Summary
Description
Accountant/Controller
Organization: Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI)
Organization Type: 501(c)3
Job Location: 1526 Cole Blvd., Suite 130, Lakewood CO 80401
Type of Job: Full-time
Job Category: Finance
The Organization: CFI works to preserve and protect the natural integrity of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks—the “14ers”—through active stewardship and public education. The 14ers are home to some of the state’s most fragile ecosystems and the trails leading to their summits are also some of the most trafficked. A small team of five core staff members works year-round to advance the mission, while two nine-month field project managers hire and oversee around 30 seasonal employees who perform trail construction and maintenance on fixed-site and mobile projects. To date, CFI has built 41 sustainably designed, durably constructed summit hiking routes on 36 peaks, logged almost 23,000 days of volunteer trail stewardship and restored countless informal routes that were impacting fragile alpine ecosystems through decades of hiker use. Field work occurs on multiple peaks across the state during the short, May-through-late-September season. CFI educates hikers about Leave No Trace practices and mountain safety to reduce recreation impacts on the 14ers. Education comes through community presentations, on-mountain hiker contacts, and a YouTube channel with almost 100 educational videos on several important topics. Learn more about CFI at 14ers.org.
Position Summary: CFI is hiring a full-time Controller to oversee the organization’s finances and data integration processes. The selected candidate will maintain, manage, and analyze all financial statements, budgets, payroll, tax compliance issues, and more. This is the primary financial person in the organization who will report to the Deputy Director and the Executive Director and work monthly with the Finance Committee and quarterly with the full Board of Directors. The chosen candidate will provide financial and accounting support to 35+ people during the peak summer work period. Work will be 40 hours per week, though may exceed this during crunch times throughout the year.
Values:
Teamwork: CFI has a small team of seven employees, five of which are full-time. The organization expands to 30-40 employees during the summer seasonal work period. Job duties are dynamic and fluid depending on the time of year. The organization thrives due to a commitment to working collaboratively with a multitude of partners, including federal agencies, youth corps, thousands of donors (individual, corporate, foundation and government), and hundreds of individual volunteers. We are nimble, quick, and partner widely to get the job done.
Intensity: CFI performs complex trail stewardship work by hand in some of the highest and harshest environments during a four-month weather window during the summer and fall. Think of CFI as the special forces of trail work. Time is limited and doing the job right is critical.
Integrity: Colorado’s mountains are unforgiving and will strip away pretense and inauthenticity. CFI employees strive for honesty and integrity in our work and our interactions. We are accountable for our actions and report to the world the accomplishments of our work with honesty and integrity—even if that means admitting to falling short of a goal.
Ingenuity: CFI believes there are many ways to solve a problem. We are resourceful and self-taught at times, and we constantly look for ways to improve how we operate. In a field managed by multiple layers of bureaucracy, we are the organization that won't take no for an answer. We “MacGyver” our way through challenges.
Stewardship: Passion for protecting the alpine guides this organization every day. We care as much about the majestic views and feats of inspiration from the summits as we do about every nesting pika and every footstep on the trail. CFI is thoughtful and intentional in our actions as we seek responsible management of these peaks beloved by many.
Longevity: Several members of the core staff have worked for CFI for more than a decade. The team’s mantra is “keeping the band together” to continue building off prior successes and doing even bigger, more creative things in the future. Our focus is finding the next long-term band member, not finding someone who just wants to play a few gigs with us and then move along.
Areas of Responsibility:
- Process financial transactions, including:
- Vendor invoices, recurring subscriptions and other purchases
- Bi-weekly employee payroll through outside service provider
- Daily donations from individual, corporate, government, and foundation sources (volume varies with season)
- Manage endowment accounts per established policies
- Disbursement transactions with outside benefit plan service providers (health, dental, flex, retirement, etc.)
- Prepare general ledger accounting and reporting, including
- Prepare monthly cash receipts/deposit reporting/credit card transactions
- Prepare monthly journal entries for general ledger posting
- Prepare monthly bank reconciliations (multiple accounts)
- Prepare monthly cash flow and financial statements (GAAP and other)
- Financial, Tax and Regulatory Reporting
- Work with Executive Director, Deputy Director, and Programs Directors in developing the organization’s annual budget and tracking expenses to budget monthly throughout the year
- In consultation with development staff, prepare project budgets, track expenditures, and prepare periodic reporting and billing for 25-30 specific restricted grants
- Manage and lead internal activities for the independent audit; serve as primary liaison with outside auditors
- Prepare and file annual reports as required by government regulatory agencies (charitable oversight, business registration, etc. in multiple states)
- In conjunction with the Executive Director, manage the release of financial information for public disclosure (i.e. website posting, annual reports, other documents)
- Prepare required information schedules in support of annual federal, state, and local tax returns and other required filings; manage tax return and communication with relevant tax authorities
- Other Duties
- Implement policies from CFI’s Board of Directors and related committee (Finance, Audit), and report to entities on periodic schedule
- Work with the Executive Director and Deputy Director as well as appropriate board committees regarding developing and monitoring internal systems and controls
- Manage Form W-2 and Form 1099 processing and reporting functions
- Serve as administrator for Simple IRA, flex spending, and other employee benefit plans
- Assist with special projects and performs other duties as assigned
- Maintain relationships with multiple financial institutions
- Manage the office lease (Lakewood) and, along with the Deputy Director, supervise the 30-year license for 5-acre operations base/historical cabin (Twin Lakes)
Requirements/Qualifications:
- 3-5+ years of demonstrated expertise with the management of finance and accounting functions
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree in business, accounting or related field
- Advanced proficiency with QuickBooks accounting system and Microsoft Office (especially Excel)
- Strong strategic thinking, analytical and creative problem-solving skills
- Experience with payroll and benefits administration and related reporting requirements
- Ability to seamlessly integrate high-level strategic decisions into detail-oriented tactical work
- Obsessive attention to detail and ability to maintain a high degree of confidentiality
- Ability to oversee financial and personnel reporting for an organization with multiple remote worksites and mobile employees
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work with colleagues, Board and committee members, on-site and remote employees, multiple different funder organizations, individual donors, and regulatory bodies in multiple states
- Strong project management experience that drives efficiency and excellence in all aspects of work
- Must be able to read, write, and communicate fluently in English
- Must have permanent authorization to work legally in the United States
Bonus Attributes:
- CPA certification
- Experience with nonprofit accounting
- Experience with fundraising databases (CFI uses DonorPerfect)
- Interest in and experience hiking and climbing Colorado’s 14ers
- Experience with a “Single Audit” (previously known as the “OMB Circular A-133” audit) and related requirements
- Experience with managing federal government and State of Colorado agreements, including billing and reporting requirements
Compensation/Benefits:
This is a full-time, exempt position based in CFI’s Lakewood, Colorado, office. Compensation will be $95,000 and is commensurate with experience and qualifications. Colorado Fourteeners Initiative offers a package of benefits, including paid time off, paid holidays, health and dental insurance, life insurance, a matched Simple IRA retirement plan and other benefits, which may change from time to time as described in the organization’s employment handbook.
To Apply:
Email a cover letter and résumé (with a list of references) to controller@14ers.org. Please include “Controller” in the subject line. No phone calls please.
The initial application deadline is February 17, but applications will be accepted and reviewed until the position is filled.
CFI is an Equal Opportunity Employer that strives to create an inclusive work environment. CFI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including gender identity), political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, genetic information, membership in an employee organization, parental status, military status, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention to embrace anyone and everyone who supports our mission.
