong command of GAAP, financial reporting, and entity-level accounting, with the ability to navigate complexity without sacrificing accuracy Experience operating across multiple entities, including designing and managing allocation methodologies A successful track record in startup or high-growth environments, with comfort building processes from the ground up The ability to balance rigor with speed, exercising sound judgment in ambiguous or fast-moving situations Comfort operating in highly regulated or compliance-sensitive environments, with a clear understanding of risk and controls Ability to independently research complex accounting questions and land on clear, well-reasoned recommendations High attention to detail paired with the ability to step back and support higher-level planning and analysis A proactive, solutions-oriented mindset, with a focus on improving processes and building scalable systems Energy for building, motivated by creating structure, not just maintaining it QUALIFICATIONS 5+ years of progressive accounting experience, including leading accounting functions in multi-entity environments Comfort operating in environments with evolving systems, with the ability to build and improve infrastructure over time Strong command of GAAP and high-quality financial reporting standards Ability to analyze and interpret large, evolving datasets, including unstructured data Experience managing compliance and financial reporting across multi-entity environments Demonstrated ability to operate independently and exercise sound judgment in ambiguous situations CPA (or equivalent) preferred Competitive Compensation (est. $120k-$145k) 401(k) Plan (with up to a 3% employer contribution match) Health Care Plan (medical, dental, and vision) Unlimited Paid Time Off (vacation, sick days, public holidays, and team-wide wellness days) Family Leave (maternity, paternity, and adoption) Paid sabbatical after 4 years on staff Training & Professional Development Wellness Resources Opportunity to join an inclusive, vibrant, and diverse team