Controller
Location
Applicants need to be legally allowed to work in the US. This is a remote position that requires ability to work in US-time zones. Travel for occasional in-person collaboration is expected.
The Opportunity
One Project seeks a Controller to fully own our accounting operations and ensure accurate, timely financial reporting and compliance. Reporting to the Director of Finance, the Controller will manage day-to-day bookkeeping, lead our annual audit and tax processes, oversee payroll and benefits administration, and establish financial infrastructure to support our expanding revenue streams and foundation grant reporting. This role is ideal for a detail-oriented, trustworthy finance professional—ideally with CPA credentials—who thrives in mission-driven environments and values both accuracy and integrity in their work.
What is One Project?
One Project is a nonprofit building infrastructure for a new economy where resources serve people and the planet, not profit. We partner with the rising global movement for economic democracy to build core technology, mobilize catalytic resources, and show the world that a better system is possible today.
Why do we need a new economy?
Our current economic system incentivizes profit above all else. So when we see ecological degradation, addictive products, exploitative tech, and runaway inequality, these aren't just random problems—they're predictable outcomes of the system's incentives. Meanwhile, things that truly matter to people — safe and thriving communities, health, access to leisure time, a healthy environment — are chronically underfunded despite our unprecedented collective wealth.
Our history and role
We are not alone in this realization. All around the world, there is a growing ecosystem of communities, movements, and experts who are already working towards a just transition to a new economy. One Project’s work integrates technology, capital, narrative, and movement-building in a unified approach. We're first building tools for participatory funding—connecting resources directly to community-controlled funds on Common—while advancing public understanding of democratic economics through research and storytelling. One Project is also contributing substantially to funds that will be managed on Common, and we are partnering with other donors to amplify our impact.
What is Common?
Common is a digital platform that connects people, organizations, and resources to coordinate and grow economic democracy to global scale.
What You’ll Do
Day-to-Day Accounting Operations
- Manage full-cycle accounting operations including AP, AR, general ledger, and monthly reconciliations
- Oversee payroll processing and benefits administration through JustWorks, coordinating with HR on employee lifecycle
- Manage vendor relationships, cash flow across multiple funding streams, and serve as primary contact for our external bookkeeping firm
- Ensure compliance with GAAP and nonprofit accounting standards
Financial Reporting & Month-End Close
- Lead monthly close process and prepare timely, accurate financial statements for Director of Finance review
- Create financial reports for leadership, board, and donors, including budget-to-actual variance analysis
- Develop and maintain reporting templates and dashboards to support decision-making
Audit, Tax & Compliance
- Lead annual audit process as primary contact with external auditors, preparing documentation and schedules to ensure clean audit performance
- Support preparation of IRS Form 990 and other tax filings
- Maintain corporate records and ensure compliance with nonprofit regulations
Grants Management & Foundation Reporting
- Track and manage restricted funding, ensuring compliance with grant terms
- Prepare financial reports for foundation funders and execute grant disbursements with strong attention to detail
- Partner with our development team to establish grant reporting procedures and adapt QuickBooks for grant reporting functionality
Systems, Process Improvement & Policy Development
- Manage QuickBooks platform and lead chart of accounts refresh
- Partner with Director of Finance on financial policy updates (signature authority, internal controls, contract thresholds)
- Document SOPs, strengthen internal controls, and support integration of financial systems (QuickBooks, JustWorks, Expensify, Bill.com)
- Identify opportunities for process improvements and automation
You may be the candidate we’re looking for if you bring…
- 7+ years of progressive accounting experience, including experience in a nonprofit environment
- Deep knowledge of GAAP for nonprofit organizations and fund accounting
- Track record of leading clean nonprofit audits as primary auditor contact
- Strong proficiency with QuickBooks and experience with payroll/benefits platforms
- Experience tracking and reporting on restricted funding and preparing financial reports for foundation funders
- Proven ability to deliver accurate, timely monthly financial statements and manage full-cycle accounting operations
- Experience with payroll processing, benefits administration, and managing external service providers
- Understanding of internal controls, process improvement, and financial policy development
- Integrity and trustworthiness in handling confidential financial matters, with meticulous attention to detail
- Clear communication skills to translate financial information for non-finance colleagues
- Collaborative, service-oriented approach with adaptability in a growing organization
Preferred but not required:
- CPA certification
- Experience customizing QuickBooks for grant reporting and managing chart of accounts redesign
- Experience in mission-driven organizations aligned with economic democracy or social justice values
At One Project, team members bring our values to life when they:
- Drive clarity by connecting work to purpose and help others understand the "why" behind decisions.
- Support teammates' success as readily as their own, sharing knowledge and pitching in across boundaries.
- Communicate directly with empathy, giving and receiving feedback in service of growth.
- Actively seek diverse perspectives and create space for others' unique strengths to shine.
- Build trust through consistent follow-through and transparent communication.
- Find creative solutions by embracing nuance and moving beyond either/or thinking.
- Deliver excellence through careful work, measurable results, and continuous improvement.
Working at One Project
One Project strives to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people are empowered to bring their full, authentic selves to do their best work. Our goal is to build a team that reflects the world we live in and celebrates multiple approaches and points of view. We believe diversity drives innovation and every idea deserves consideration and respect. We have an unwavering commitment to inclusion across educational background, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, citizenship, socioeconomic status, disability, and veteran status.
The starting salary for this role is $150,000. One Project offers competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits to attract the strongest candidates and to reflect our values.
How to Apply
Please submit your resume below. As part of the application process, we’re asking candidates to answer a few written questions in place of a cover letter. Your answers will help us get to know you better and hopefully give you a chance to better understand what we are looking for in candidates.
What You Can Expect from Our Hiring Process:
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an automated confirmation. If you are selected for an interview, we aim to reach out to you within 2 weeks of submitting your application.
We strive to have an inclusive hiring process that includes opportunities for us to get to know you and vice versa. We may ask to review examples of your work in addition to inviting you to participate in interviews. Our process may include:
- An initial phone or video interview
- A second video interview with our Director of Finance
- A panel-style interview with other members of the team
- Reference checks
On occasion, we may invite other team members to participate in the interview process and/or touch base with finalist candidates by phone. We understand that candidates’ time is limited and that these conversations will be seen as invitations to learn about One Project and ask questions.